Louisville, NY to Jamaica, NY is 368.4 miles and takes about 8h 12m via I 87 and State Highway 56, with a fuel budget near $61 and likely an overnight trip. This drive stays within New York, moving from the Northeast region down towards the more populated areas. With a recommended two days for travel, you'll have time to break up the drive and avoid feeling rushed. It's a straightforward route for anyone looking to travel between these two points in the state.
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
184.2 miles from Louisville, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 87
118.6 mi
2h 17m
Adirondack Northway
77 mi
1h 30m
State Highway 56
38 mi
55m
State Highway 28N
30.3 mi
43m
Adirondack Trail
19.3 mi
27m
State Route 3
14.8 mi
20m
NJ 17
14.1 mi
18m
NJ 4
6.7 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
I 87
— 118.6 mi, about 2h 17m
Traffic on I-87
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 30 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,496 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,286
Quietest
1 AM
~113 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
22.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Louisville, NY and Jamaica, NY.
1
Start on Louisville-Raymondville Road
3.8 mi·13 min·Louisville-Raymondville Road
2
Turn left onto NY 310
318 ft·9 sec·State Highway 310
3
Turn right onto NY 56
3.0 mi·3 min·State Highway 56
4
Continue on NY 56
4.8 mi·5 min·North Main Street
5
Continue on NY 56
3.6 mi·4 min·State Highway 56
6
Continue on NY 56
1.1 mi·3 min·Market Street
7
Turn left onto US 11
0.2 mi·39 sec·Elm Street
8
Turn right onto Park Street
248 ft·7 sec·Park Street
9
Keep slight left at fork onto Park Street
198 ft·7 sec·Park Street
10
Continue on NY 56
1.0 mi·2 min·Pierrepont Avenue
11
Continue on NY 56
31 mi·47 min·State Highway 56
12
At end of road, turn left onto NY 3
15 mi·20 min·State Route 3
13
Continue on NY 3
1.0 mi·2 min·Main Street
14
Continue on NY 3
1.2 mi·2 min·Demars Boulevard
15
Continue on NY 3
0.1 mi·30 sec·Lake Street
16
Turn left onto NY 3
282 ft·12 sec·Mill Street
17
Turn right onto NY 30
0.2 mi·33 sec·East Park Street
18
Turn left onto NY 30
1.9 mi·3 min·Wawbeek Avenue
19
Continue on NY 30
0.8 mi·1 min·Adirondack Trail
20
Continue on NY 30
0.5 mi·46 sec·Moody Road
21
Continue on NY 30
18 mi·25 min·Adirondack Trail
22
Continue on NY 30
0.3 mi·42 sec·Lake Street
23
Continue on NY 30
0.4 mi·58 sec·Adirondack Trail
24
At end of road, turn left onto NY 28N
0.7 mi·1 min·State Highway 28N
25
Continue on NY 28N
2.5 mi·3 min·Newcomb Road
26
Continue on NY 28N
30 mi·41 min·State Highway 28N
27
Turn slight left onto CR 30
2.8 mi·4 min·A P Morse Highway
28
Keep slight left at fork onto Donnelly Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Donnelly Road
29
Continue on CR 29
1.2 mi·1 min·County Highway 29
30
Continue on CR 19
4.8 mi·7 min·Olmstedville Road
31
Turn straight onto US 9
0.2 mi·38 sec·US 9
32
Turn left onto Valley Farm Road
0.3 mi·33 sec·Valley Farm Road
33
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
34
Merge onto I 87
77 mi·1 hr 30 min·Adirondack Northway
Use the slight right lane.
35
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87
0.3 mi·31 sec·I 87
Exit 1E-WToward I 87 South, I 90: Boston, Albany, New York, BuffaloUse the slight right lane.
36
Continue on I 87
0.5 mi·51 sec·I 87
Exit 1WToward I 87 South, I 90 West: New York, Buffalo
37
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87
118 mi·2 hr 16 min·I 87
Toward I 87 South: New YorkUse the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17
0.9 mi·59 sec·NY 17
Exit 15Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New JerseyUse the slight right lane.
39
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
0.5 mi·39 sec·I 287; NJ 17
40
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17
14 mi·18 min·NJ 17
Exit 66Toward NJ 17 South: MahwahUse the slight left / straight lanes.
41
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
42
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
43
Merge onto NJ 4
0.3 mi·24 sec·NJ 4
Use the right lane.
44
Continue on NJ 4
6.4 mi·8 min·NJ 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
45
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington BridgeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
46
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.7 mi·54 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
47
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
48
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
49
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
50
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.4 mi·5 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
51
Take the exit
0.9 mi·2 min
Exit 6AToward I 678 South: Whitestone Bridge, QueensUse the straight / slight right lanes.
