Jamaica, NY to Sparrow Bush, NY is 83.4 miles and takes about 2 hours via NJ 23, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region and both your starting and ending points are in New York. Expect a drive that is primarily on highways, making it a straightforward journey for a single day. Given its short duration, it's an ideal option for a quick getaway or an efficient transfer between locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.7 miles from Jamaica, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NJ 23
34.5 mi
47m
Clove Avenue
12.3 mi
17m
NJ 3
10.2 mi
12m
Long Island Expressway
4.8 mi
7m
Lincoln Tunnel Expressway
3.7 mi
6m
US 46
3.7 mi
4m
Van Wyck Expressway
3.6 mi
4m
East Main Street
2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
NJ 23
— 34.5 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Jamaica, NY and Sparrow Bush, NY.
1
Start on Tuskegee Airmen Way
303 ft·17 sec·Tuskegee Airmen Way
2
Turn right onto Pinegrove Street
0.2 mi·44 sec·Pinegrove Street
3
At end of road, turn left onto Liberty Avenue
435 ft·13 sec·Liberty Avenue
4
Turn right onto Van Wyck Expressway East
77 ft·1 sec·Van Wyck Expressway East
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·20 sec
Toward I 678 North: Van Wyck Expressway, Whitestone Bridge, Bronx
6
Merge onto I 678
3.6 mi·4 min·Van Wyck Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi·58 sec
Exit 12BToward I 495 West: Midtown TunnelUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 495
3.4 mi·5 min·Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 17WToward I 278 West: BrooklynUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·49 sec
Toward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel, ManhattanUse the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 495
1.4 mi·2 min·Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 495
1.3 mi·2 min·Queens-Midtown Tunnel
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward Crosstown, 37th StreetUse the slight left lane.
14
Turn slight left onto East 37th Street
1.1 mi·3 min·East 37th Street
Use the slight left lane.
15
Take the ramp
474 ft·11 sec
Toward Lincoln Tunnel
16
Turn right
342 ft·11 sec
Use the right lane.
17
Merge onto NY 495
105 ft·4 sec·Lincoln Tunnel Expressway
18
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 495
3.7 mi·6 min·Lincoln Tunnel Expressway
Toward Lincoln TunnelUse the straight / slight left lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·29 sec
Toward NJ 3 West: SecaucusUse the slight right lane.
20
Keep slight left at fork
453 ft·7 sec
Toward NJ 3 West: CliftonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Merge onto NJ 3
10 mi·12 min·NJ 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Merge onto US 46
3.7 mi·4 min·US 46
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 80 West, NJ 23 North: Delaware Water Gap, Butler
24
Merge onto NJ 23
4.6 mi·5 min·NJ 23
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on NJ 23
30 mi·41 min·NJ 23
Use the right lane.
26
Continue on NJ 23
0.1 mi·7 sec·Loomis Avenue
Use the right lane.
27
Continue on NJ 23
0.2 mi·14 sec·Bank Street
28
Continue on NJ 23
12 mi·17 min·Clove Avenue
29
Continue on CR 15
0.3 mi·27 sec·CR 15
Use the left lane.
30
At end of road, turn left onto US 6
2.0 mi·2 min·East Main Street
Use the left lane.
31
Turn straight onto NY 42; NY 97
1.9 mi·2 min·Park Avenue
32
Turn right onto Main Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Main Street
33
Turn right onto Upper Brook Road
29 ft·1 sec·Upper Brook Road
34
Arrive at destination
Upper Brook Road
Trip Plan
Since this trip is only about 2 hours long and covers 83.4 miles, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning should easily get you to Sparrow Bush, NY with plenty of daylight remaining. With a fuel cost estimated around $14, you won't need to worry about frequent refueling stops. The longest stretch is 34.5 miles on NJ 23, so plan your last restroom break before that segment if needed.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 41.7 miles from Jamaica, NY, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.5 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 18 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.7 miles or 1h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sparrow Bush, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Jamaica, NY so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Jamaica, NY
This is one driving day of about 83.4 miles and 2h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Jamaica, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on NJ 23 for about 34.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 27
5 decision points cluster between mile 4.1 and 17.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
4.1 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the exit toward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 12B
Toward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel
7
8 mi into trip|~12m in
Take the exit toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 17W
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
8
9 mi into trip|~13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel, Manhattan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel, Manhattan
8
12.3 mi into trip|~19m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Crosstown, 37th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Crosstown, 37th Street
8
17.7 mi into trip|~31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 3 West: Clifton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NJ 3 West: Clifton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.73 one way
$27.46 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$14.84
$29.69
premium
$4.92
$16.16
$32.33
diesel
$5.61
$18.41
$36.83
Estimated Tolls: $16.00
Lincoln Tunnel
$16.00
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25
0
$8.76
$4.00
Efficient EV
20.9
0
$7.30
$3.34
EV Truck/SUV
33.4
0
$11.68
$5.34
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Jamaica, NY
Late night
in Jamaica on Sunday
Local time
4:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny
SE 6 to 12 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 18 at 1:15PM EDT until April 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Burlington VT
Destination
Sparrow Bush, NY
Late night
in Sparrow Bush on Sunday
Local time
4:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
6 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Stonewall National Monument
National Monument
Before the 1960s, almost everything about living authentically as a lesbian, a bisexual person or a gay man was illegal. The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969 is a milestone in the quest for civil r...
The African Burial Ground stands as the oldest and largest known excavated burial site in North America for both free and enslaved Africans. It offers a profound testament to the enduring legacy of Af...
Located at the southern tip of Manhattan, Castle Clinton marks the place where New York City began and reflects the growth of both the city and the nation. Built to defend the harbor during the War of...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 11.5
Here at Federal Hall, George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States, marking the beginning of the American constitutional republic. This historic site served as...
The final resting place of President Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, Julia, is the largest mausoleum in North America. It testifies to a people’s gratitude for the man who ended the bloodiest conflict...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 14.4
From 1794 to 1966, the U.S. Army presence on Governors Island played a vital role in the social, political, and economic life of New York City. The island then served as the headquarters of the U.S. C...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 11.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 73% of the route utilizing faster roads. You'll experience a longest stretch of 34.5 miles on NJ 23, offering a good period of uninterrupted travel. The road's character will largely be defined by these highway segments, providing a consistent driving pace for most of the 83.4 miles. Expect a driving experience that prioritizes efficiency over winding scenic byways.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34.5 mi on NJ 23.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NJ 23 and Clove Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.1 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 27 significant decision points across 83.4 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 4.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Jamaica, NY and Sparrow Bush, NY, road signs point toward Manhattan, Crosstown and Butler.
Jamaica is an expansive neighborhood located in eastern Queens. Historically consisting of predominantly black communities, Jamaica now is home to an extremely diverse array of peoples and cultures.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h. Total distance: 83.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 34.5 miles on NJ 23. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $16.00 in tolls one way, starting with Lincoln Tunnel. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 16 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Sparrow Bush, NY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. There are 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 4.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Stonewall National Monument, African Burial Ground National Monument and Castle Clinton National Monument (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Sparrow Bush, NY before heading back.
