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Trip from New York City, NY to Springfield Gardens, NY

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

33m

Distance

18.4 mi

30 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$3

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 8 min
4 AM
0h 31m ★
6 AM
0h 34m
8 AM
0h 39m
10 AM
0h 36m
12 PM
0h 35m
3 PM
0h 36m
5 PM
0h 39m
8 PM
0h 32m

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

most populous city in the United States

New York City, NY

Wikimedia Commons

neighborhood of Queens, New York City, New York, USA

Springfield Gardens, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

New York City, NY to Springfield Gardens, NY is 18.4 miles and takes about 33 minutes via Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, Long Island Expressway, and Van Wyck Expressway, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a short, highway-focused journey entirely within New York State's Northeast region. Given its brief duration, it's an ideal trip for a single day, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. You'll be navigating primarily through urban and suburban environments, so expect consistent traffic. This route is best suited for those looking for a straightforward, efficient transit between two points in the metropolitan area.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway 4.4 mi 7m
Long Island Expressway 2.9 mi 4m
Van Wyck Expressway 2.7 mi 3m
Rockaway Boulevard 1.4 mi 2m
Grand Central Parkway 1.4 mi 1m
Brooklyn Bridge 1.1 mi 2m
South Conduit Avenue 0.5 mi 1m
145th Drive 0.3 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Brooklyn-Queens Expressway — 4.4 mi, about 7m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between New York City, NY and Springfield Gardens, NY.

1

Start on Broadway

79 ft · 10 sec · Broadway
2

Turn left onto Chambers Street

0.1 mi · 36 sec · Chambers Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
3

Turn right onto Centre Street

0.1 mi · 24 sec · Centre Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
4

Continue on Brooklyn Bridge

1.1 mi · 2 min · Brooklyn Bridge
5

Take the exit

343 ft · 9 sec
Toward I 278: Brooklyn Queens Expressway, Cadman Plaza West Use the right lane.
6

Turn right

254 ft · 9 sec
Toward I 278: Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
7

Turn right onto Cadman Plaza West

31 ft · 1 sec · Cadman Plaza West
8

Turn slight right

223 ft · 8 sec
Toward Brooklyn-Queens Expressway East
9

Turn slight right onto Prospect Street

0.2 mi · 52 sec · Prospect Street
Use the right lane.
10

Turn right onto Jay Street

276 ft · 17 sec · Jay Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11

At end of road, turn left onto Sands Street

56 ft · 2 sec · Sands Street
Use the left lane.
12

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Toward I 278 East: Triborough Bridge, Brooklyn-Queens Expressway Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Merge onto I 278

3.6 mi · 5 min · Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Keep slight right at fork onto I 278

0.8 mi · 1 min · Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 15 sec
Exit 35A-B Toward I 495: Midtown Tunnel, Eastern Long Island, 48th Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Continue on this road

0.1 mi · 18 sec · this road
Exit 35 Toward I 495: Midtown Tunnel, Eastern Long Island, 48 Street
17

Keep slight right at fork

308 ft · 8 sec
Exit 35B Toward I 495 East: Eastern Long Island, Riverhead, 48th Street Use the straight / slight left lanes.
18

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 35E Toward I 495 East: Eastern Long Island, Riverhead Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward I 495 East: Eastern Long Island
20

Merge onto I 495

2.9 mi · 4 min · Long Island Expressway
21

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Exit 22A-E Toward I 678: Grand Central Parkway, Van Wyck Expressway Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Exit 22A Toward Grand Central Parkway East
23

Merge onto GCP

1.4 mi · 1 min · Grand Central Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 13 Toward I 678 South: Van Wyck Expressway, Kennedy Airport
25

Merge onto I 678

2.6 mi · 2 min · Van Wyck Expressway
26

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Exit 2 Toward Rockaway Boulevard Use the slight right lane.
27

Turn straight onto Van Wyck Expressway

191 ft · 10 sec · Van Wyck Expressway
28

Turn left onto Rockaway Boulevard

1.4 mi · 2 min · Rockaway Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
29

Turn left onto NY 27

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Conduit Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
30

Turn right onto Guy R. Brewer Boulevard

0.2 mi · 34 sec · Guy R. Brewer Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
31

Turn sharp left onto Farmers Boulevard

171 ft · 4 sec · Farmers Boulevard
32

Turn right onto 145th Drive

0.3 mi · 1 min · 145th Drive
33

Arrive at destination

145th Drive

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 29

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 10.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Chambers Street

Turn left onto Chambers Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / straight lanes.
8
6.3 mi into trip | ~13m in

Take the exit toward I 495: Midtown Tunnel, Eastern Long Island, 48th Street

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 35A-B Toward I 495: Midtown Tunnel, Eastern Long Isla...
10
6.5 mi into trip | ~13m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 495 East: Eastern Long Island, Riverhead, 48th Street

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

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Exit 35B Toward I 495 East: Eastern Long Island, Riverhe...
9
6.6 mi into trip | ~13m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 East: Eastern Long Island, Riverhead

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 35E Toward I 495 East: Eastern Long Island, Riverhe...
8
10.6 mi into trip | ~20m in

Take the exit toward I 678: Grand Central Parkway, Van Wyck Expressway

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 22A-E Toward I 678: Grand Central Parkway, Van Wyck E...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$3.03 one way

$6.06 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 6 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.52 $3.28 $6.55
premium $4.92 $3.57 $7.13
diesel $5.61 $4.06 $8.12

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$3

Estimated CO2 emission: 6.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 5.5 0 $1.93 $0.88
Efficient EV 4.6 0 $1.61 $0.74
EV Truck/SUV 7.4 0 $2.58 $1.18

Gas CO2

6 kg

EV CO2

2 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 15, 2026

Origin

New York City, NY

Morning in New York City on Sunday

Local time

8:11 AM

EDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Springfield Gardens, NY

Morning in Springfield Gardens on Sunday

Local time

8:11 AM

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

6 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

33m 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 heavily focused on highways, with 61% of the journey on high-speed roads. You'll spend a good portion of your time on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, including a continuous stretch of 4.4 miles. The route progresses through a series of major expressways, including the Long Island Expressway and the Van Wyck Expressway, offering a fast-paced experience. Expect the character of the drive to remain consistent: urban, high-speed transit with multiple lane changes and merges as you navigate the city's infrastructure.

61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 4.4 mi on Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and Long Island Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Chambers Street.

Driving Effort 10/10

Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 29 decision points packed into just 18.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 33m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Chambers Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.5 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 New York City, NY and Springfield Gardens, NY, road signs point toward Cadman Plaza West, Brooklyn-Queens Expressway East, Eastern Long Island, Riverhead, Grand Central Parkway East and Kennedy Airport.

Cadman Plaza West

1.3 mi in | ~3m

Brooklyn-Queens Expressway East

1.4 mi in | ~4m

Eastern Long Island

6.3 mi in | ~13m

Riverhead

6.5 mi in | ~13m

Grand Central Parkway East

10.8 mi in | ~20m

Kennedy Airport

12.4 mi in | ~22m

About the Cities

Starting 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

Arriving in Springfield Gardens, NY

Full guide →

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 33m. Total distance: 18.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

33m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

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

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 4.4 miles on Brooklyn-Queens 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 Springfield Gardens, 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: near the start (Chambers Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — African Burial Ground National Monument, Castle Clinton National Monument and Federal Hall National Memorial (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 Springfield Gardens, 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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