Queens, NY to Stockton, NY is 396.4 miles and takes about 8h 36m via Keystone Shortway, with a fuel budget near $72 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, passing through the Northeast region. It's a longer drive that's generally best tackled over two days, especially if you prefer a more relaxed pace. The route utilizes a mix of road types, so don't expect continuous highway speeds for the entire journey. Consider this if you're looking for a straightforward drive without extensive planning.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
198.2 miles from Queens, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
200 mi
3h 44m
Christopher Columbus Highway
44.6 mi
52m
Market Street
15.6 mi
19m
US 219
12.3 mi
18m
US 46
10.8 mi
12m
NJ 3
10.2 mi
12m
Montmorenci Road
8.8 mi
13m
PA 948
8.6 mi
12m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 200 mi, about 3h 44m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 149 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,027 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,623
Quietest
1 AM
~343 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Queens, NY and Stockton, NY.
1
Start on 104th Street
0.2 mi·45 sec·104th Street
2
Turn sharp right onto Rockaway Boulevard
0.5 mi·57 sec·Rockaway Boulevard
3
Turn right onto Woodhaven Boulevard
4.0 mi·10 min·Woodhaven Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·19 sec
Toward I 495 West: Long Island Expressway, Midtown TunnelUse the right lane.
5
Merge onto I 495
1.8 mi·2 min·Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 17WToward I 278 West: BrooklynUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·49 sec
Toward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel, ManhattanUse the slight left lane.
8
Merge onto I 495
1.4 mi·2 min·Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 495
1.3 mi·2 min·Queens-Midtown Tunnel
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward Crosstown, 37th StreetUse the slight left lane.
11
Turn slight left onto East 37th Street
1.1 mi·3 min·East 37th Street
Use the slight left lane.
12
Take the ramp
474 ft·11 sec
Toward Lincoln Tunnel
13
Turn right
342 ft·11 sec
Use the right lane.
14
Merge onto NY 495
105 ft·4 sec·Lincoln Tunnel Expressway
15
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 495
3.7 mi·6 min·Lincoln Tunnel Expressway
Toward Lincoln TunnelUse the straight / slight left lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi·29 sec
Toward NJ 3 West: SecaucusUse the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork
453 ft·7 sec
Toward NJ 3 West: CliftonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Merge onto NJ 3
10 mi·12 min·NJ 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto US 46
11 mi·12 min·US 46
Use the straight lane.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward I 80 West: Dover, Del Water Gap
21
Continue on I 80W
1.6 mi·1 min·Interstate 80 West
Toward I 287: Morristown, MahwahUse the straight / slight left lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·21 sec
Toward I 80 West: Delaware Water GapUse the straight / slight left lanes.
23
Merge onto I 80
45 mi·52 min·Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·8 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
195 mi·3 hr 35 min·Keystone Shortway
26
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward PA 153: Clearfield, Penfield
27
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·32 sec
28
Turn straight onto PA 153
7.5 mi·13 min·State Park Road
29
Continue on PA 153
5.0 mi·8 min·Hoovertown Road
30
Continue on PA 153
3.7 mi·6 min·Penfield Road
31
At end of road, turn right onto US 219
12 mi·18 min·US 219
32
Turn right onto PA 948
1.0 mi·2 min·Montmorenci Avenue
33
Continue on PA 948
8.8 mi·13 min·Montmorenci Road
34
Continue on PA 948
5.4 mi·7 min·Highland Road
35
At end of road, turn left onto PA 66
2.7 mi·3 min·Kane-Russell City Road
36
Take the exit onto PA 948
8.6 mi·12 min·PA 948
37
Continue on PA 666
2.3 mi·4 min·PA 666
38
At end of road, turn left onto US 6
1.2 mi·2 min·West Main Street
39
Continue on US 6
4.5 mi·6 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
40
Continue on US 6
1.4 mi·2 min·South Main Street
41
Continue on US 6
2.9 mi·4 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
42
Continue on US 6
0.2 mi·35 sec·Main Street
43
Continue on US 6
1.8 mi·3 min·Crescent Park
Use the straight lane.
44
Continue on Crescent Park
0.4 mi·1 min·Crescent Park
Use the right lane.
45
Turn right onto Hickory Bridge
0.1 mi·17 sec·Hickory Bridge
Use the right lane.
