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Trip from Sylvan Beach, NY to Queens, 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

6h 15m

Distance

286.5 mi

461 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$47

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
6h 3m ★
6 AM
6h 16m
8 AM
6h 41m
10 AM
6h 24m
12 PM
6h 22m
3 PM
6h 26m
5 PM
6h 40m
8 PM
6h 8m

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

Downtown Sylvan Beach, NY, NY

Sylvan Beach, NY

David Kanigan

borough in New York City, New York, United States

Queens, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Sylvan Beach, NY to Queens, NY is 286.5 miles and takes about 6h 15m via Keystone Shortway, Southern Tier Expressway, and I 81, with a fuel budget near $47 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, moving from the Northeast region down towards the New York City area. Most of your time will be spent on highways, making it a straightforward drive. With a single recommended day, this route is ideal for a quick transition between upstate and downstate.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

143.2 miles from Sylvan Beach, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 7m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Keystone Shortway 70.8 mi 1h 27m
Southern Tier Expressway 63.8 mi 1h 15m
I 81 53.4 mi 1h 3m
I 380 23.6 mi 25m
NJ 3 10.5 mi 11m
NY Route 14 8.7 mi 10m
State Route 230 7 mi 12m
Watkins Road 6.4 mi 8m
Longest stretch: Keystone Shortway — 70.8 mi, about 1h 27m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Sylvan Beach, NY and Queens, NY.

1

Start on Bubbling Spring Road

162 ft · 10 sec · Bubbling Spring Road
2

At end of road, turn left onto Lakeshore Drive

419 ft · 18 sec · Lakeshore Drive
3

Continue on Lake Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Lake Street
4

Continue on CR 26

509 ft · 15 sec · County Road 26
5

Turn right onto NY 230

7.0 mi · 12 min · State Route 230
6

At end of road, turn right onto NY 14A

0.6 mi · 1 min · State Highway 14A
7

Continue on NY 14A

0.8 mi · 1 min · Millard Street
8

Turn right onto NY 14A

0.2 mi · 20 sec · Water Street
9

Continue on NY 14A

0.4 mi · 38 sec · Main Street
10

Turn left onto Saunders Street

0.3 mi · 42 sec · Saunders Street
11

Continue on Dundee-Glenora Road

2.9 mi · 7 min · Dundee-Glenora Road
12

Turn right onto NY 14

8.7 mi · 10 min · NY Route 14
13

Continue on NY 14

385 ft · 4 sec · Lake Shore Drive
14

Continue on NY 14

2.3 mi · 4 min · North Franklin Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
15

Continue on NY 14

6.0 mi · 7 min · North Catherine Street
16

Continue on NY 14

1.5 mi · 3 min · Main Street
17

Continue on NY 14

6.4 mi · 8 min · Watkins Road
18

Continue on North Main Street

1.3 mi · 2 min · North Main Street
19

Take the ramp onto NY 13

0.2 mi · 28 sec · NY 13
20

Merge onto I 86; NY 17; NY 13

64 mi · 1 hr 15 min · Southern Tier Expressway
21

Keep slight right at fork onto I 81

53 mi · 1 hr 3 min · I 81
Toward I 81 South: Scranton Use the straight lane.
22

Keep slight right at fork onto US 6

0.8 mi · 1 min · US 6
Exit 187 Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
23

Continue on I 84; I 380

3.7 mi · 4 min · I 84; I 380
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, Milford Use the straight lane.
24

Keep slight right at fork onto I 380

24 mi · 25 min · I 380
Exit 4 Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
25

Keep slight left at fork

1.0 mi · 1 min
Exit 1B Toward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
26

Merge onto I 80

71 mi · 1 hr 27 min · Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
27

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 59 sec
Exit 53 Toward US 46 East: Wayne, Clifton, Lincoln Tunnel Use the slight right lane.
28

Merge onto US 46

2.1 mi · 2 min · US 46
29

Continue on US 46

1.6 mi · 1 min · US 46
Use the straight / right lanes.
30

Turn slight left onto NJ 3

11 mi · 11 min · NJ 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Toward NJ 495 East: Lincoln Tunnel, Kennedy Boulevard Use the straight / right lanes.
32

Merge onto NJ 495

1.1 mi · 1 min · NJ 495
33

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 16 sec
Toward Weehawken, Hoboken, Ferries to New York City Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34

Continue on South Marginal Highway

0.1 mi · 10 sec · South Marginal Highway
35

Turn right onto Boulevard East

0.4 mi · 1 min · Boulevard East
Use the left lane.
36

Take the ramp

123 ft · 14 sec
Toward Lincoln Tunnel, New York City Use the straight / right lanes.
37

Turn right

0.2 mi · 57 sec
Toward Lincoln Tunnel access
38

Merge onto NJ 495

1.6 mi · 4 min · Lincoln Tunnel
39

Keep slight right at fork

265 ft · 6 sec
Toward Dyer Avenue
40

Keep slight right at fork

334 ft · 8 sec
Toward 36th Street, Downtown, Madison Square Garden
41

Continue on Dyer Avenue

350 ft · 19 sec · Dyer Avenue
Toward 36th Street, Downtown, Madison Square Garden Use the left / straight lanes.
42

Turn left onto West 36th Street

1.3 mi · 3 min · West 36th Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
43

