Origin
Spring Valley, NY
Late night in Spring Valley on Sunday
Local time
4:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Spring Valley, NY to Queens, 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 2m
Distance
39.2 mi
63 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 57m
★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 6m
12 PM
1h 5m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 12m
8 PM
0h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Spring Valley, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Queens, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Spring Valley to Queens covers a distance of 39.5 miles, typically taking about 58 minutes to complete. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, as it is short enough to avoid the need for an overnight stay. With a fuel budget of approximately $6, it remains a very affordable commute within the Northeast region. You will navigate primarily through the New York City area, utilizing the Taconic State Parkway and the Sprain Brook Parkway to reach your destination. Because this is a straightforward local drive with no required stops, you have plenty of flexibility in your schedule. It is a practical route for those looking to move between these two New York points efficiently.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sprain Brook Parkway | 12.8 mi | 17m |
| Hutchinson River Parkway | 6.6 mi | 9m |
| Van Wyck Expressway | 4.3 mi | 6m |
| NY 9A | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| Whitestone Expressway | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Taconic State Parkway | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| Liberty Avenue | 1.5 mi | 4m |
| Bronx-Whitestone Bridge | 1.3 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Sprain Brook Parkway
— 12.8 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Spring Valley, NY and Queens, NY.
1
Start on NY 9A
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
NY 9A
2
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Toward New York City
3
Merge onto Taconic State Parkway
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Taconic State Parkway
4
Keep slight left at fork onto Sprain Brook Parkway
13 mi
·
17 min
·
Sprain Brook Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on Bronx River Parkway
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Bronx River Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 11E
Toward Cross County Parkway East, Mount Vernon
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto Cross County Parkway (local lanes)
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Cross County Parkway (local lanes)
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 9
Toward Hutchinson Parkway South, Whitestone Bridge
9
Merge onto Hutchinson River Parkway
6.6 mi
·
9 min
·
Hutchinson River Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 678
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Hutchinson River Expressway
11
Continue on I 678
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Bronx-Whitestone Bridge
12
Continue on I 678
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Whitestone Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 678
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
Van Wyck Expressway
Toward I 678 South: Kennedy Airport
Use the slight left lane.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 6
Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue, Atlantic Avenue
Use the right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
16
Turn straight onto Van Wyck Expressway West
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Van Wyck Expressway West
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Turn right onto Liberty Avenue
1.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Liberty Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn left onto 104th Street
205 ft
·
9 sec
·
104th Street
19
Arrive at destination
104th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.6 miles from Spring Valley, 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 135 decision points cluster between mile 5.2 and 36.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
5.2 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
Sprain Brook Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto Sprain Brook Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
18.5 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Take the exit toward Cross County Parkway East, Mount Vernon
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 11E
Toward Cross County Parkway East, Mount Vernon
7
32.1 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
I 678 / Van Wyck Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 678 / Van Wyck Expressway toward I 678 South: Kennedy Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 678 South: Kennedy Airport
8
36.3 mi into trip
|
~54m in
Take the exit toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue, Atlantic Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 6
Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue, Atlanti...
9
36.6 mi into trip
|
~55m 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
$6.45 one way
$12.91 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $6.98 | $13.95 |
| premium | $4.92 | $7.60 | $15.20 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.65 | $17.31 |
Estimated Tolls: $6.55
Whitestone Bridge
$6.55
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$7
Total
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.12 | $1.88 |
| Efficient EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.43 | $1.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.7 | 0 | $5.49 | $2.51 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Queens, NY
Late night in Queens on Sunday
Local time
4:12 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Cloudy
NE 6 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
43°F
Mount Vernon, NY
20 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
3 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
1h 2m 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 turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a monotonous interstate slog, this path requires frequent navigation through parkway systems, meaning you will rarely find long, uninterrupted stretches of road. With a 0% highway share, the experience is defined by shifting gears and adjusting to local traffic patterns rather than cruising at high speeds. The character of the road changes as you transition from Spring Valley toward the dense infrastructure of Queens. You will find that the rhythm of the drive is dictated by the specific curves and junctions inherent in these parkways.
81% 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: 12.8 mi on Sprain Brook Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Sprain Brook Parkway and Hutchinson River Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.2 miles in near Sprain Brook Parkway.
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 39.2 miles you will encounter 13 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 5.2 miles (Sprain Brook Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.1 miles (I 678 / Van Wyck Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Spring Valley, NY and Queens, NY, road signs point toward New York City, Cross County Parkway East, Mount Vernon and Hutchinson Parkway South.
New York City
2.8 mi in
|
~4m
Cross County Parkway East
18.5 mi in
|
~26m
Mount Vernon
18.5 mi in
|
~26m
Hutchinson Parkway South
20.1 mi in
|
~29m
About the Cities
Starting in Spring Valley, NY
Full guide →Spring Valley is a city in Rockland County, New York.
Arriving in Queens, NY
Full guide →Founded 1683
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.
Top landmarks
- • Queensboro Bridge — bridge in New York City
- • Unisphere — Steel structure in Queens, New York
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 1h 2m. Total distance: 39.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.8 miles on Sprain Brook Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $6.55 in tolls one way, starting with Whitestone 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.
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 5.2 miles (Sprain Brook Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 32.1 miles (I 678 / Van Wyck Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial and African Burial Ground 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 Queens, 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.
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