Origin
Midland Beach, NY
Morning in Midland Beach on Tuesday
Local time
7:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Midland Beach, NY to New York City, NY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
26m
Distance
14 mi
23 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 25m
★
6 AM
0h 27m
8 AM
0h 31m
10 AM
0h 28m
12 PM
0h 28m
3 PM
0h 29m
5 PM
0h 31m
8 PM
0h 25m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Midland Beach, NY
Sarah O'Shea
New York City, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick transition from the coast to the city center, this 14-mile route from Midland Beach to New York City is an efficient option. Expect the drive to take roughly 26 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. You will navigate through the Northeast region using a combination of Father Capodanno Boulevard, the Gowanus Expressway, and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. With fuel costs estimated at just $2, it is a very budget-friendly commute. Since this is a short journey, you won't need to worry about overnight stops or extensive planning. It is a straightforward trip that gets you where you need to go without any unnecessary fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Gowanus Expressway | 5.4 mi | 8m |
| Father Capodanno Boulevard | 2.4 mi | 5m |
| Brooklyn-Queens Expressway | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Brooklyn Bridge | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Lily Pond Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Staten Island Expressway | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Midland Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Gowanus Expressway
— 5.4 mi, about 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Midland Beach, NY and New York City, NY.
1
Start on Midland Avenue
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Midland Avenue
2
At end of road, turn left onto Father Capodanno Boulevard
2.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Father Capodanno Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on Lily Pond Avenue
0.3 mi
·
59 sec
·
Lily Pond Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward I 278 Toll East: Verrazano Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on this road
434 ft
·
10 sec
·
this road
Toward I 278 Toll East: Verrazano Bridge
6
Merge onto I 278
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
Staten Island Expressway
7
Continue on I 278
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge
8
Continue on I 278
5.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Gowanus Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 278
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
Exit 26
Toward I 278 East: Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, RFK Bridge, Hamilton Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 28B
Toward Brooklyn Bridge
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto Brooklyn Bridge
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Brooklyn Bridge
Use the right lane.
12
Continue on Centre Street
0.1 mi
·
38 sec
·
Centre Street
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn left onto Reade Street
0.1 mi
·
41 sec
·
Reade Street
Use the left lane.
14
Turn left onto Broadway
139 ft
·
5 sec
·
Broadway
15
Arrive at destination
Broadway
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 13.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Father Capodanno Boulevard
At end of road, turn left onto Father Capodanno Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
3 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the ramp toward I 278 Toll East: Verrazano Bridge
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 278 Toll East: Verrazano Bridge
9
10.3 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway toward I 278 East: Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, RFK Bridge, Hamilton Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 26
Toward I 278 East: Brooklyn-Queens Expressway,...
7
12.4 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward Brooklyn Bridge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 28B
Toward Brooklyn Bridge
7
13.8 mi into trip
|
~26m in
|
Reade Street
Turn left onto Reade Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.30 one way
$4.61 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $2.49 | $4.98 |
| premium | $4.92 | $2.71 | $5.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.09 | $6.18 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.2 | 0 | $1.47 | $0.67 |
| Efficient EV | 3.5 | 0 | $1.22 | $0.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.96 | $0.90 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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.
Destination
New York City, NY
Morning in New York City on Tuesday
Local time
7:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
E 6 to 14 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 18 at 2:37AM EDT until April 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Burlington VT
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
12 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
26m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This 14-mile route offers a mixed driving experience, balancing local roads with major expressways. About 56% of your time will be spent on highways, providing a steady flow of traffic as you head toward your destination. You will encounter your longest stretch of continuous highway driving on the Gowanus Expressway, which spans 5.4 miles. Because the route transitions from the local feel of Father Capodanno Boulevard to the busier, high-speed environment of the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, you should stay alert to changing road types. Navigating these varied road conditions requires a bit of focus, but the relatively short duration ensures you remain engaged behind the wheel.
56% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5.4 mi on Gowanus Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Father Capodanno Boulevard.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 14 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 26m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Father Capodanno Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 10.3 miles (I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in Midland Beach, NY
Full guide →Arriving in New York City, NY
Full guide →“The City That Never Sleeps” · Founded 1624
New York (known as "The Big Apple", "NYC," and often called "New York City") is a global center for media, entertainment, art, fashion, research, finance, and trade. The bustling, cosmopolitan heart of the 4th largest metropolis in the world and by far the most populous city in the United States, New York has long been a key entry point and a defining city for the nation. From the Statue of Liberty in the harbor to the Empire State Building towering over the Manhattan skyline, from the tunnels of the subway to the riches of Wall Street, from the bright signs of Times Square to the naturalistic beauty of Central Park, and from Yankee Stadium in the Bronx to Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York's landmarks are quintessential American landmarks. The city's neighborhoods and streets are so iconic they have become ingrained into the American consciousness.
Top landmarks
- • Statue of Liberty — American icon in New York, United States
- • National September 11 Memorial & Museum — memorial & museum in New York City commemorating the September 11, 2001 attacks
- • Plaza Hotel — hotel in Midtown Manhattan, New York City
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 26m. Total distance: 14 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (56%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 5.4 miles on Gowanus Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 New York City, NY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Father Capodanno Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 10.3 miles (I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — African Burial Ground National Monument, Federal Hall National Memorial 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 New York City, NY before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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