Queens, NY to Steuben, NY is 265.6 miles and takes about 5h 28m via NY 17 and the New York State Thruway, with a fuel budget near $47 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, beginning in the Northeast's urban sprawl and heading toward a more rural Northeast destination. Given the short duration, it's a straightforward one-day drive. Plan for a mostly highway experience that's efficient for getting between these two points.
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
132.8 miles from Queens, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NY 17
117.5 mi
2h 15m
New York State Thruway
85.1 mi
1h 38m
NJ 17
14.7 mi
18m
NJ 4
6.7 mi
9m
NY 291
6.5 mi
9m
Town Barn Road
5.9 mi
10m
Van Wyck Expressway
5.7 mi
7m
I 95
4.8 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
NY 17
— 117.5 mi, about 2h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Queens, NY and Steuben, NY.
1
Start on 104th Street
300 ft·18 sec·104th Street
2
Turn left onto 107th Avenue
266 ft·16 sec·107th Avenue
3
Turn left onto 105th Street
0.1 mi·28 sec·105th Street
4
Turn right onto Liberty Avenue
1.5 mi·4 min·Liberty Avenue
5
Turn left onto Van Wyck Expressway East
77 ft·1 sec·Van Wyck Expressway East
Use the left / straight lanes.
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·20 sec
Toward I 678 North: Van Wyck Expressway, Whitestone Bridge, Bronx
7
Merge onto I 678
5.7 mi·7 min·Van Wyck Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 678
2.0 mi·2 min·Whitestone Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 678
1.3 mi·1 min·Bronx-Whitestone Bridge
10
Continue on I 678
0.8 mi·1 min·Hutchinson River Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 19S-W; 19NToward I 95 South, I 278 West, I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, Manhattan, New Haven ConnecticutUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·50 sec
Exit 19S-WToward I 95 South, I 278 West: George Washington Bridge, ManhattanUse the slight left lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward I 95 South
14
Merge onto I 95
4.8 mi·6 min·I 95
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
Toward Upper Level
16
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.6 mi·59 sec·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
17
Continue on I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
0.5 mi·48 sec·I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
0.6 mi·39 sec·I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; NJTP
0.1 mi·8 sec·I 95 EXPR; NJTP
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: HackensackUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 72AToward NJ 4 West: ParamusUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
22
Merge onto NJ 4
6.7 mi·9 min·NJ 4
Use the slight right lane.
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward GSP South, NJ 17 South, GSP North, NJ 17 North: Grand State Plaza, Newark, MahwahUse the straight lane.
24
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·36 sec
Toward NJ 17 North: MahwahUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Merge onto NJ 17
3.3 mi·4 min·NJ 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Continue on NJ 17
7.3 mi·9 min·NJ 17
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
Continue on NJ 17
0.7 mi·50 sec·NJ 17
28
Continue on NJ 17
3.3 mi·4 min·NJ 17
29
Continue on I 287; NY 17
0.2 mi·10 sec·I 287; NY 17
30
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 17
118 mi·2 hr 15 min·NY 17
Toward I 87 North, NY 17 North, New York State Thruway North: AlbanyUse the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
85 mi·1 hr 38 min·New York State Thruway
Toward I 90 West: Buffalo
32
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 790, NY 8, NY 12: UticaUse the slight right lane.
33
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·24 sec
34
Continue on North Genesee Street
0.1 mi·9 sec·North Genesee Street
35
Turn right onto Auert Avenue
327 ft·4 sec·Auert Avenue
36
Take the exit
0.2 mi·19 sec
37
Merge onto I 790; NY 5
0.7 mi·50 sec·I 790; NY 5
38
Continue on NY 49
3.8 mi·4 min·State Route 49
39
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
40
Turn right onto NY 291
6.5 mi·9 min·NY 291
41
At end of road, turn right onto NY 365
1.2 mi·1 min·State Highway 365
42
Continue on NY 365
0.6 mi·1 min·Main Street
43
Turn left onto Steuben Street
0.5 mi·53 sec·Steuben Street
44
Continue on NY 274
5.9 mi·10 min·Town Barn Road
45
Turn left onto CR 53
59 ft·1 sec·Soule Road
46
Arrive at destination
CR 53
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour drive, consider leaving Queens in the late morning to avoid the peak morning rush. The route is manageable in a single day, so you have flexibility with your timing. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you approach the 117.5-mile stretch on NY 17, as services might be less frequent in certain areas. The $47 fuel estimate is a good baseline, but it's always wise to have a little extra for unforeseen circumstances. A single stop should be sufficient for this distance.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 132.8 miles from Queens, NY, or about 2h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 117.5 miles.
