Spanning 395.2 miles across New York, this trip from Lockport to Jamaica takes roughly 6 hours and 57 minutes of driving time. Since the entire journey stays within the Northeast region, you will experience a consistent environment, though the shift from the area around Lockport to the urban density of Jamaica is significant. With a travel time pushing seven hours, you can manage this in a single day, though it will be a long stint behind the wheel. Budget approximately $64 for fuel to cover the distance. Because this is a turn-heavy local drive rather than a straight highway shot, you should prepare for a focused day of navigating local roads.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
195.4 miles from Lockport, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
98.8 mi
1h 57m
New York State Thruway
80.7 mi
1h 33m
Keystone Shortway
80 mi
1h 37m
I 380
23.6 mi
25m
East Lake Road
9.9 mi
14m
State Highway 41
9.8 mi
13m
Clark Street Road
9.6 mi
11m
Lewiston Road
8.3 mi
13m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 98.8 mi, about 1h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lockport, NY and Jamaica, NY.
1
Start on Market Street
48 ft·3 sec·Market Street
2
Turn sharp left onto Main Street
0.2 mi·33 sec·Main Street
3
Continue on NY 31
1.3 mi·1 min·East Avenue
4
Continue on NY 31
0.9 mi·1 min·Chestnut Ridge Road
5
Continue on NY 77
6.7 mi·11 min·Chestnut Ridge Road
6
Turn right onto NY 77
8.3 mi·13 min·Lewiston Road
7
Turn right onto NY 63; NY 77
6.6 mi·9 min·Alleghany Road
8
Take the ramp
369 ft·9 sec
9
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·15 sec·this road
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward I 90 East: AlbanyUse the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 90
81 mi·1 hr 33 min·New York State Thruway
12
Take the exit
0.5 mi·58 sec
Exit 41Toward NY 414: Waterloo, ClydeUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
327 ft·7 sec
14
Continue on NY 414
0.3 mi·35 sec·State Route 414
15
Turn left onto NY 318
4.1 mi·7 min·NY 318
Use the left lane.
16
At end of road, turn left onto US 20; NY 5
1.9 mi·2 min·Auburn Road
17
Continue on US 20; NY 5
9.6 mi·11 min·Clark Street Road
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn right onto State Street
226 ft·12 sec·State Street
19
Turn left onto Dill Street
0.1 mi·21 sec·Dill Street
20
Continue on Loop Road
458 ft·16 sec·Loop Road
21
Turn left onto Genesee Street
5.5 mi·9 min·Genesee Street
22
Continue on US 20
2.2 mi·4 min·West Genesee Street Road
23
Turn right onto NY 41
0.5 mi·45 sec·East Lake Street
24
Continue on NY 41
9.4 mi·13 min·East Lake Road
25
Continue on NY 41
4.8 mi·7 min·State Route 41
26
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi·49 sec·East Lake Road
27
Continue on NY 41
9.8 mi·13 min·State Highway 41
28
Turn right onto NY 281
1.2 mi·2 min·North West Street
29
Take the ramp
0.7 mi·1 min
Use the left lane.
30
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 81 South: Binghamton
31
Merge onto I 81
45 mi·54 min·I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
53 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 81
Toward I 81 South: ScrantonUse the straight lane.
33
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
0.8 mi·1 min·US 6
Exit 187Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt PoconoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
34
Continue on I 84; I 380
3.7 mi·4 min·I 84; I 380
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, MilfordUse the straight lane.
35
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
24 mi·25 min·I 380
Exit 4Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
36
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 1BToward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
37
Merge onto I 80
80 mi·1 hr 37 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
38
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·5 min·Christopher Columbus Highway
Toward I 95: George Washington Bridge Lower LevelUse the slight right lane.
39
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·23 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
40
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 70A-BToward Leonia, TeaneckUse the slight right lane.
41
Turn right
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 70AToward LeoniaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
42
Turn straight onto CR 56
454 ft·9 sec·Degraw Avenue
43
Continue on CR 56
1.1 mi·2 min·Fort Lee Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
44
Continue on CR 56
469 ft·13 sec·Main Street
45
Take the ramp
472 ft·12 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge
46
Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46
0.3 mi·28 sec·Bergen Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
47
Take the exit
312 ft·4 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level
48
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.3 mi·20 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
49
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
50
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
51
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
52
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.4 mi·5 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
53
Take the exit
0.9 mi·2 min
Exit 6AToward I 678 South: Whitestone Bridge, QueensUse the straight / slight right lanes.
54
Merge onto I 678
0.8 mi·1 min·Hutchinson River Expressway
55
Continue on I 678
1.3 mi·2 min·Bronx-Whitestone Bridge
56
Continue on I 678
2.3 mi·3 min·Whitestone Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
57
Keep slight left at fork onto I 678
4.3 mi·6 min·Van Wyck Expressway
Toward I 678 South: Kennedy AirportUse the slight left lane.
58
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 6Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue, Atlantic AvenueUse the right lane.
