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Trip from Staten Island, NY to City Island, NY

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 9m

Distance

37.5 mi

60 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 16 min
4 AM
1h 4m ★
6 AM
1h 9m
8 AM
1h 20m
10 AM
1h 13m
12 PM
1h 12m
3 PM
1h 14m
5 PM
1h 20m
8 PM
1h 6m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown City Island, NY, NY

City Island, NY

Clément Proust

Trip Overview

This 37.5-mile drive from Staten Island to City Island in New York is best tackled as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 9 minutes. The route is primarily highway-focused, with about 65% of the journey on major expressways like the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and Gowanus Expressway. Expect a fuel cost of around $6 for this relatively short, direct journey. Given its brevity and highway nature, it's a straightforward drive within the Northeast region, perfect for a quick excursion without needing an overnight stay.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway 9.4 mi 15m
Gowanus Expressway 5.5 mi 8m
Staten Island Expressway 3.3 mi 5m
Whitestone Expressway 2.8 mi 3m
Northern Boulevard 2.5 mi 5m
Manor Road 2 mi 4m
Hutchinson River Parkway 1.6 mi 2m
Bronx-Whitestone Bridge 1.3 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Brooklyn-Queens Expressway — 9.4 mi, about 15m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Staten Island, NY and City Island, NY.

1

Start on Croft Court

147 ft · 13 sec · Croft Court
2

Turn left onto Corona Avenue

0.2 mi · 38 sec · Corona Avenue
3

Continue on Cotter Avenue

0.3 mi · 1 min · Cotter Avenue
4

At end of road, turn left onto Clarke Avenue

284 ft · 13 sec · Clarke Avenue
5

Turn right onto Kensico Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · Kensico Street
6

At end of road, turn right onto Richmond Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · Richmond Road
7

Continue on Richmond Road

447 ft · 14 sec · Richmond Road
8

Continue on Rockland Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · Rockland Avenue
9

Turn right onto Manor Road

2.0 mi · 4 min · Manor Road
10

Turn right onto Schmidts Lane

0.2 mi · 42 sec · Schmidts Lane
11

Turn left onto Slosson Avenue

260 ft · 9 sec · Slosson Avenue
12

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 30 sec
Toward I 278 East: Staten Island Expressway, Verrazano Bridge, Brooklyn
13

Merge onto I 278

2.6 mi · 3 min · Staten Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Keep slight left at fork onto I 278

0.7 mi · 1 min · Staten Island Expressway
Toward Upper Level
15

Continue on I 278

1.3 mi · 1 min · Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge
16

Continue on I 278

5.5 mi · 8 min · Gowanus Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Keep slight right at fork onto I 278

6.1 mi · 10 min · Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
Exit 26 Toward I 278 East: Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, RFK Bridge, Hamilton Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Keep slight left at fork onto I 278

3.2 mi · 5 min · Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 19 sec
Exit 41 Toward NY 25A: Northern Boulevard Use the slight right lane.
20

Keep slight right at fork

258 ft · 8 sec
Toward NY 25A East Use the right lane.
21

Turn right onto Northern Boulevard

2.5 mi · 5 min · Northern Boulevard
22

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 46 sec
Toward I 678: Van Wyck Expressway, Kennedy Airport, Whitestone Bridge Use the straight / slight left lanes.
23

Merge onto Whitestone Expressway

2.8 mi · 3 min · Whitestone Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24

Continue on I 678

1.3 mi · 1 min · Bronx-Whitestone Bridge
25

Continue on I 678

1.2 mi · 1 min · Hutchinson River Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26

Continue on HR

1.6 mi · 2 min · Hutchinson River Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
27

Take the exit

477 ft · 14 sec
Exit 1C Toward Pelham Parkway East, Co-Op City Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28

Continue on Hutchinson River Parkway East

0.3 mi · 52 sec · Hutchinson River Parkway East
29

Turn slight left

0.1 mi · 24 sec
Toward To I 95
30

Turn straight onto Pe

0.1 mi · 13 sec · Pelham Parkway
31

Continue on Shore Road

0.9 mi · 2 min · Shore Road
32

Turn right onto City Island Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · City Island Road
33

