Origin
Thornwood, NY
Afternoon in Thornwood on Sunday
Local time
12:12 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Thornwood, 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
58m
Distance
36.4 mi
59 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 54m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 8m
10 AM
1h 2m
12 PM
1h 1m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Thornwood, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Queens, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Thornwood to Queens covers 36.6 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 3 minutes. Because of the relatively short distance, this trip is easily manageable as a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. You can expect to spend approximately $6 on fuel for the journey. Since both locations are situated within the Northeast, you will remain in the familiar regional landscape throughout the drive. This trip is best viewed as a straightforward local transit rather than a destination-heavy road trip. It is a practical option if you need to bridge the gap between Westchester County and the city.
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 |
| Whitestone Expressway | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Liberty Avenue | 1.5 mi | 4m |
| Bronx-Whitestone Bridge | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Cross County Parkway (local lanes) | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Hutchinson River Expressway | 1.2 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Sprain Brook Parkway
— 12.8 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Thornwood, NY and Queens, NY.
1
Start on Kensico Road
139 ft
·
7 sec
·
Kensico Road
2
Continue on Kensico Road
0.1 mi
·
30 sec
·
Kensico Road
3
Continue on Marble Avenue
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Marble Avenue
4
Turn left
246 ft
·
8 sec
5
At end of road, turn left onto Saw Mill River Parkway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Saw Mill River Parkway
Use the left lane.
6
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 26
Toward Sprain Pkwy, New York City
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto Taconic State Parkway
355 ft
·
6 sec
·
Taconic State Parkway
8
Keep slight left at fork onto Sprain Brook Parkway
13 mi
·
17 min
·
Sprain Brook Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on Bronx River Parkway
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Bronx River Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 11E
Toward Cross County Parkway East, Mount Vernon
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto Cross County Parkway (local lanes)
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Cross County Parkway (local lanes)
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 9
Toward Hutchinson Parkway South, Whitestone Bridge
13
Merge onto Hutchinson River Parkway
6.6 mi
·
9 min
·
Hutchinson River Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 678
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Hutchinson River Expressway
15
Continue on I 678
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Bronx-Whitestone Bridge
16
Continue on I 678
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Whitestone Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
17
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.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 6
Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue, Atlantic Avenue
Use the right lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
20
Turn straight onto Van Wyck Expressway West
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Van Wyck Expressway West
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Turn right onto Liberty Avenue
1.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Liberty Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Turn left onto 104th Street
205 ft
·
9 sec
·
104th Street
23
Arrive at destination
104th Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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 36 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 18.2 miles from Thornwood, 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 33.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
1.5 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the exit toward Sprain Pkwy, New York 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 26
Toward Sprain Pkwy, New York City
8
15.6 mi into trip
|
~22m 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
29.2 mi into trip
|
~44m 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
33.5 mi into trip
|
~50m 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
33.8 mi into trip
|
~51m 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
$5.99 one way
$11.98 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $6.48 | $12.96 |
| premium | $4.92 | $7.06 | $14.11 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.04 | $16.07 |
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: 12.7 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 | 10.9 | 0 | $3.82 | $1.75 |
| Efficient EV | 9.1 | 0 | $3.18 | $1.46 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14.6 | 0 | $5.10 | $2.33 |
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.
Destination
Queens, NY
Afternoon in Queens on Sunday
Local time
12:12 PM
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
18 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
4 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
58m 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 straightforward interstate cruise, this route features zero highway miles, meaning you will navigate surface streets and local arteries for the entire duration. The lack of long, uninterrupted stretches makes for a more technical driving experience compared to a high-speed highway run. You should be prepared for frequent stops and turns as you transition from the suburban setting of Thornwood into the dense layout of Queens. It is a hands-on drive that requires patience as you navigate the local road network.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 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 1.5 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 15 decision points packed into just 36.4 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 58m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.2 miles (I 678 / Van Wyck Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
335 ft
8 ft
Total Climb
132 ft
Total Descent
363 ft
Highest Point
335 ft
~5.2 mi in
Elevation Range
327 ft
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 Thornwood, NY and Queens, NY, road signs point toward Cross County Parkway East, Mount Vernon and Hutchinson Parkway South.
Cross County Parkway East
15.6 mi in
|
~22m
Mount Vernon
15.6 mi in
|
~22m
Hutchinson Parkway South
17.3 mi in
|
~25m
About the Cities
Starting in Thornwood, NY
Full guide →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 58m. Total distance: 36.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). 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 1.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 29.2 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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