Origin
Sheepshead Bay, NY
Morning in Sheepshead Bay on Sunday
Local time
6:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Sheepshead Bay, NY to Jamaica, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
24m
Distance
14.1 mi
23 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 22m
★
6 AM
0h 24m
8 AM
0h 29m
10 AM
0h 26m
12 PM
0h 26m
3 PM
0h 26m
5 PM
0h 28m
8 PM
0h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Sheepshead Bay, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Jamaica, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Sheepshead Bay to Jamaica is 14.1 miles and takes about 24 minutes via Belt Parkway and Van Wyck Expressway, with a fuel budget near $2 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within New York, making it a convenient local drive. Given its highway-focused profile and short duration, it's best suited for a quick transit rather than an extended excursion. You'll primarily be on major parkways and expressways, so expect consistent traffic flow, especially during peak hours. Consider this route for its directness and efficiency if you're looking to cover ground quickly between these two New York locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Belt Parkway | 8.2 mi | 12m |
| Van Wyck Expressway | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Nassau Expressway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Nostrand Avenue | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Shore Parkway | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Avenue Y | 0.2 mi | 1m |
| Inwood Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Liberty Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Belt Parkway
— 8.2 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Sheepshead Bay, NY and Jamaica, NY.
1
Start on Avenue Y
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Avenue Y
2
Turn right onto Nostrand Avenue
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Nostrand Avenue
3
Turn left onto Shore Parkway
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Shore Parkway
4
Turn right onto Knapp Street
451 ft
·
22 sec
·
Knapp Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Toward Belt Parkway East, Kennedy Airport
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto BP
8.2 mi
·
12 min
·
Belt Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 19
Toward NY 878, I 678: Nassau Expressway, Van Wyck Expressway, Kennedy Airport
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward NY 878, I 678: Nassau Expressway, Kennedy Airport, Van Wyck Expressway
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto NY 878
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Nassau Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 1N
Toward I 678 North: Bronx, Whitestone Bridge, Van Wyck Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto I 678
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
Van Wyck Expressway
12
Keep slight left at fork
65 ft
·
1 sec
Exit 2
Toward Rockaway Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 2
Toward Rockaway Boulevard
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
15
Continue on I 678
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Van Wyck Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
16
Take the exit
504 ft
·
15 sec
Exit 4
Toward Liberty Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
17
Continue on Van Wyck Expressway East
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Van Wyck Expressway East
18
Turn right onto Liberty Avenue
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Liberty Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
19
Turn right onto Inwood Street
0.2 mi
·
44 sec
·
Inwood Street
20
Turn right onto Tuskegee Airmen Way
56 ft
·
2 sec
·
Tuskegee Airmen Way
21
Arrive at destination
Tuskegee Airmen Way
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 12 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1.2 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Turn left toward Belt Parkway East, Kennedy Airport
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward Belt Parkway East, Kennedy Airport
8
9.8 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward NY 878, I 678: Nassau Expressway, Van Wyck Expressway, Kennedy Airport
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 19
Toward NY 878, I 678: Nassau Expressway, Van Wy...
8
10.1 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NY 878, I 678: Nassau Expressway, Kennedy Airport, Van Wyck Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward NY 878, I 678: Nassau Expressway, Kenned...
8
11.4 mi into trip
|
~19m in
Take the exit toward I 678 North: Bronx, Whitestone Bridge, Van Wyck Expressway
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 1N
Toward I 678 North: Bronx, Whitestone Bridge, V...
9
12 mi into trip
|
~20m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Rockaway Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Exit 2
Toward Rockaway Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.32 one way
$4.64 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
5 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $2.51 | $5.02 |
| premium | $4.92 | $2.73 | $5.47 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.11 | $6.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 60% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.2 | 0 | $1.48 | $0.68 |
| Efficient EV | 3.5 | 0 | $1.23 | $0.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.6 | 0 | $1.97 | $0.90 |
Gas CO2
5 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (60% 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
Jamaica, NY
Morning in Jamaica on Sunday
Local time
6:09 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
6 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
24m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive leans heavily towards a highway experience, with 78% of the 14.1 miles being on high-speed roads like the Belt Parkway and Van Wyck Expressway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 8.2 miles on the Belt Parkway, offering a consistent pace. While the route is predominantly highway, the transitions between these main roads, like the Nassau Expressway, will be your main points of interaction with different road surfaces. Expect a fairly straightforward driving experience focused on maintaining speed and navigating efficient expressway interchanges.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.2 mi on Belt Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Belt Parkway and Van Wyck Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 17 decision points packed into just 14.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 24m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
Between Sheepshead Bay, NY and Jamaica, NY, road signs point toward Belt Parkway East and Kennedy Airport.
Belt Parkway East
1.2 mi in
|
~3m
Kennedy Airport
1.2 mi in
|
~3m
About the Cities
Arriving in Jamaica, NY
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 24m. Total distance: 14.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 8.2 miles on Belt Parkway. 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 Jamaica, 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 1.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Gateway National Recreation Area, 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Jamaica, 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Jamaica, NY
More trips to Jamaica, NY
Explore more options from Sheepshead Bay, NY or browse trips ending in Jamaica, NY.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NY road trips.