Enter roundabout onto City Island Road

418 ft · 7 sec · City Island Road
34

Continue on City Island Road

0.4 mi · 1 min · City Island Road
35

Continue on City Island Bridge

0.2 mi · 34 sec · City Island Bridge
36

Continue on City Island Avenue

0.6 mi · 2 min · City Island Avenue
37

Arrive at destination

City Island Avenue

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

neighborhood of Queens, New York, USA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Richmond Hill, NY

19 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

The Bronx, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 37.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

New York City, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 18.7 miles from Staten Island, 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 20

5 decision points cluster between mile 4.4 and 34 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
4.4 mi into trip | ~12m in

Take the ramp toward I 278 East: Staten Island Expressway, Verrazano Bridge, Brooklyn

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 278 East: Staten Island Expressway, Ve...
9
14.6 mi into trip | ~27m in | I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway toward I 278 East: Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, RFK Bridge, Hamilton Avenue

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 26 Toward I 278 East: Brooklyn-Queens Expressway,...
7
24 mi into trip | ~43m in

Take the exit toward NY 25A: Northern Boulevard

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 41 Toward NY 25A: Northern Boulevard
8
24.1 mi into trip | ~43m in

Keep slight right at fork toward NY 25A East

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward NY 25A East
8
34 mi into trip | ~59m in

Take the exit toward Pelham Parkway East, Co-Op City

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 1C Toward Pelham Parkway East, Co-Op City

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.17 one way

$12.35 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 13 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.52 $6.67 $13.35
premium $4.92 $7.27 $14.54
diesel $5.61 $8.28 $16.56

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: 13.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 11.3 0 $3.94 $1.80
Efficient EV 9.4 0 $3.28 $1.50
EV Truck/SUV 15 0 $5.25 $2.40

Gas CO2

13 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (69% 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 18, 2026

Origin

Staten Island, NY

Morning in Staten Island on Tuesday

Local time

9:54 AM

EDT

Current temp

54°F

Scattered Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy

E 3 to 8 mph 33% 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

Destination

City Island, NY

Morning in City Island on Tuesday

Local time

9:54 AM

EDT

Current temp

48°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 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 9m 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?

This drive leans heavily towards a highway experience, with 65% of the route utilizing expressways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on roads like the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and the Staten Island Expressway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 9.4 miles on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. While it's a highway-focused profile, expect the character to remain consistent, offering a direct and efficient way to travel between boroughs.

65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9.4 mi on Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and Gowanus Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 4.4 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 37.5 miles you will encounter 20 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 4.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.6 miles (I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.

Between Staten Island, NY and City Island, NY, road signs point toward Brooklyn, Upper Level, Kennedy Airport, Pelham Parkway East, Co-Op City and To I 95.

Brooklyn

4.4 mi in | ~12m

Upper Level

7.1 mi in | ~16m | via I 278

Kennedy Airport

26.6 mi in | ~48m

Pelham Parkway East

34 mi in | ~59m

Co-Op City

34 mi in | ~59m

To I 95

34.3 mi in | ~1h

About the Cities

Starting in Staten Island, NY

Full guide →

Founded 1683

Staten Island is New York City's "Forgotten Borough" across New York Harbor from Manhattan. Staten Island may seem like it's in an entirely different world than the hustle and bustle expected in New York City. However, it still has some of the features you've come to expect from the city. This combination of city influences and its rural origins have created a unique borough that is a great place to visit.

Top landmarks

  • • Bayonne Bridge — arch bridge connecting Staten Island, NY with Bayonne, NJ
  • • Staten Island Museum — museum in Staten Island, New York
  • • Fort Wadsworth — United States military base

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 9m. Total distance: 37.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (65%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 9.4 miles on Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. 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 City Island, 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 4.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 14.6 miles (I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 City Island, 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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