Rapids, NY to Jamaica, NY is 386.4 miles and takes about 8h 9m via I 81, New York State Thruway, Keystone Shortway, with a fuel budget near $64 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Northeast region, mostly navigating through New York. Expect a fairly straightforward journey, though it involves a significant amount of local road driving mixed with highway travel. Given the duration and distance, it's certainly achievable in a single day if you get an early start. Consider this route if you're looking for a direct path with a moderate fuel cost and don't mind a bit of varied driving.
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
193.2 miles from Rapids, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
98.8 mi
1h 57m
New York State Thruway
80.7 mi
1h 33m
Keystone Shortway
80 mi
1h 37m
I 380
23.6 mi
25m
East Lake Road
9.9 mi
14m
State Highway 41
9.8 mi
13m
Clark Street Road
9.6 mi
11m
Main Road
7.6 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 98.8 mi, about 1h 57m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 168 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,210 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,900
Quietest
1 AM
~430 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.8×
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 Rapids, NY and Jamaica, NY.
1
Start on Tonawanda Creek Road North
55 ft·5 sec·Tonawanda Creek Road North
2
Turn right onto Rapids Road
0.5 mi·47 sec·Rapids Road
3
Continue on Goodrich Road
0.2 mi·22 sec·Goodrich Road
4
Turn left onto Tonawanda Creek Road
2.0 mi·3 min·Tonawanda Creek Road
5
Continue on CR 560
6.8 mi·9 min·Salt Road
6
Turn left onto NY 5
1.9 mi·2 min·Main Street
7
Continue on NY 5
7.6 mi·10 min·Main Road
8
Turn left onto NY 77
0.7 mi·1 min·Alleghany Road
9
Take the exit
369 ft·9 sec
10
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·15 sec·this road
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward I 90 East: AlbanyUse the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto I 90
81 mi·1 hr 33 min·New York State Thruway
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·58 sec
Exit 41Toward NY 414: Waterloo, ClydeUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
327 ft·7 sec
15
Continue on NY 414
0.3 mi·35 sec·State Route 414
16
Turn left onto NY 318
4.1 mi·7 min·NY 318
Use the left lane.
17
At end of road, turn left onto US 20; NY 5
1.9 mi·2 min·Auburn Road
18
Continue on US 20; NY 5
9.6 mi·11 min·Clark Street Road
Use the straight lane.
19
Turn right onto State Street
226 ft·12 sec·State Street
20
Turn left onto Dill Street
0.1 mi·21 sec·Dill Street
21
Continue on Loop Road
458 ft·16 sec·Loop Road
22
Turn left onto Genesee Street
5.5 mi·9 min·Genesee Street
23
Continue on US 20
2.2 mi·4 min·West Genesee Street Road
24
Turn right onto NY 41
0.5 mi·45 sec·East Lake Street
25
Continue on NY 41
9.4 mi·13 min·East Lake Road
26
Continue on NY 41
4.8 mi·7 min·State Route 41
27
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi·49 sec·East Lake Road
28
Continue on NY 41
9.8 mi·13 min·State Highway 41
29
Turn right onto NY 281
1.2 mi·2 min·North West Street
30
Take the ramp
0.7 mi·1 min
Use the left lane.
31
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 81 South: Binghamton
32
Merge onto I 81
45 mi·54 min·I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
53 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 81
Toward I 81 South: ScrantonUse the straight lane.
34
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
0.8 mi·1 min·US 6
Exit 187Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt PoconoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
35
Continue on I 84; I 380
3.7 mi·4 min·I 84; I 380
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, MilfordUse the straight lane.
36
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
24 mi·25 min·I 380
Exit 4Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
37
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 1BToward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
38
Merge onto I 80
80 mi·1 hr 37 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
39
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·5 min·Christopher Columbus Highway
Toward I 95: George Washington Bridge Lower LevelUse the slight right lane.
40
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·23 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
41
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 70A-BToward Leonia, TeaneckUse the slight right lane.
42
Turn right
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 70AToward LeoniaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
43
Turn straight onto CR 56
454 ft·9 sec·Degraw Avenue
44
Continue on CR 56
1.1 mi·2 min·Fort Lee Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
45
Continue on CR 56
469 ft·13 sec·Main Street
46
Take the ramp
472 ft·12 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge
47
Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46
0.3 mi·28 sec·Bergen Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
48
Take the exit
312 ft·4 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level
49
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.3 mi·20 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
50
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
51
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
52
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
53
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.4 mi·5 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
54
Take the exit
0.9 mi·2 min
Exit 6AToward I 678 South: Whitestone Bridge, QueensUse the straight / slight right lanes.
55
Merge onto I 678
0.8 mi·1 min·Hutchinson River Expressway
56
Continue on I 678
1.3 mi·2 min·Bronx-Whitestone Bridge
57
Continue on I 678
2.3 mi·3 min·Whitestone Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
58
Keep slight left at fork onto I 678
4.3 mi·6 min·Van Wyck Expressway
Toward I 678 South: Kennedy AirportUse the slight left lane.