Take the ramp

68 ft · 1 sec
Toward I 495: Queens-Midtown Tunnel
44

Keep slight left at fork onto I 495

2.5 mi · 4 min · I 495
45

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 17W-E Toward I 278: Staten Island, Bronx, LaGuardia Airport Use the straight / slight right lanes.
46

Merge onto I 495

2.0 mi · 2 min · Long Island Expressway
47

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 35 sec
Exit 19 Toward NY 25: Woodhaven Boulevard Use the slight right lane.
48

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 41 sec
Toward NY 25: Queens Boulevard, Woodhaven Boulevard, Rockaways Use the straight / slight left lanes.
49

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 24 sec
Toward Woodhaven Boulevard, Rockaways Use the straight / slight right lanes.
50

Turn right onto Woodhaven Boulevard

3.9 mi · 10 min · Woodhaven Boulevard
Use the right lane.
51

Turn left onto Rockaway Boulevard

344 ft · 9 sec · Rockaway Boulevard
Use the left lane.
52

Turn slight left onto Liberty Avenue

0.4 mi · 1 min · Liberty Avenue
53

Turn right onto 104th Street

205 ft · 9 sec · 104th Street
54

Arrive at destination

104th Street

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 1-day drive, aim to leave Sylvan Beach in the morning to allow ample time for the 6h 15m travel duration. You'll want to plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and refuel; consider breaking up the 70.8-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway. The fuel cost is estimated at $47, so ensure your tank is full before departing. Given the primarily highway nature of the route, keep an eye on exit numbers as they can help you track your progress.

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 143.2 miles from Sylvan Beach, NY, or about 3h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.8 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 63 miles or 1h 32m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 143.2 miles or 3h 7m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 56m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Queens, NY than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Sylvan Beach, NY so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Sylvan Beach, NY

This is one driving day of about 286.5 miles and 6h 15m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Sylvan Beach, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Keystone Shortway for about 70.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Endwell, NY, NY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Endwell, NY

143 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

Barton, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 63 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Scranton, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 143.2 miles from Sylvan Beach, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 70.8 miles.

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 38

5 decision points cluster between mile 156.2 and 281.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

9
156.2 mi into trip | ~3h 22m in | US 6

Keep slight right at fork onto US 6 toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono

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

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Exit 187 Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbo...
8
256.1 mi into trip | ~5h 22m in

Take the exit toward US 46 East: Wayne, Clifton, Lincoln Tunnel

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 53 Toward US 46 East: Wayne, Clifton, Lincoln Tunn...
8
272.8 mi into trip | ~5h 43m in

Take the ramp toward Lincoln Tunnel, New York City

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / right lanes. Toward Lincoln Tunnel, New York City
8
278.6 mi into trip | ~5h 58m in

Take the exit toward I 278: Staten Island, Bronx, LaGuardia 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 17W-E Toward I 278: Staten Island, Bronx, LaGuardia A...
8
281.6 mi into trip | ~6h 2m in

Keep slight right at fork toward NY 25: Queens Boulevard, Woodhaven Boulevard, Rockaways

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

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Toward NY 25: Queens Boulevard, Woodhaven Boule...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$47.16 one way

$94.32 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 100 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.52 $50.99 $101.99
premium $4.92 $55.53 $111.06
diesel $5.61 $63.26 $126.51

Estimated Tolls: $16.00

Lincoln Tunnel $16.00

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$47

Tolls

$16

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$88–$113

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 100.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 86 1 $30.08 $13.75
Efficient EV 71.6 0 $25.07 $11.46
EV Truck/SUV 114.6 1 $40.11 $18.34

Gas CO2

100 kg

EV CO2

34 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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

Sylvan Beach, NY

Morning in Sylvan Beach on Tuesday

Local time

8:03 AM

EDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Queens, NY

Morning in Queens on Tuesday

Local time

8:03 AM

EDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

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

1 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

6h 15m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

About 63% of this drive is on highways, meaning you'll experience stretches of consistent cruising. The longest continuous section on a single highway is 70.8 miles on the Keystone Shortway. As you transition from highway to surface roads, expect changes in speed limits and traffic patterns. This route includes significant highway mileage, suggesting periods of high-speed travel punctuated by more local road segments.

63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
54 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.8 mi on Keystone Shortway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Keystone Shortway and Southern Tier Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 156.2 miles in near US 6.

Driving Effort 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 38 significant decision points across 286.5 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 156.2 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 256.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 272.8 miles: 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.

Between Sylvan Beach, NY and Queens, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford and Clifton.

Mt Pocono

156.2 mi in | ~3h 22m | via US 6

Milford

156.9 mi in | ~3h 23m | via I 84; I 380

Clifton

256.1 mi in | ~5h 22m

About the Cities

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 6h 15m. Total distance: 286.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 15m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 70.8 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $16.00 in tolls one way, starting with Lincoln Tunnel. 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.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 156.2 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 256.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 272.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Not recommended in a single day. At 6.3 hours each way, a round trip means 12.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Queens, NY before the return drive.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Queens, NY to Sylvan Beach, NY

Plan the drive back the other way.

287.3 mi 6h 13m

Explore more options from Sylvan Beach, NY or browse trips ending in Queens, NY.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NY road trips.