Origin
Selden, NY
Morning in Selden on Sunday
Local time
9:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Selden, NY to New York City, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 26m
Distance
58.4 mi
94 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 31m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 39m
8 PM
1h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Selden, NY
Wikimedia Commons
New York City, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Driving from Selden to New York City is a straightforward 58.4-mile trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 26 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight lodging. You should budget approximately $9 for fuel to complete the journey. The drive connects the suburban landscape of Long Island directly into the heart of the city. Since the entire trip takes place within the Northeast region, you will experience a consistent transition from residential areas to the dense urban environment of New York City.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Long Island Expressway | 46.4 mi | 1h 2m |
| Nicolls Road | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Brooklyn-Queens Expressway | 2 mi | 3m |
| Williamsburg Bridge | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| Middle Country Road | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Delancey Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Broadway | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Kenmare Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Long Island Expressway
— 46.4 mi, about 1h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Selden, NY and New York City, NY.
1
Start on NY 25
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Middle Country Road
Use the left lane.
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
Toward CR 97 south: Blue Point
Use the left lane.
3
Merge onto CR 97
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Nicolls Road
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
Toward I 495 West: New York
Use the right lane.
5
Turn straight onto Express Drive North
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Express Drive North
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I-495 west: New York
7
Merge onto I 495
46 mi
·
1 hr 2 min
·
Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Exit 17W
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn, 48th Street
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 278
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
12
Keep slight left at fork onto Williamsburg Bridge
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Williamsburg Bridge
Exit 32A
Toward Williamsburg Bridge, Manhattan
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto Williamsburg Bridge
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Williamsburg Bridge
Use the slight left lane.
14
Continue on Delancey Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Delancey Street
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on Kenmare Street
0.2 mi
·
57 sec
·
Kenmare Street
16
At end of road, turn left onto Lafayette Street
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
Lafayette Street
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto Howard Street
510 ft
·
24 sec
·
Howard Street
18
Turn left onto Broadway
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Broadway
Use the straight lane.
19
Arrive at destination
Broadway
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 29.2 miles from Selden, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 4.5 and 57.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
4.5 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward I 495 West: New York
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 495 West: New York
7
51.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m 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
7
52.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
9
55.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
|
Williamsburg Bridge
Keep slight left at fork onto Williamsburg Bridge toward Williamsburg Bridge, Manhattan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 32A
Toward Williamsburg Bridge, Manhattan
7
57.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
|
Lafayette Street
At end of road, turn left onto Lafayette Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.61 one way
$19.23 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $10.39 | $20.79 |
| premium | $4.92 | $11.32 | $22.64 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.89 | $25.79 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.5 | 0 | $6.13 | $2.80 |
| Efficient EV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.11 | $2.34 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.4 | 0 | $8.18 | $3.74 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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.
Destination
New York City, NY
Morning in New York City on Sunday
Local time
9:28 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
E 6 to 14 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 18 at 2:37AM EDT until April 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Burlington VT
49°F
North Hills, NY
29 mi in
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 26m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 83% of this drive is spent on major arterial roads. You will navigate a mix of Nicolls Road, the Long Island Expressway, and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway to reach your destination. The most significant portion of your time behind the wheel involves a 46.4-mile stretch along the Long Island Expressway, which serves as the backbone of your journey. While the route is efficient for travel, be prepared for the fast-paced, high-traffic nature of these major expressways as you move closer to the city.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.4 mi on Long Island Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Island Expressway and Nicolls Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 58.4 miles you will encounter 15 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 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 51.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
197 ft
8 ft
Total Climb
292 ft
Total Descent
345 ft
Highest Point
197 ft
~29.2 mi in
Elevation Range
190 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Selden, NY to New York City, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Manhattan along the way.
Manhattan
55.1 mi in
|
~1h 16m
|
via Williamsburg Bridge
About the Cities
Starting in Selden, NY
Full guide →Arriving in New York City, NY
Full guide →“The City That Never Sleeps” · Founded 1624
New York (known as "The Big Apple", "NYC," and often called "New York City") is a global center for media, entertainment, art, fashion, research, finance, and trade. The bustling, cosmopolitan heart of the 4th largest metropolis in the world and by far the most populous city in the United States, New York has long been a key entry point and a defining city for the nation. From the Statue of Liberty in the harbor to the Empire State Building towering over the Manhattan skyline, from the tunnels of the subway to the riches of Wall Street, from the bright signs of Times Square to the naturalistic beauty of Central Park, and from Yankee Stadium in the Bronx to Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York's landmarks are quintessential American landmarks. The city's neighborhoods and streets are so iconic they have become ingrained into the American consciousness.
Top landmarks
- • Statue of Liberty — American icon in New York, United States
- • National September 11 Memorial & Museum — memorial & museum in New York City commemorating the September 11, 2001 attacks
- • Plaza Hotel — hotel in Midtown Manhattan, New York City
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
This 58.4-mile drive is absolutely doable as a same-day round trip for a weekend getaway. You'll be back before you know it, with only 1 hour and 26 minutes of driving time each way.
Family Friendly
This 58.4-mile drive is short enough for kids, but the 10/10 complexity rating for navigation might be stressful for a family trip, especially with zero breaks planned.
Solo Traveler
At just 58.4 miles, this is a comfortable distance for a solo drive, though the 10/10 complexity rating means you'll need to stay sharp on navigation. It's not exactly a scenic adventure, but it gets you there quickly.
EV Driver
With 19 EV DC fast chargers available and a total distance of only 58.4 miles, you won't have any range anxiety on this trip. Most EVs can easily make this journey on a single charge.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 46.4 miles on Long Island Expressway. 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 New York City, 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 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 51.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — African Burial Ground National Monument, Castle Clinton 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 New York City, NY before heading back.
How this page is built
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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