Is Queens Close to Times Square?

Queens sits directly across the East River from Manhattan, so the short trip to Times Square surprises many first time visitors. From the western edge of the borough, the Crossroads of the World is only a few miles away, close enough for a quick chauffeured hop and far enough that traffic, tolls, and the time of day shape every minute of the ride. Our team at Union Limousine runs this route every day, and our car service in Queens gives riders a calm, private way to reach the bright lights of Midtown without wrestling with parking or crowded platforms. This guide breaks down how close Queens really is to Times Square, which crossings work best, what the drive costs, and how each neighborhood compares.

How Long Does It Take from Queens to Times Square?

Yes, Queens is close to Times Square. Western Queens neighborhoods such as Long Island City and Hunters Point sit roughly two and a half to four miles from Times Square, a drive of about fifteen to twenty five minutes when traffic is light. Astoria adds a mile or two. Central Queens areas like Sunnyside, Woodside, Jackson Heights, and Elmhurst fall in the five to eight mile range. Eastern and southern neighborhoods such as Flushing, Forest Hills, and Jamaica sit farther out, between nine and fourteen miles, while the Rockaways stretch past twenty miles along the coast. The distance never tells the whole story, though, because two crossings, one tunnel toll, and Manhattan congestion pricing decide how long the ride actually takes.

We built our car service around this exact kind of city trip. Whether you need a single ride or a standing arrangement, our car service in New York and our focusedcar service in New York City coverage put a professional chauffeur at your door across all five boroughs.

Where Times Square Sits and Why It Matters

Times Square, the Crossroads of Midtown Manhattan

Times Square anchors Midtown Manhattan where Broadway crosses Seventh Avenue, spread across the blocks between West 42nd and West 47th Streets. Its northern triangle, Duffy Square, holds the famous red glass steps and the TKTS discount booth, where visitors buy same day Broadway tickets. The district is packed with theaters, flagship stores, hotels, and the New Year’s Eve ball at One Times Square. Because it sits well below 60th Street, every vehicle entering the area falls inside the Manhattan Congestion Relief Zone, a detail that matters for anyone driving in from Queens.

How Queens Lines Up Across the East River?

Queens is the largest borough in New York City by land area, and its western shoreline faces Manhattan directly across the East River. Long Island City and Astoria hug that waterfront, which is why they sit closest to Midtown. As you travel east through the borough toward Flushing and Jamaica, the mileage to Times Square grows, and the choice of route starts to matter well beyond raw distance. A well planned trip weighs the bridge against the tunnel, the hour against the traffic, and the pickup point against the drop off.

Distance From Each Part of Queens to Times Square

Western Queens: Long Island City and Astoria

Long Island City and Hunters Point

Long Island City is the closest major Queens neighborhood to Times Square. From the waterfront around Hunters Point, the distance measures roughly two and a half to four miles depending on the exact address and the crossing you use. On a quiet Sunday morning, a chauffeur can cover it in about fifteen minutes, and the skyline views on the approach make the ride feel shorter still.

Driving From Long Island City to Times Square

The fastest path usually runs across the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, which carries no toll and lands near 60th Street, or through the Queens Midtown Tunnel, which drops you into the low 30s in Midtown. From either exit, the run west toward Times Square covers only a handful of blocks. A driver who knows the grid will time the avenues so the vehicle keeps moving toward the theater district.

What Changes Your Travel Time

Traffic decides everything on this short hop. Weekday mornings and the late afternoon rush can stretch a fifteen minute ride into forty. Broadway show let out times, matinee crowds, and street closures around big events add minutes too. A chauffeur who tracks live conditions can switch between the bridge and the tunnel to keep the trip on pace, which is hard to do behind the wheel of your own car.

Astoria and Ditmars

Astoria and Ditmars sit a little farther north, about four to six miles from Times Square. The neighborhood carries deep immigrant history, documented by the Greater Astoria Historical Society, and its grid feeds easily onto the Grand Central Parkway and the RFK Bridge for riders heading toward Upper Midtown. For a straight shot to the theater district, our chauffeurs usually favor the Queensboro Bridge from Astoria, which keeps the route simple and the toll off the bill.

Central Queens: Sunnyside, Woodside, Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, and Corona

The heart of Queens runs along Queens Boulevard and Roosevelt Avenue through Sunnyside, Woodside, Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, and Corona. These neighborhoods sit five to eight miles from Times Square. Drivers reach Midtown through the Queens Midtown Tunnel or the Queensboro Bridge, while the 7 train and the E, F, M, and R lines serve the same corridor. Riders from Sunnyside, Jackson Heights, Elmhurst, and Corona often book a chauffeur when they carry luggage, travel in a group, or simply want to skip the transfer at a busy station.

