Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 49m
Distance
332.5 mi
535 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$55
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Queens, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Altona, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
This 332.5-mile journey from Queens, NY, to Altona, NY, will take approximately 6 hours and 49 minutes of driving time, making it a feasible, albeit long, day trip. You'll primarily navigate via the Adirondack Northway and NY 17, with a portion on Military Turnpike. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is around $55. As both your origin and destination are within the Northeast region, you'll remain in familiar territory throughout. With a mixed drive profile, expect a blend of highway and other road types. Planning for one planned stop is recommended to break up the drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
166.2 miles from Queens, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 28m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Adirondack Northway | 145.9 mi | 2h 49m |
| NY 17 | 111.7 mi | 2h 8m |
| Military Turnpike | 14.7 mi | 20m |
| NJ 17 | 14.7 mi | 18m |
| I 787 | 9 mi | 12m |
| NJ 4 | 6.7 mi | 9m |
| Van Wyck Expressway | 5.7 mi | 7m |
| I 95 | 4.8 mi | 6m |
Step-by-step road directions between Queens, NY and Altona, NY.
Start on 104th Street
Turn left onto 107th Avenue
Turn left onto 105th Street
Turn right onto Liberty Avenue
Turn left onto Van Wyck Expressway East
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 678
Merge onto I 678
Continue on I 678
Continue on I 678
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 95
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; US 1
Continue on I 95; US 1
Continue on I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; NJTP
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto NJ 4
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto NJ 17
Continue on NJ 17
Continue on NJ 17
Continue on NJ 17
Continue on I 287; NY 17
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 17
Take the exit
Continue on I 787
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 787
Take the exit
Merge onto NY 7
Take the exit
Merge onto I 87
Take the exit
Turn left onto NY 3
Turn right onto NY 190
Turn right onto CR 16
Turn right onto CR 23
Arrive at destination
To make the most of this 6-hour, 49-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Queens to maximize daylight and minimize traffic. While it's manageable in one day, plan for that one recommended stop to stretch your legs and refuel. The longest stretch on the Adirondack Northway is over 145 miles, so ensure you're comfortable with extended driving periods before embarking. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as a $55 estimate suggests you'll need to plan for at least one fill-up along the way.
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 is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 73 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 166.2 miles or 3h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Altona, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Queens, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Queens, NY
This is one driving day of about 332.5 miles and 6h 49m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
166 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.
A short stop after about 73 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 166.2 miles from Queens, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Adirondack Northway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 145.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 11.7 and 27.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 95 South, I 278 West, I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, Manhattan, New Haven Connecticut
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South, I 278 West: George Washington Bridge, Manhattan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 4 West: Paramus
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 17 North: Mahwah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$54.73 one way
$109.46 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $59.18 | $118.36 |
| premium | $4.92 | $64.44 | $128.89 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $73.41 | $146.82 |
Estimated Tolls: $23.58
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
$55
Tolls
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$103–$128
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 116.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 99.8 | 1 | $34.91 | $15.96 |
| Efficient EV | 83.1 | 0 | $29.09 | $13.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 133 | 1 | $46.55 | $21.28 |
Gas CO2
116 kg
EV CO2
39 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Queens on Saturday
Local time
11:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Night in Altona on Saturday
Local time
11:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
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.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
The road character here is a mixed drive, with 53% of it being highway. You'll experience a significant uninterrupted stretch of 145.9 miles on the Adirondack Northway, offering a chance for steady progress. As you transition between major roadways like NY 17 and Military Turnpike, the driving experience will likely shift from faster highway speeds to potentially more varied conditions. This route offers a dynamic driving experience rather than a monotonous interstate cruise.
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 11.7 miles in.
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 32 significant decision points across 332.5 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 11.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Queens, NY and Altona, NY, road signs point toward Upper Level, Njtp South: Hackensack, Gsp South, Gsp North, Newark and Mahwah - among others.
Upper Level
Njtp South: Hackensack
Gsp South
Gsp North
Newark
Mahwah
New York State Thruway North: Albany
Troy
Saratoga Springs
Glens Falls
Saranac Lake
Founded 1683
Queens is a crescent-shaped (with a tail) borough traversing the north-to-south width of Long Island and including two of the major New York City area airports, LaGuardia (LGA IATA) and John F. Kennedy International (JFK IATA). It also carries the largest ethnic diversity in its area of any region in the world, with many small enclaves. Jackson Heights, for example, includes a huge Indian area, followed by a Colombian area, and then a Mexican area. Each offers a wide array of authentic shops, native-style cuisine, and festivals modified only slightly by the generally colder New York City experience.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 49m. Total distance: 332.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 49m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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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