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 58 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 132.8 miles or 2h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Steuben, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 265.6 miles and 5h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Queens, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on NY 17 for about 117.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 32
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.
8
11.7 mi into trip|~20m in
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 19S-W; 19N
Toward I 95 South, I 278 West, I 95 North: Geor...
10
11.9 mi into trip|~20m in
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
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 19S-W
Toward I 95 South, I 278 West: George Washingto...
8
19.8 mi into trip|~31m in
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
9
20 mi into trip|~32m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 4 West: Paramus
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 72A
Toward NJ 4 West: Paramus
8
27.1 mi into trip|~42m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 17 North: Mahwah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NJ 17 North: Mahwah
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.21 one way
$94.42 round trip
$4.52/gal25.4 MPG avg93 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.89
$51.11
$102.22
premium
$5.31
$55.56
$111.11
diesel
$6.20
$64.82
$129.64
Estimated Tolls: $26.80
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Whitestone Bridge
$6.55
New York State Thruway
(85.1 mi)$4.25
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
$47
Tolls
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$99–$124
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-05.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.7
0
$27.89
$12.75
Efficient EV
66.4
0
$23.24
$10.62
EV Truck/SUV
106.2
1
$37.18
$17.00
Gas CO2
93 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Oct 10, 2026
Origin
Queens, NY
Morning
in Queens on Sunday
Local time
7:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Partly Sunny
NE 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Steuben, NY
Morning
in Steuben on Sunday
Local time
7:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Patchy Frost then Sunny
E 3 mph1% chanceLive forecast
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
7 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 28m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Hamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
Merchant’s clerk, Revolutionary War soldier, first Secretary Treasury of the United States: Alexander Hamilton’s life is memorialized at The Grange, the home he built on a country estate in uptown Man...
The final resting place of President Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, Julia, is the largest mausoleum in North America. It testifies to a people’s gratitude for the man who ended the bloodiest conflict...
For centuries, the Oneida Carrying Place, a six-mile portage connecting the Mohawk River and Wood Creek, served as a vital link for those traveling by water from the ocean to the Great Lakes. When Eur...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 256.4
The African Burial Ground stands as the oldest and largest known excavated burial site in North America for both free and enslaved Africans. It offers a profound testament to the enduring legacy of Af...
Here at Federal Hall, George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States, marking the beginning of the American constitutional republic. This historic site served as...
Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City, the park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 63% of the 265.6 miles on high-speed roads. You'll encounter the longest continuous stretch on NY 17 for 117.5 miles. Expect a consistent flow of traffic and frequent exits in the earlier sections, transitioning to a more open cruising feel as you move through the state. The majority of your time will be spent on the New York State Thruway and connecting highways.
63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
46 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 117.5 mi on NY 17.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NY 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 11.7 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 265.6 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
928 ft36 ft
Total Climb
1,610 ft
Total Descent
718 ft
Highest Point
928 ft
~265.6 mi in
Elevation Range
892 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Queens, NY and Steuben, NY, road signs point toward Upper Level, Njtp South: Hackensack, Gsp South, Gsp North, Newark and Mahwah - among others.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 28m. Total distance: 265.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 28m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 117.5 miles on NY 17. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $26.80 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.
Yes — we found about 28 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Steuben, NY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 28 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
Yes — Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial and Fort Stanwix National Monument (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.5 hours each way, a round trip means 10.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Steuben, NY before the return drive.