Eastern and Southern Queens: Flushing, Forest Hills, Jamaica, and the Rockaways

Eastern and southern Queens stretch farther from Midtown. Flushing, Forest Hills, Rego Park, Kew Gardens, and Jamaica sit roughly nine to fourteen miles from Times Square, while Far Rockaway runs past twenty miles along the coast. Jamaica works as a transit hub, with the Long Island Rail Road reaching Penn Station in about twenty minutes and the AirTrain connecting to JFK. For door to door comfort, riders from these areas lean on a chauffeur so they avoid two transfers and a long walk at the far end.

Routes and Crossings From Queens Into Times Square

The Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge

The Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, known to many as the 59th Street Bridge, links Long Island City to Manhattan near 60th Street and carries no toll. It offers one of the most direct paths from western Queens toward the theater district. Because it lands at the top edge of the Congestion Relief Zone, a car that continues south and west into Times Square still passes into the tolled area, though the bridge crossing itself costs nothing. For neighborhoods near the river, this free crossing keeps the fare lower than a tunnel route.

The Queens Midtown Tunnel

The Queens Midtown Tunnel carries Interstate 495 under the East River and surfaces in Midtown near 34th to 37th Streets, a short drive from Times Square. In 2026 the tunnel toll for a passenger vehicle is $7.46 with a New York EZ Pass, or $12.03 billed by mail, charged in each direction. The tunnel drops you straight into the Congestion Relief Zone. Drivers who enter Midtown this way with a New York EZ Pass during peak hours receive a crossing credit of up to $3 that offsets part of the congestion charge, which softens the total on a busy afternoon.

Congestion Pricing and What It Adds

Since January 5, 2025, New York City charges a congestion toll on vehicles that enter Manhattan at or below 60th Street, the area the Metropolitan Transportation Authority calls the Congestion Relief Zone. A private passenger car pays $9 during peak hours, once per day, with a lower overnight rate. Licensed taxis and black cars pay a smaller per trip surcharge of $0.75, while high volume services such as Uber and Lyft add $1.50. Times Square sits squarely inside the zone, so every ride that ends there crosses into it. Decades of regional transportation planning research pointed to pricing as a way to ease the gridlock that fills the streets below 60th Street. When you ride with a chauffeur, these charges appear as clear line items, so the fare holds no surprises.

How Long the Trip Takes by Car, Subway, and Rail?

Driving and Chauffeured Car

By car, a Long Island City pickup reaches Times Square in about fifteen to twenty five minutes off peak and thirty to forty five minutes during heavy traffic. Central Queens neighborhoods usually run thirty to fifty minutes. Flushing and Jamaica sit at roughly thirty five to sixty minutes, and the Rockaways can take forty five minutes to well over an hour. A chauffeur watches live traffic and picks the crossing that keeps the clock down, so the ride stays as short as the roads allow.

Subway and Long Island Rail Road

Public transit reaches Times Square from most of Queens. The 7 train runs from Flushing through Woodside and Long Island City straight to the Times Square station. The N and W trains bring Astoria riders in about twenty five to thirty minutes. The E, F, M, and R lines serve central Queens and stop within a short walk of the district. From Jamaica, the Long Island Rail Road reaches Penn Station in roughly twenty minutes, leaving a few blocks to Times Square. Transit works well for solo travelers, though it brings transfers, stairs, and crowded platforms during rush hours.

Why Riders From Queens Choose a Chauffeur for Times Square?

Driving your own car into Times Square rarely pays off. Parking near the theater district is scarce and costly, garages fill fast before shows, and the congestion charge lands on every private vehicle that enters below 60th Street. A chauffeur removes all of that. You step out at the door, the vehicle handles the tolls and the zone charge, and you skip the search for a garage. For airport arrivals, late show nights, business meetings, and celebrations, a private ride keeps the whole group together and on time. Riders who value quiet, privacy, and a predictable arrival find the trip far calmer than juggling transfers or hunting for a space.

Our Fleet for the Queens to Times Square Run

We at Union Limousine match the vehicle to the group, the luggage, and the occasion. Our fleet covers everything from a single business traveler heading to a Midtown meeting to a wedding party rolling toward a Broadway show. Groups comparing options also look at our limo service in New York, our sprinter van service in New York, and our charter bus service in New York for larger celebrations.

Sedans and SUVs

Our executive sedan seats two to three passengers with room for airport luggage, a clean fit for couples, solo riders, and corporate trips into Times Square. When a family or a small group travels together, our luxury SUV carries up to six passengers with extra headroom and cargo space.