59
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·13 sec
Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica AvenueUse the slight right lane.
60
Turn straight onto Van Wyck Expressway West
0.9 mi·2 min·Van Wyck Expressway West
Use the straight / right lanes.
61
Turn left onto Liberty Avenue
0.2 mi·25 sec·Liberty Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
62
Turn right onto Inwood Street
0.2 mi·44 sec·Inwood Street
63
Turn right onto Tuskegee Airmen Way
56 ft·2 sec·Tuskegee Airmen Way
64
Arrive at destination
Tuskegee Airmen Way
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour and 57-minute duration, plan to depart early in the morning to avoid the stress of navigating local traffic as you approach Jamaica later in the day. You are only scheduled for one stop, so choose your break point wisely to stretch your legs and refuel your vehicle, keeping that $64 fuel budget in mind. Because this route relies entirely on local roads like Chestnut Ridge Road rather than highways, keep a close eye on your GPS to stay on track through the numerous turns. Flexibility is your best asset here; since you aren't tied to a specific highway exit, you have more freedom to adjust your pace if local traffic conditions change. Use your single planned stop as a true reset to maintain your concentration for the final, more congested leg of the journey.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 195.4 miles from Lockport, NY, or about 4h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.8 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 86 miles or 1h 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 195.4 miles or 4h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 195.4 miles or 4h 17m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 57m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jamaica, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lockport, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lockport, NY
Aim for roughly 195 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Jamaica, NY
Aim for roughly 195 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 86 miles from Lockport, NY.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 98.8 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 42
5 decision points cluster between mile 24.3 and 389.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
24.3 mi into trip|~38m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 90 East: Albany
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 90 East: Albany
8
105.3 mi into trip|~2h 12m in
Take the exit toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 41
Toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
9
255.6 mi into trip|~5h 28m in|US 6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6 toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 187
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbo...
9
370.4 mi into trip|~7h 45m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Leonia, Teaneck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 70A-B
Toward Leonia, Teaneck
9
389.4 mi into trip|~8h 15m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$64.33 one way
$128.66 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg137 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$69.56
$139.12
premium
$4.92
$75.74
$151.49
diesel
$5.61
$86.28
$172.57
Estimated Tolls: $26.59
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Whitestone Bridge
$6.55
New York State Thruway
(80.7 mi)$4.04
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
$64
Tolls
$27
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$221–$331
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 136.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
117.2
1
$41.03
$18.76
Efficient EV
97.7
1
$34.20
$15.63
EV Truck/SUV
156.3
1
$54.71
$25.01
Gas CO2
137 kg
EV CO2
46 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Lockport, NY
Night
in Lockport on Saturday
Local time
9:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Jamaica, NY
Night
in Jamaica on Saturday
Local time
9:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Scattered Rain Showers then Partly Cloudy
NE 5 to 9 mph33% chanceLive 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
15 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
8h 18m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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.
Harriet Tubman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Harriet Tubman was guided by a deep faith and devotion to family, freedom, and community. After emancipating herself and members of her family, she moved them from Ontario, Canada to Fleming and Aubur...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 121.3
Women’s Rights National Historical Park tells the story of the first Women’s Rights Convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York on July 19-20, 1848. It is a story of struggles for civil rights, human r...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 107.8
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 377.4
Merchant’s clerk, Revolutionary War soldier, first Secretary Treasury of the United States: Alexander Hamilton’s life is memorialized at The Grange, the home he built on a country estate in uptown Man...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 377.4
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...
9 mi from route
~24 min detour
Free
near mile 377.4
Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City, the park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 390.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a hands-on driving experience as this route is characterized by its turn-heavy, local nature rather than high-speed highway cruising. With a highway share of 0%, you won't be relying on the interstate, meaning your speed and focus will shift frequently as you navigate Main Street, East Avenue, and Chestnut Ridge Road. The road demands constant attention, offering a departure from the monotonous grind of major expressways. You will find that the route remains technical throughout, requiring you to stay alert through every turn and transition. It is a steady, rhythmic drive that keeps you engaged with the local landscape for the duration of the 395.2-mile trip.
Only 41% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
64 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98.8 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 24.3 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 42 significant decision points across 390.8 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 24.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 105.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 255.6 miles (US 6): 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 Lockport, NY and Jamaica, NY, road signs point toward Clyde, Mt Pocono, Milford, New York City, Leonia and Teaneck.
Lockport is a city in the Niagara Frontier of New York. It is the county seat of Niagara County, and is a few miles from Buffalo. The city is surrounded by the town of Lockport. Both the town and city are named after the double Erie Canal lock.
Top landmarks
•Cold Springs Cemetery — cemetery in Lockport, New York
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.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 98.8 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 195 miles on day one.
Expect about $26.59 in tolls one way, starting with George Washington Bridge. 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Jamaica, 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. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 24.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 105.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 255.6 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, Women's Rights National Historical Park and General Grant National Memorial (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.3 hours each way, a round trip means 16.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Jamaica, NY before the return drive.
