Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 22, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
56m
Distance
31.7 mi
51 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Staten Island, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Terrace Heights, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Staten Island, NY to Terrace Heights, NY is 31.7 miles and takes about 56 minutes via the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, Gowanus Expressway, and Grand Central Parkway, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays entirely within New York, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Given its mostly highway profile and brief duration, it’s a straightforward drive that won’t take up much of your day. Plan for a quick commute with minimal fuss.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Brooklyn-Queens Expressway | 6.9 mi | 11m |
| Gowanus Expressway | 5.5 mi | 8m |
| Grand Central Parkway | 4.8 mi | 6m |
| Staten Island Expressway | 3.3 mi | 5m |
| Long Island Expressway | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| Manor Road | 2 mi | 4m |
| Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Richmond Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Staten Island, NY and Terrace Heights, NY.
Start on Croft Court
Turn left onto Corona Avenue
Continue on Cotter Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto Clarke Avenue
Turn right onto Kensico Street
At end of road, turn right onto Richmond Road
Continue on Richmond Road
Continue on Rockland Avenue
Turn right onto Manor Road
Turn right onto Schmidts Lane
Turn left onto Slosson Avenue
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 278
Keep slight left at fork onto I 278
Continue on I 278
Continue on I 278
Keep slight right at fork onto I 278
Keep slight right at fork onto I 278
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 495
Take the exit
Take the ramp
Merge onto GCP
Take the exit
Turn right onto McLaughlin Avenue
Turn left onto Marengo Street
Turn slight right onto Keno Avenue
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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.
A short stop after about 31.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 15.8 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 14.6 and 25.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
Take the exit toward I 495: Midtown Tunnel, Eastern Long Island, 48th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 495 East: Eastern Long Island, Riverhead, 48th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 East: Eastern Long Island, Riverhead
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 678: Grand Central Parkway, Van Wyck Expressway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$5.55 one way
$11.10 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.82 | $6.01 | $12.03 |
| premium | $5.23 | $6.53 | $13.05 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $7.83 | $15.67 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.33 | $1.52 |
| Efficient EV | 7.9 | 0 | $2.77 | $1.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.44 | $2.03 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Staten Island on Thursday
Local time
3:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Clear
Destination
Afternoon in Terrace Heights on Thursday
Local time
3:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Clear
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This drive is mostly highway, with 74% of the 31.7 miles on expressways. You'll encounter the longest continuous stretch of 6.9 miles on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. Expect frequent exits and merges as you navigate through urban and suburban areas. The transition to surface roads will occur as you approach your destination.
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 14.6 miles in near I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway.
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 25 decision points packed into just 31.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 56m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: 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 21.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
404 ft
Total Descent
312 ft
Highest Point
258 ft
~4.5 mi in
Elevation Range
247 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Staten Island, NY and Terrace Heights, NY, road signs point toward Brooklyn, Upper Level, Eastern Long Island, Riverhead and Grand Central Parkway East.
Brooklyn
Upper Level
Eastern Long Island
Riverhead
Grand Central Parkway East
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 56m. Total distance: 31.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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