• Sedans: two to three passengers. Best for business travel, airport transfers, and couples.
• SUVs: four to six passengers. Best for families, small groups, and extra luggage.

Stretch Limousines

For a celebration, our stretch limousine turns the ride itself into part of the night. These vehicles seat six to twenty passengers depending on the model and suit weddings, proms, milestone birthdays, and Broadway outings.

• Stretch limousines: six to twenty passengers. Best for weddings, proms, and special nights out.

Sprinter Vans

Our executive Sprinter van carries seven to fourteen passengers in a tall cabin with generous luggage room, a favorite for corporate teams, tour groups, and families arriving with many bags.

• Sprinter vans: seven to fourteen passengers. Best for corporate groups, tours, and heavy luggage.

Party Buses and Charter Buses

When the group grows, our party bus holds twenty four to forty four guests with lounge seating and sound systems for a lively ride into Midtown. For guest shuttles and mid size groups, our mini charter bus seats twenty four to thirty six, and our full size charter bus carries up to fifty six passengers for conventions, weddings, and large tours.

• Party buses: twenty four to forty four passengers. Best for celebrations and group nights out.
• Mini charter buses: twenty four to thirty six passengers. Best for guest shuttles and corporate groups.
• Full size charter buses: up to fifty six passengers. Best for conventions, weddings, and large tours.

What a Queens to Times Square Ride Costs?

Fares depend on the vehicle, the pickup neighborhood, the time of day, and the tolls and congestion charge for the trip. As a general guide, a point to point ride from Queens to Times Square runs in these ranges, with tolls, the congestion charge, gratuity, and any wait time added on top.

• Sedan: $65 to $120
• SUV: $90 to $165
• Stretch limousine: $150 to $300
• Sprinter van: $150 to $260
• Mini charter bus: $260 to $470
• Party bus: $320 to $600
• Full size charter bus: $360 to $650

Many riders prefer an hourly booking for an evening that includes dinner, a show, and stops around Midtown. Hourly rates give you the vehicle and the chauffeur for the full night.

• Sedan: $85 to $120 per hour
• SUV: $110 to $160 per hour
• Sprinter van: $140 to $220 per hour
• Stretch limousine: $150 to $275 per hour
• Mini charter bus: $160 to $300 per hour
• Full size charter bus: $180 to $340 per hour
• Party bus: $200 to $400 per hour

Safety, Licensing, and Why Standards Matter

Every chauffeur Union Limousine dispatches holds a for hire license from the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, which requires fingerprinting, a background check, a drug test, and a defensive driving course. Our drivers also meet the medical and review standards of Article 19A of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law. Our larger coaches follow the federal passenger carrier safety rules set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Riders are covered under the New York Black Car Fund, which in 2026 applies a 2.25 percent surcharge that funds workers compensation for drivers. These rules exist for good reason. The 2018 stretch limousine crash in Schoharie, New York, which took twenty lives, pushed the state toward stricter inspection and licensing for larger vehicles, and we treat those standards as the floor for every trip.

Landmarks Between Queens and Times Square

The ride between Queens and Times Square passes some of the city’s best known sights. Heading in from Long Island City, riders glimpse the Manhattan skyline and the East River bridges. Once in Midtown, the theater district opens onto Broadway, Bryant Park, and the New York Public Library a few blocks south, while the Paley Center for Media on West 52nd Street sits a short walk north for anyone with time before a show. Times Square borders Hell’s Kitchen to the west and the Garment District to the south, and a short ride reaches Midtown, Hudson Yards, the Financial District, and Central Park.

Beyond Queens: Where Else We Drive?

Our reach covers the whole region. Beyond Queens, we run car service in Manhattan, car service in Brooklyn, car service in the Bronx, car service on Staten Island, car service in Nassau County, car service in Suffolk County, and car service on Long Island. Travelers connecting through the airports rely on our JFK airport car service, LaGuardia airport car service, and Newark airport car service, and our New York airport car service ties them together. For chauffeured travel across the city, riders also book our chauffeur service in Queens, our chauffeur service in New York, our airport chauffeur service, and our wider chauffeur service.

For more on this route, see our guides on how much a taxi from Queens to Times Square costs, how much a chauffeur from Queens to Manhattan costs, and how long the drive from Queens to JFK takes with a chauffeur.

Book Your Queens to Times Square Ride

Ready to ride from Queens to the heart of Midtown? Booking with Union Limousine takes a couple of minutes online or by phone, and our team confirms your vehicle, chauffeur, and pickup window in advance. We serve every corner of the borough and beyond, from a quick sedan run to a full party bus for a Broadway night. Reserve early for weekends, holidays, and show times, and we will handle the route, the tolls, and the timing so you arrive relaxed and on schedule.