Major Highways & Driving Tips in Queens, New York, United States
1. Grand Central Parkway (GCP)
A major east-west artery in Queens, connecting the Long Island Expressway and the Cross Island Expressway. It offers scenic views of parks and neighborhoods.
- Scenic Route: Offers a picturesque drive through Queens' parks and communities
- Connectivity: Links major highways, facilitating easy travel across Queens and beyond
- Rush Hour Traffic: Experience heavier traffic during peak hours, especially in the morning and evening
2. Van Wyck Expressway
An important north-south route in Queens, connecting the Grand Central Parkway and the Belt Parkway. It provides access to JFK International Airport.
- Airport Access: Directly connects to JFK International Airport
- Traffic Congestion: Prone to traffic congestion, especially near the airport
- Nighttime Driving: Well-lit for safe nighttime driving
3. Long Island Expressway (LIE)
A vital east-west highway in Queens, connecting Long Island with the Bronx. It provides access to major destinations like LaGuardia Airport and Midtown Manhattan.
- Airport Access: Connects directly to LaGuardia Airport
- Urban Environment: Passes through densely populated urban areas, including Queens and the Bronx
- Rush Hour Traffic: Experiences heavier traffic during peak hours, especially in the morning and evening
4. Cross Island Parkway
A major north-south route in Queens, connecting the Long Island Expressway and the Grand Central Parkway. It offers scenic views of parks and neighborhoods.
- Scenic Route: Offers a picturesque drive through Queens' parks and communities
- Connectivity: Links major highways, facilitating easy travel across Queens
- Rush Hour Traffic: Experience heavier traffic during peak hours, especially in the morning and evening
5. Belt Parkway
A parkway along the coast of southern Brooklyn and Queens, connecting the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge with the Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridge. It offers beautiful waterfront views.
- Scenic Route: Provides stunning views of the coastline and waterfront
- Connectivity: Links to major highways like the Van Wyck Expressway and the BQE (Brooklyn-Queens Expressway)
- Speed Limits: Has lower speed limits due to its parkway design, ensuring a more relaxing drive
6. Queens Midtown Tunnel
A tunnel under the East River connecting Queens with Manhattan. It offers a quick route from Queens to Midtown Manhattan.
- Time Savings: Provides a faster route compared to bridges during heavy traffic
- Toll Fees: Requires toll fees for vehicles traveling through the tunnel
- Rush Hour Traffic: Experiences heavier traffic during peak hours, especially in the morning and evening
7. Queens-Midtown Expressway (QME)
A short, high-occupancy toll (HOT) highway in Queens connecting the Queensboro Bridge and the Long Island Expressway. It offers a quick route for vehicles with multiple passengers.
- Time Savings: Provides a faster route compared to other routes during peak hours
- Toll Fees: Requires toll fees for vehicles traveling through the expressway
- HOV Lanes: Dedicated lanes for high-occupancy vehicles, reducing congestion and travel time
8. Queensboro Bridge
A bridge connecting Queens and Manhattan, offering a scenic view of the East River. It provides a route for both cars and pedestrians.
- Scenic Route: Offers beautiful views of the East River and Manhattan skyline
- Pedestrian Access: Has pedestrian walkways for those on foot or bicycle
- Traffic Congestion: Experiences heavier traffic during peak hours, especially in the morning and evening
9. Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge
A bridge connecting Manhattan and Queens, offering a scenic view of the East River. It provides a route for both cars and pedestrians.
- Scenic Route: Offers beautiful views of the East River and Manhattan skyline
- Pedestrian Access: Has pedestrian walkways for those on foot or bicycle
- Traffic Congestion: Experiences heavier traffic during peak hours, especially in the morning and evening
10. Robert F. Kennedy Bridge (Triborough Bridge)
A bridge connecting Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx, offering a scenic view of several boroughs. It provides a route for both cars and pedestrians.
- Scenic Route: Offers stunning views of Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx
- Pedestrian Access: Has pedestrian walkways for those on foot or bicycle
- Traffic Congestion: Experiences heavier traffic during peak hours, especially in the morning and evening
11. Queens Boulevard
A major east-west thoroughfare in Queens, offering easy access to neighborhoods, shops, and restaurants.
- Neighborhood Exploration: Provides access to various Queens' neighborhoods for exploration
- Shopping and Dining: Offers numerous shopping and dining opportunities along the route
- Local Traffic: Experiences local traffic congestion, especially during rush hours and weekends
12. Union Turnpike
A major north-south route in Queens, connecting the Long Island Expressway with various neighborhoods. It offers easy access to shopping centers and attractions.
- Shopping Access: Provides easy access to shopping centers and malls
- Connectivity: Links the Long Island Expressway with various neighborhoods in Queens
- Local Traffic: Experiences local traffic congestion, especially during rush hours and weekends
13. Horace Harding Expressway (Clearview Expressway)
A major east-west highway in Queens, connecting the Long Island Expressway and the Grand Central Parkway. It offers a quick route for cars and provides easy access to neighborhoods and attractions.
- Time Savings: Provides a faster route compared to other routes during peak hours
- Connectivity: Links the Long Island Expressway and the Grand Central Parkway, facilitating easy travel across Queens
- Local Traffic: Experiences local traffic congestion, especially during rush hours and weekends
14. Jacob K. Javits Convention Center
A major convention center in Manhattan offering easy access via the Queensboro Bridge and the FDR Drive.
- Convention Access: Provides easy access to various conventions, exhibitions, and events
- Connectivity: Easily accessible from Queens via the Queensboro Bridge and FDR Drive
- Parking: Offers ample parking facilities for attendees
15. Citi Field
Home of the New York Mets baseball team, offering easy access via the Grand Central Parkway and the Queensboro Bridge.
- Sports Venue: Provides a great sports experience for fans of the New York Mets
- Connectivity: Easily accessible from Queens via the Grand Central Parkway and Queensboro Bridge
- Food and Merchandise: Offers a variety of food, beverage, and merchandise options for fans