This 67.9-mile drive from Riverhead, NY to Queens, NY will take you approximately 1 hour and 37 minutes. It's a straightforward day trip, so you won't need to worry about overnight stays. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $11, making it an affordable option. You'll primarily be navigating on Sunrise Highway and Rockaway Boulevard, with some segments on East Moriches-Riverhead Road. This route is characterized by frequent turns, so be prepared for a more involved driving experience than a simple highway cruise. It's a local-feeling drive that keeps you engaged throughout.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
33.9 miles from Riverhead, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Sunrise Highway
54.6 mi
1h 13m
East Moriches-Riverhead Road
5.3 mi
7m
Rockaway Boulevard
3.2 mi
7m
Center Drive South
1.7 mi
2m
Belt Parkway
1.3 mi
1m
North Conduit Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
103rd Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Nugent Drive
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Sunrise Highway
— 54.6 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Riverhead, NY and Queens, NY.
1
Start on NY 25
140 ft·10 sec·East Main Street
2
Turn left onto CR 63
0.1 mi·17 sec·Peconic Avenue
3
Turn right onto CR 94
0.1 mi·19 sec·Nugent Drive
Use the right lane.
4
Take the exit
290 ft·6 sec
Toward CR 51 south: Suffolk County Offices, Criminal/Surrogate/Family Courts, Suffolk County Community College - Riverhead Campus, East MorichesUse the left lane.
5
Merge onto CR 51
1.7 mi·2 min·Center Drive South
6
Continue on CR 51
5.3 mi·7 min·East Moriches-Riverhead Road
7
Take the ramp
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward NY 27 West: New YorkUse the right lane.
8
Merge onto NY 27
55 mi·1 hr 13 min·Sunrise Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi·18 sec
Toward Belt Parkway West, Verrazano Bridge
10
Merge onto BP
1.3 mi·1 min·Belt Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 21AToward Rockaway BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn straight onto NY 27
0.3 mi·45 sec·North Conduit Avenue
13
Turn right onto Rockaway Boulevard
0.5 mi·50 sec·Rockaway Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto Rockaway Boulevard
2.7 mi·6 min·Rockaway Boulevard
Use the left lane.
15
Turn right onto 103rd Street
0.2 mi·36 sec·103rd Street
16
Turn right onto Liberty Avenue
257 ft·11 sec·Liberty Avenue
17
Turn right onto 104th Street
205 ft·9 sec·104th Street
18
Arrive at destination
104th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 1 hour and 37-minute duration, starting your journey in the morning can help you avoid potential traffic congestion as you get closer to Queens. There are no specific stops recommended, so you have the flexibility to take breaks as needed. Keep an eye on your fuel, with an estimated cost of $11 for the trip. A practical tip for this route: pay close attention to speed limit changes, as you'll be transitioning between different local road regulations frequently. This will help you maintain a smooth and legal drive.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 33.9 miles from Riverhead, NY, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 54.6 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 15 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.9 miles or 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Queens, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Riverhead, NY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Riverhead, NY
This is one driving day of about 67.9 miles and 1h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Riverhead, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Sunrise Highway for about 54.6 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 65 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|CR 94 / Nugent Drive
Turn right onto CR 94 / Nugent Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in
Take the exit toward CR 51 south: Suffolk County Offices, Criminal/Surrogate/Family Courts, Suffolk County Community College - Riverhead Campus, East Moriches
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward CR 51 south: Suffolk County Offices, Cri...
5
7.3 mi into trip|~10m in
Take the ramp toward NY 27 West: New York
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward NY 27 West: New York
7
64 mi into trip|~1h 27m in
Take the exit toward Rockaway Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 21A
Toward Rockaway Boulevard
6
65 mi into trip|~1h 29m in|Rockaway Boulevard
Keep slight left at fork onto Rockaway Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.18 one way
$22.35 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$12.09
$24.17
premium
$4.92
$13.16
$26.32
diesel
$5.61
$14.99
$29.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.4
0
$7.13
$3.26
Efficient EV
17
0
$5.94
$2.72
EV Truck/SUV
27.2
0
$9.51
$4.35
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Riverhead, NY
Late night
in Riverhead on Sunday
Local time
3:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Queens, NY
Late night
in Queens on Sunday
Local time
3:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live 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
5 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
1h 37m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Fire Island National Seashore
National Seashore
Immerse yourself in an enchanting collage of coastal life and history. Rhythmic waves, high dunes, ancient maritime forests, historic landmarks and glimpses of wildlife, Fire Island has been a special...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 23.4
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...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 67.9
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...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 67.9
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...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 67.9
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...
9 mi from route
~24 min detour
Free
near mile 67.9
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...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 67.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this trip, meaning you'll encounter numerous intersections and changes in direction rather than long, straight stretches. With a highway share of only two, most of your journey will be on local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 54.6 miles on Sunrise Highway. As you progress, the road will likely shift from more open stretches to increasingly urban environments as you approach Queens. This drive demands your attention with its dynamic nature.
Only 2% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 54.6 mi on Sunrise Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 0.1 miles in near CR 94 / Nugent Drive.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 67.9 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (CR 94 / Nugent Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.3 miles: 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.
On the drive from Riverhead, NY to Queens, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Belt Parkway West along the way.
Riverhead is a town on Long Island in New York. It is the western half of Long Island's North Fork. The town of Riverhead includes the following communities: Aquebogue, Baiting Hollow, Calverton, Jamesport, Northville, & Riverhead (hamlet).
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 1h 37m. Total distance: 67.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 54.6 miles on Sunrise Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Queens, 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: at 0.1 miles (CR 94 / Nugent Drive): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Fire Island National Seashore, African Burial Ground National Monument and Federal Hall National Memorial (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 Queens, NY before heading back.
