Origin
Valley Stream, NY
Late night in Valley Stream on Sunday
Local time
12:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Valley Stream, NY to Ramapo, NY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 26, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 10m
Distance
48.3 mi
78 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Fair
4 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 5m
★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 14m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Valley Stream, NY
Mel Audelo
Ramapo, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Valley Stream, NY to Ramapo, NY is 48.3 miles and takes about 1 hour 10 minutes via NJ 17 and NJ 4, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York before crossing into New Jersey for a significant portion of the drive. It's a straightforward, mostly highway route, ideal for a quick transfer or a day trip. You'll spend most of your time on well-trafficked roads, so expect typical commuting conditions for much of the way. Plan for around $8 in fuel costs for this relatively short distance.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NJ 17 | 14.7 mi | 18m |
| NJ 4 | 6.7 mi | 9m |
| Cross Bronx Expressway | 6.6 mi | 8m |
| Clearview Expressway | 5 mi | 5m |
| Throgs Neck Bridge | 2 mi | 3m |
| Cross Island Parkway | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| I 95 EXPR | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| West Merrick Road | 1.1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
NJ 17
— 14.7 mi, about 18m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 13 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~4,026 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~1,234 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
3.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 21 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Valley Stream, NY and Ramapo, NY.
1
Start on South Central Avenue
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
South Central Avenue
2
Turn left onto West Merrick Road
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
West Merrick Road
Use the left lane.
3
Continue on Merrick Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
Merrick Boulevard
4
Turn sharp right onto Brookville Boulevard
462 ft
·
23 sec
·
Brookville Boulevard
5
Take the ramp
322 ft
·
7 sec
6
Merge onto BP
0.6 mi
·
40 sec
·
Belt Parkway
7
Keep slight right at fork onto CI
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Cross Island Parkway
Toward Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Bridge
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
317 ft
·
9 sec
Exit 26B
Toward NY 24: UBS Arena-Belmont Park
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
437 ft
·
12 sec
Toward NY 24 West: Hempstead Avenue
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward Cross Island Parkway North, Hempstead Avenue West
11
Keep slight right at fork
266 ft
·
8 sec
Toward Hempstead Avenue West
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
this road
Toward Grandstand, Hempstead Avenue West
13
Keep slight left at fork
100 ft
·
4 sec
Toward Hempstead Avenue
14
Turn right onto NY 24
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Hempstead Avenue
Use the right lane.
15
Turn left onto Jamaica Avenue
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Jamaica Avenue
16
Turn right onto NY 24
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
212th Street
17
Continue on I 295
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Clearview Expressway
Toward I 295 North: Clearview Expressway, Through Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Throgs Neck Bridge
19
Continue on I 295
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Throgs Neck Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295
6.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; US 1
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Trans-Manhattan Expressway
Toward Upper Level
22
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
George Washington Bridge (upper level)
23
Continue on I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
0.6 mi
·
39 sec
·
I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; NJTP
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
I 95 EXPR; NJTP
26
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 72A
Toward NJ 4 West: Paramus
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
28
Merge onto NJ 4
6.7 mi
·
9 min
·
NJ 4
Use the slight right lane.
29
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward GSP South, NJ 17 South, GSP North, NJ 17 North: Grand State Plaza, Newark, Mahwah
Use the straight lane.
30
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
Toward NJ 17 North: Mahwah
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Merge onto NJ 17
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
NJ 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Continue on NJ 17
7.3 mi
·
9 min
·
NJ 17
Use the straight / right lanes.
33
Continue on NJ 17
0.7 mi
·
50 sec
·
NJ 17
34
Continue on NJ 17
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
NJ 17
35
Continue on I 287; NY 17
0.2 mi
·
10 sec
·
I 287; NY 17
36
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 17
0.6 mi
·
43 sec
·
NY 17
Toward I 87 North, NY 17 North, New York State Thruway North: Albany
37
Turn right
195 ft
·
14 sec
38
Turn slight right
218 ft
·
17 sec
39
Turn right onto 4th Street
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
4th Street
40
Turn left onto NY 59
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
Orange Turnpike
41
Turn right onto CR 95
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Torne Valley Road
42
Turn left onto Torne Brook Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Torne Brook Road
43
Turn right onto Lake Street
153 ft
·
6 sec
·
Lake Street
44
Arrive at destination
Lake Street
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.1 miles from Valley Stream, 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 315 decision points cluster between mile 2.4 and 23.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
2.4 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
CI / Cross Island Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto CI / Cross Island Parkway toward Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Bridge
8
4.3 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NY 24 West: Hempstead Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward NY 24 West: Hempstead Avenue
8
4.5 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Hempstead Avenue West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Hempstead Avenue West
8
23.3 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
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.
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
9
23.6 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 4 West: Paramus
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 72A
Toward NJ 4 West: Paramus
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.85 one way
$15.70 round trip
$4.13/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.47 | $8.50 | $16.99 |
| premium | $4.87 | $9.25 | $18.51 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $10.27 | $20.55 |
Estimated Tolls: $22.55
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Throgs Neck 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
$8
Tolls
$23
Total
$30
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.07 | $2.32 |
| Efficient EV | 12.1 | 0 | $4.23 | $1.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.3 | 0 | $6.76 | $3.09 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
Ramapo, NY
Late night in Ramapo on Sunday
Local time
12:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 10m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily highway, with 81% of it on high-speed roads. You'll encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch of highway driving on NJ 17, covering 14.7 miles. The transition from highway to surface streets will likely involve navigating a higher density of exits and local traffic as you approach your destination. Expect the urban merging and disengaging typical of routes connecting suburban and metropolitan areas.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
44 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14.7 mi on NJ 17.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NJ 17 and NJ 4. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in near CI / Cross Island 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 48.3 miles you will encounter 31 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 2.4 miles (CI / Cross Island Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles: 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 Valley Stream, NY and Ramapo, NY, road signs point toward Cross Island Parkway North, Hempstead Avenue West, Grandstand, Upper Level, Njtp South: Hackensack and Gsp South - among others.
Cross Island Parkway North
4.4 mi in
|
~7m
Hempstead Avenue West
4.4 mi in
|
~7m
Grandstand
4.6 mi in
|
~7m
Upper Level
20.8 mi in
|
~30m
|
via I 95; US 1
Njtp South: Hackensack
23.3 mi in
|
~34m
Gsp South
30.4 mi in
|
~44m
Gsp North
30.4 mi in
|
~44m
Newark
30.4 mi in
|
~44m
Mahwah
30.4 mi in
|
~44m
New York State Thruway North: Albany
45.7 mi in
|
~1h 4m
|
via NY 17
About the Cities
Starting in Valley Stream, NY
Full guide →Hempstead is the most populous town in America, with a whopping 700,000 residents, located on the South Shore of Nassau County, New York. The town is highly urbanized and fragmented, containing 22 semi-autonomous villages within its boundaries, and forty other neighborhoods. Garden City, encompassing the "Nassau Hub" region, has its own article. The other prominent communities in Hempstead include Floral Park, Hempstead Village, Valley Stream, Rockville Centre, Freeport, Merrick, and the Five Towns area.
Arriving in Ramapo, NY
Full guide →Founded 1791
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 10m. Total distance: 48.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 10m 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 14.7 miles on NJ 17. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $22.55 in tolls one way, starting with George Washington 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 Ramapo, 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 2.4 miles (CI / Cross Island Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 4.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial and Stonewall 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 Ramapo, 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, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Ramapo, NY
More from Valley Stream, NY
More trips to Ramapo, NY
Explore more options from Valley Stream, NY or browse trips ending in Ramapo, NY.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NY road trips.