Origin
Pelham, NY
Afternoon in Pelham on Sunday
Local time
12:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Pelham, NY to Jamaica, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
29m
Distance
17.2 mi
28 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 27m
★
6 AM
0h 30m
8 AM
0h 35m
10 AM
0h 32m
12 PM
0h 31m
3 PM
0h 32m
5 PM
0h 35m
8 PM
0h 28m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Pelham, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Jamaica, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Pelham, NY to Jamaica, NY is 17.2 miles and takes about 29 minutes via Hutchinson River Parkway, with a fuel budget near $3 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a quick, highway-focused trip entirely within New York, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Given its short distance and duration, it's ideal for a same-day journey with minimal time commitment. The route is predominantly on major parkways and expressways, making it a straightforward drive for local travel.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Hutchinson River Parkway | 5.2 mi | 7m |
| Van Wyck Expressway | 4.3 mi | 6m |
| Whitestone Expressway | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Bronx-Whitestone Bridge | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Hutchinson River Expressway | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Van Wyck Expressway West | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Wolfs Lane | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Pelhamwood Avenue | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Hutchinson River Parkway
— 5.2 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pelham, NY and Jamaica, NY.
1
Start on this road
154 ft
·
13 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Pelhamwood Avenue
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Pelhamwood Avenue
3
Continue on Pelhamwood Avenue
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
Pelhamwood Avenue
4
Turn left onto Wolfs Lane
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Wolfs Lane
Use the left lane.
5
Turn right onto Colonial Avenue
418 ft
·
11 sec
·
Colonial Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Continue on Sandford Boulevard East
387 ft
·
15 sec
·
Sandford Boulevard East
7
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward Hutchinson River Parkway South
Use the left lane.
8
Merge onto Hutchinson River Parkway
5.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Hutchinson River Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 678
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Hutchinson River Expressway
10
Continue on I 678
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Bronx-Whitestone Bridge
11
Continue on I 678
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Whitestone Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
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.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 6
Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue, Atlantic Avenue
Use the right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
15
Turn straight onto Van Wyck Expressway West
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Van Wyck Expressway West
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn left onto Liberty Avenue
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Liberty Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
17
Turn right onto Inwood Street
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
Inwood Street
18
Turn right onto Tuskegee Airmen Way
56 ft
·
2 sec
·
Tuskegee Airmen Way
19
Arrive at destination
Tuskegee Airmen Way
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 15.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Pelhamwood Avenue
Turn right onto Pelhamwood Avenue
Navigation decision point
7
1.1 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Turn left toward Hutchinson River Parkway South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward Hutchinson River Parkway South
7
11.3 mi into trip
|
~19m in
|
I 678 / Van Wyck Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 678 / Van Wyck Expressway toward I 678 South: Kennedy Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 678 South: Kennedy Airport
8
15.5 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Take the exit toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue, Atlantic Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 6
Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue, Atlanti...
9
15.8 mi into trip
|
~26m 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
$2.83 one way
$5.66 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $3.06 | $6.12 |
| premium | $4.92 | $3.33 | $6.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.80 | $7.60 |
Estimated Tolls: $6.55
Whitestone Bridge
$6.55
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Tolls
$7
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 6 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 | 5.2 | 0 | $1.81 | $0.83 |
| Efficient EV | 4.3 | 0 | $1.51 | $0.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.9 | 0 | $2.41 | $1.10 |
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.
Destination
Jamaica, NY
Afternoon in Jamaica on Sunday
Local time
12:29 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
4 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
29m 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 highway-focused, with 81% of the journey utilizing major parkways and expressways. You'll spend a significant portion on the Hutchinson River Parkway, including a continuous stretch of 5.2 miles. The profile suggests a fast-paced experience dominated by highway driving, transitioning onto the Van Wyck Expressway and Whitestone Expressway as you approach your destination. Expect a relatively direct and efficient travel experience with minimal exposure to local roads.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 5.2 mi on Hutchinson River Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Hutchinson River Parkway and Van Wyck 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 Pelhamwood Avenue.
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 12 decision points packed into just 17.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 29m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Pelhamwood Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 11.3 miles (I 678 / Van Wyck Expressway): 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Pelham, NY to Jamaica, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Hutchinson River Parkway South along the way.
Hutchinson River Parkway South
1.1 mi in
|
~3m
About the Cities
Starting in Pelham, NY
Full guide →Founded 1788
Pelham is a town in Westchester County, New York. It contains villages called Pelham and Pelham Manor.
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 29m. Total distance: 17.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 5.2 miles on Hutchinson River Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $6.55 in tolls one way, starting with Whitestone 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: near the start (Pelhamwood Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 11.3 miles (I 678 / Van Wyck Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial and African Burial Ground 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 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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