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Trip from Monroe, NY to Jamaica, NY

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 26, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 26m

Distance

61 mi

98 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min
4 AM
1h 20m ★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 23m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

town in New York, United States

Monroe, NY

Wikimedia Commons

neighborhood of Queens, New York City, United States

Jamaica, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Monroe, NY to Jamaica, NY is 61 miles and takes about 1 hour 26 minutes via NJ 17 and the New York State Thruway, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, one-day trip primarily within the Northeast region, connecting two points in New York State. Expect a route that’s mostly highway driving, making it an efficient way to travel between these locations. With minimal travel time and a low fuel cost, this route is ideal for a quick commute or a short hop.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
NJ 17 14.1 mi 18m
New York State Thruway 13.7 mi 15m
NJ 4 6.7 mi 9m
Cross Bronx Expressway 4.4 mi 5m
Van Wyck Expressway 4.3 mi 6m
US 6 3 mi 3m
Whitestone Expressway 2.3 mi 3m
I 95 EXPR 1.5 mi 2m
Longest stretch: NJ 17 — 14.1 mi, about 18m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Monroe, NY and Jamaica, NY.

1

Start on this road

32 ft · 7 sec · this road
2

Turn left onto Charlton Place

125 ft · 9 sec · Charlton Place
3

Turn right onto CR 105

0.6 mi · 1 min · Main Street
4

Turn straight onto NY 208

0.3 mi · 33 sec · NY 208
5

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 1 min
Toward US 6 East, NY 17 East: Suffern
6

Merge onto US 6; NY 17

3.0 mi · 3 min · US 6; NY 17
7

Keep slight left at fork

0.7 mi · 59 sec
Toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York City Use the slight right lane.
8

Keep slight right at fork

0.9 mi · 1 min
Toward I 87 Toll South: New York City Use the slight right lane.
9

Merge onto I 87

14 mi · 15 min · New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17

0.9 mi · 59 sec · NY 17
Exit 15 Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey Use the slight right lane.
11

Continue on I 287; NJ 17

0.5 mi · 39 sec · I 287; NJ 17
12

Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17

14 mi · 18 min · NJ 17
Exit 66 Toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah Use the slight left / straight lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 19 sec
Toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
14

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
15

Merge onto NJ 4

0.3 mi · 24 sec · NJ 4
Use the right lane.
16

Continue on NJ 4

6.4 mi · 8 min · NJ 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 18 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge Use the straight / slight left lanes.
18

Merge onto I 95 EXPR

0.7 mi · 54 sec · I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR

0.8 mi · 1 min · I 95 EXPR
20

Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9

0.6 mi · 1 min · George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Continue on I 95; US 1

0.7 mi · 1 min · Trans-Manhattan Expressway
22

Continue on I 95; US 1

4.4 mi · 5 min · Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 2 min
Exit 6A Toward I 678 South: Whitestone Bridge, Queens Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24

Merge onto I 678

0.8 mi · 1 min · Hutchinson River Expressway
25

Continue on I 678

1.3 mi · 2 min · Bronx-Whitestone Bridge
26

Continue on I 678

2.3 mi · 3 min · Whitestone Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
27

Keep slight left at fork onto I 678

4.3 mi · 6 min · Van Wyck Expressway
Toward I 678 South: Kennedy Airport Use the slight left lane.
28

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Exit 6 Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue, Atlantic Avenue Use the right lane.
29

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 13 sec
Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue Use the slight right lane.
30

Turn straight onto Van Wyck Expressway West

0.9 mi · 2 min · Van Wyck Expressway West
Use the straight / right lanes.
31

Turn left onto Liberty Avenue

0.2 mi · 25 sec · Liberty Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
32

Turn right onto Inwood Street

0.2 mi · 44 sec · Inwood Street
33

Turn right onto Tuskegee Airmen Way

56 ft · 2 sec · Tuskegee Airmen Way
34

Arrive at destination

Tuskegee Airmen Way

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in and the county seat of Passaic County, New Jersey, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Paterson, NJ

31 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Suffern, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Paterson, NJ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 30.5 miles from Monroe, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 24

5 decision points cluster between mile 4.2 and 59.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
4.2 mi into trip | ~6m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York City

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York City
9
19.5 mi into trip | ~25m 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
20.9 mi into trip | ~27m 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
49.7 mi into trip | ~1h 6m 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
59.5 mi into trip | ~1h 23m 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

$9.91 one way

$19.83 round trip

$4.13/gal 25.4 MPG avg 21 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.47 $10.73 $21.46
premium $4.87 $11.69 $23.37
diesel $5.40 $12.98 $25.95

Estimated Tolls: $23.23

George Washington Bridge $16.00
Whitestone Bridge $6.55
New York State Thruway (13.7 mi) $0.68

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$10

Tolls

$23

Total

$33

Estimated CO2 emission: 21.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 18.3 0 $6.41 $2.93
Efficient EV 15.3 0 $5.34 $2.44
EV Truck/SUV 24.4 0 $8.54 $3.90

Gas CO2

21 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (67% 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 26, 2026

Origin

Monroe, NY

Afternoon in Monroe on Sunday

Local time

12:23 PM

EDT

Current temp

38°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Jamaica, NY

Afternoon in Jamaica on Sunday

Local time

12:23 PM

EDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

18 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

1h 26m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

This drive is mostly highway, with 66% of the 61 miles on high-speed roads. You'll encounter the longest continuous stretch of highway at 14.1 miles on NJ 17. After the highway portions, you will transition to surface roads for the remaining miles. Be prepared for merging traffic as you enter and exit the main highway segments.

66% 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: 14.1 mi on NJ 17.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NJ 17 and New York State Thruway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.2 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 61 miles you will encounter 24 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 4.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.5 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.9 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Monroe, NY and Jamaica, NY, road signs point toward Nyst: Albany, New York City, Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York and Queens.

Nyst: Albany

4.2 mi in | ~6m

New York City

4.2 mi in | ~6m

Gsp South: Paterson

35 mi in | ~45m

Fort Lee

35 mi in | ~45m

New York

35 mi in | ~45m

Queens

49.7 mi in | ~1h 6m

About the Cities

Starting in Monroe, NY

Full guide →

Founded 1799

Top landmarks

  • Checkerboard Inn — historic building in Monroe, New York, United States

Arriving in Jamaica, NY

Full guide →

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.

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 1h 26m. Total distance: 61 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (66%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 14.1 miles on NJ 17. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $23.23 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.

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.

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 4.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.5 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.9 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Jamaica, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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