52
Merge onto I 678
0.8 mi·1 min·Hutchinson River Expressway
53
Continue on I 678
1.3 mi·2 min·Bronx-Whitestone Bridge
54
Continue on I 678
2.3 mi·3 min·Whitestone Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
55
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.
56
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 6Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue, Atlantic AvenueUse the right lane.
57
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·13 sec
Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica AvenueUse the slight right lane.
58
Turn straight onto Van Wyck Expressway West
0.9 mi·2 min·Van Wyck Expressway West
Use the straight / right lanes.
59
Turn left onto Liberty Avenue
0.2 mi·25 sec·Liberty Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
60
Turn right onto Inwood Street
0.2 mi·44 sec·Inwood Street
61
Turn right onto Tuskegee Airmen Way
56 ft·2 sec·Tuskegee Airmen Way
62
Arrive at destination
Tuskegee Airmen Way
Trip Plan
Given the 8h 12m estimated duration, planning for two days is a smart move to make the 368.4-mile trip comfortable. Aim to leave Louisville in the morning to maximize your driving time on the first day, potentially covering around 180-200 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially since the estimated cost is $61; you'll want to refuel strategically before heading into longer stretches. The longest stretch without a clear break is 118.6 miles on I 87, so plan a stop before or after that segment.
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 184.2 miles from Louisville, NY, or about 4h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 118.6 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 81 miles or 2h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 184.2 miles or 4h 24m 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 184.2 miles or 4h 24m
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 49m
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 Louisville, 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 Louisville, NY
Aim for roughly 184 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Jamaica, NY
Aim for roughly 184 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 81 miles from Louisville, 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 87 for about 118.6 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 34
5 decision points cluster between mile 208.4 and 367 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
208.4 mi into trip|~4h 53m in|I 87
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87 toward I 87 South, I 90: Boston, Albany, New York, Buffalo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1E-W
Toward I 87 South, I 90: Boston, Albany, New Yo...
9
327 mi into trip|~7h 11m in|NY 17
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17 toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 15
Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
8
328.3 mi into trip|~7h 12m in|NJ 17
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17 toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 66
Toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
8
357.2 mi into trip|~7h 52m in
Take the exit toward I 678 South: Whitestone Bridge, Queens
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 6A
Toward I 678 South: Whitestone Bridge, Queens
9
367 mi into trip|~8h 8m 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
$59.60 one way
$119.19 round trip
$4.11/gal25.4 MPG avg129 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$64.67
$129.35
premium
$4.85
$70.32
$140.63
diesel
$4.80
$69.56
$139.12
Estimated Tolls: $22.55
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Whitestone Bridge
$6.55
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
$60
Tolls
$23
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$212–$322
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 128.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
110.5
1
$38.68
$17.68
Efficient EV
92.1
1
$32.24
$14.74
EV Truck/SUV
147.4
1
$51.58
$23.58
Gas CO2
129 kg
EV CO2
43 kg (67% 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Louisville, NY
Morning
in Louisville on Sunday
Local time
11:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Areas Of Smoke
NW 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 9:56PM EDT until July 19 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 9:56PM EDT until July 19 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY
Destination
Jamaica, NY
Morning
in Jamaica on Sunday
Local time
11:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
W 10 mph71% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 9:56PM EDT until July 19 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 9:56PM EDT until July 19 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY
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
17 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 12m 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.
Hamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
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
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 355.7
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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 355.7
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 368.4
In 1777, a large British invasion force met an equally large American army here at Saratoga. After two intense battles, an eight-mile retreat, and a three-day siege, British General John Burgoyne surr...
10 mi from route
~24 min detour
Free
near mile 177.9
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...
10 mi from route
~24 min detour
Free
near mile 355.7
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...
11 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 368.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is mostly highway, with 65% of the 368.4 miles on major roads like I 87. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 118.6 miles on I 87 before transitioning to State Highway 56. Expect the highway to eventually give way to surface roads as you approach your destination, meaning more local traffic and potentially more frequent exits.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
62 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 118.6 mi on I 87.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 87 and Adirondack Northway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 208.4 miles in near I 87.
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 34 significant decision points across 368.4 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 208.4 miles (I 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 327 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 328.3 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,791 ft41 ft
Total Climb
2,072 ft
Total Descent
2,248 ft
Highest Point
1,791 ft
~78.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,750 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Louisville, NY and Jamaica, NY, road signs point toward Albany, New York, Buffalo, Gsp South: Paterson and Fort Lee.
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.
The longest stretch is about 118.6 miles on I 87. 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 184 miles on day one.
Expect about $22.55 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.
Yes — we found about 21 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 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. There are 21 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 208.4 miles (I 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 327 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 328.3 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial and Gateway National Recreation Area (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.2 hours each way, a round trip means 16.4 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.