59
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 6Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue, Atlantic AvenueUse the right lane.
60
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·13 sec
Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica AvenueUse the slight right lane.
61
Turn straight onto Van Wyck Expressway West
0.9 mi·2 min·Van Wyck Expressway West
Use the straight / right lanes.
62
Turn left onto Liberty Avenue
0.2 mi·25 sec·Liberty Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
63
Turn right onto Inwood Street
0.2 mi·44 sec·Inwood Street
64
Turn right onto Tuskegee Airmen Way
56 ft·2 sec·Tuskegee Airmen Way
65
Arrive at destination
Tuskegee Airmen Way
Trip Plan
To best tackle this 386.4-mile trip, consider departing early in the morning to maximize daylight, especially given the "turn-heavy local drive" profile which can slow you down. With a recommended 2 days for the journey, you can comfortably split the drive, making your longest stretch of 98.8 miles on I 81 a manageable part of either day. Plan for about 2 fuel stops to stay ahead of the estimated $64 fuel cost. Keep an eye out for changing speed limits as you transition between major highways like the New York State Thruway and local roads.
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 193.2 miles from Rapids, NY, or about 4h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.8 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 85 miles or 1h 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 193.2 miles or 4h 11m 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 193.2 miles or 4h 11m
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 6h 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jamaica, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Rapids, 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 Rapids, NY
Aim for roughly 193 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Jamaica, NY
Aim for roughly 193 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 85 miles from Rapids, 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 I 81 for about 98.8 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 43
5 decision points cluster between mile 19.9 and 385 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
19.9 mi into trip|~29m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 90 East: Albany
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 90 East: Albany
8
100.8 mi into trip|~2h 3m in
Take the exit toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 41
Toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
9
251.1 mi into trip|~5h 19m in|US 6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6 toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 187
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbo...
9
366 mi into trip|~7h 36m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Leonia, Teaneck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 70A-B
Toward Leonia, Teaneck
9
385 mi into trip|~8h 6m 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
$62.51 one way
$125.02 round trip
$4.11/gal25.4 MPG avg135 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$67.83
$135.67
premium
$4.85
$73.75
$147.50
diesel
$4.80
$72.96
$145.92
Estimated Tolls: $26.59
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Whitestone Bridge
$6.55
New York State Thruway
(80.7 mi)$4.04
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
$63
Tolls
$27
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$219–$329
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 135.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
115.9
1
$40.57
$18.55
Efficient EV
96.6
1
$33.81
$15.46
EV Truck/SUV
154.6
1
$54.10
$24.73
Gas CO2
135 kg
EV CO2
45 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
Rapids, NY
Late night
in Rapids on Sunday
Local time
3:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Smoke
NE 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Jamaica, NY
Late night
in Jamaica on Sunday
Local time
3:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Smoke
NW 6 to 10 mph8% chanceLive forecast
84°F
Barton, NY
193 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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
8h 9m 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.
Harriet Tubman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Harriet Tubman was guided by a deep faith and devotion to family, freedom, and community. After emancipating herself and members of her family, she moved them from Ontario, Canada to Fleming and Aubur...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 119.9
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 373.1
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...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 373.1
Women’s Rights National Historical Park tells the story of the first Women’s Rights Convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York on July 19-20, 1848. It is a story of struggles for civil rights, human r...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 106.6
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...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 386.4
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...
10 mi from route
~24 min detour
Free
near mile 373.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route offers a "turn-heavy local drive" experience, with only 42% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter a mix of faster-paced highway segments, including a notable stretch of 98.8 miles on I 81, and more winding local roads. The profile suggests frequent changes in direction and speed limits, so be prepared for a dynamic drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. This means you'll likely be adjusting your speed and navigating more often, making the 8h 9m duration feel more engaged.
Only 42% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
65 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98.8 mi on I 81.
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 19.9 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 43 significant decision points across 386.4 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 19.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 100.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 251.1 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
1,827 ft41 ft
Total Climb
3,106 ft
Total Descent
3,656 ft
Highest Point
1,827 ft
~276 mi in
Elevation Range
1,785 ft
Notable High Points
1,690 ft at ~138 miles+557 ft prominence
1,827 ft at ~276 miles+901 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Rapids, NY and Jamaica, NY, road signs point toward Clyde, Mt Pocono, Milford, New York City, Leonia and Teaneck.
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.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 98.8 miles on I 81. 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 193 miles on day one.
Expect about $26.59 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 42 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 Jamaica, 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 42 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 19.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 100.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 251.1 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, General Grant National Memorial and Hamilton Grange National Memorial (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.2 hours each way, a round trip means 16.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Jamaica, NY before the return drive.