46
Continue on Hickory Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Hickory Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
47
Turn right onto US 62
0.2 mi·23 sec·West 4th Avenue
48
Turn left onto US 62
16 mi·19 min·Market Street
49
At end of road, turn left onto NY 60
0.2 mi·15 sec·Foote Avenue
50
Turn right onto Martin Road
2.1 mi·3 min·Martin Road
51
Turn right onto Glenview Avenue
0.1 mi·22 sec·Glenview Avenue
52
Turn left onto West Virginia Boulevard
0.4 mi·53 sec·West Virginia Boulevard
53
Continue on Maple Street
0.4 mi·51 sec·Maple Street
54
Continue on Allen Street
0.2 mi·29 sec·Allen Street
55
Turn left onto Winsor Street
161 ft·5 sec·Winsor Street
56
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·22 sec·this road
57
Continue on Winsor Street Bridge
0.8 mi·2 min·Winsor Street Bridge
58
At end of road, turn left onto Newton Avenue
73 ft·5 sec·Newton Avenue
59
Turn right onto Lakeview Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·Lakeview Avenue
60
Turn left onto Marvin Parkway
0.2 mi·28 sec·Marvin Parkway
61
Turn right onto NY 60
283 ft·6 sec·North Main Street
62
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 60
0.2 mi·21 sec·North Main Street
63
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 60
3.7 mi·5 min·North Main Street
64
Continue on NY 60
1.5 mi·2 min·NY-60
65
Continue on NY 60
0.2 mi·31 sec·NY-60
66
Continue on NY 60
3.7 mi·5 min·North Main Street
67
Continue on NY 60
7.3 mi·10 min·State Highway 60
68
Continue on NY 60
0.4 mi·33 sec·South Main Street
69
Turn left onto CR 58
1.0 mi·2 min·Maple Avenue
70
Continue on CR 58
2.0 mi·3 min·Cassadaga-Stockton Road
71
Continue on East Railroad Avenue
0.2 mi·25 sec·East Railroad Avenue
72
Turn right onto North Main Street
31 ft·0 sec·North Main Street
73
Arrive at destination
North Main Street
Trip Plan
With an 8.5-hour estimated drive time, splitting this trip over two days is highly recommended. Aim to leave early on your first day to cover a significant portion, perhaps around 200 miles on the Keystone Shortway, before stopping for the night. This allows you to break up the drive and avoid feeling rushed. The remaining distance on surface roads will be more manageable the following day. Keep an eye on your fuel; with a budget of $72, you'll want to refuel strategically, especially before hitting longer stretches on surface roads where services might be less frequent. Plan for about 2 stops to break up the drive.
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 drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 198.2 miles from Queens, NY, or about 4h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 200 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 87 miles or 1h 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 198.2 miles or 4h 3m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 198.2 miles or 4h 3m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Stockton, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Queens, NY
Aim for roughly 198 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Stockton, NY
Aim for roughly 198 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 87 miles from Queens, NY.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Keystone Shortway for about 200 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 49
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.6 and 16.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
6.6 mi into trip|~15m in
Take the exit toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 17W
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
8
7.6 mi into trip|~16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel, Manhattan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel, Manhattan
8
10.8 mi into trip|~22m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Crosstown, 37th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Crosstown, 37th Street
7
12.3 mi into trip|~27m in|NY 495 / Lincoln Tunnel Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 495 / Lincoln Tunnel Expressway toward Lincoln Tunnel
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward Lincoln Tunnel
8
16.2 mi into trip|~34m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 3 West: Clifton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NJ 3 West: Clifton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$64.13 one way
$128.25 round trip
$4.11/gal25.4 MPG avg139 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$69.59
$139.18
premium
$4.85
$75.66
$151.32
diesel
$4.80
$74.85
$149.70
Estimated Tolls: $16.00
Lincoln Tunnel
$16.00
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
$64
Tolls
$16
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$210–$320
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 138.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
118.9
1
$41.62
$19.03
Efficient EV
99.1
1
$34.69
$15.86
EV Truck/SUV
158.6
1
$55.50
$25.37
Gas CO2
139 kg
EV CO2
46 kg (67% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Queens, NY
Morning
in Queens on Sunday
Local time
11:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Smoke
NW 6 to 13 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Stockton, NY
Morning
in Stockton on Sunday
Local time
11:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Smoke
N 1 to 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
85°F
Waverly, NY
198 mi in
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
12 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
8h 36m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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.
Stonewall National Monument
National Monument
Before the 1960s, almost everything about living authentically as a lesbian, a bisexual person or a gay man was illegal. The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969 is a milestone in the quest for civil r...
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...
Located at the southern tip of Manhattan, Castle Clinton marks the place where New York City began and reflects the growth of both the city and the nation. Built to defend the harbor during the War of...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 13.7
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 13.7
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...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 13.7
From 1794 to 1966, the U.S. Army presence on Governors Island played a vital role in the social, political, and economic life of New York City. The island then served as the headquarters of the U.S. C...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 13.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive has a highway share of 16%, meaning most of your time will be spent on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a main road is 200 miles on the Keystone Shortway. After this, you'll transition to surface roads, so be prepared for more frequent intersections and potentially slower speeds. You'll notice a shift from highway cruising to navigating local streets and towns. The profile is mostly surface roads, so plan for this change in driving conditions.
Only 16% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
73 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 200 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.6 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 49 significant decision points across 396.4 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 6.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,143 ft36 ft
Total Climb
4,207 ft
Total Descent
2,917 ft
Highest Point
2,143 ft
~283.2 mi in
Elevation Range
2,107 ft
Notable High Points
1,035 ft at ~56.6 miles+703 ft prominence
1,652 ft at ~113.3 miles+642 ft prominence
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 Stockton, NY, road signs point toward Del Water Gap, Mahwah and Penfield.
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.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 200 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 198 miles on day one.
Expect about $16.00 in tolls one way, starting with Lincoln Tunnel. 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 43 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 Stockton, 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 43 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Stonewall National Monument, African Burial Ground National Monument and Castle Clinton 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 8.6 hours each way, a round trip means 17.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Stockton, NY before the return drive.
