Cross Island Parkway

The Cross Island Parkway is one of the longest north-south roads in Queens and Nassau County. Stretching from the Van Wyck Expressway in Whitestone to the Belt and Southern State Parkways in Cambria Heights, the Cross Island is a major Long Island - New York City route. There are 23 exits along the route, following the number system of the Belt Parkway. Formerly, the Cross Island followed the numbering system of the Southern State Parkway. The road is unsigned New York State Reference Route 907A.

The Cross Island Parkway is the main route to Belmont Park in Elmont, where the Belmont Stakes is run every June, marking the third and final leg of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing.

Being a part of the "Belt System", its exit numbering is a continuation of the Belt Parkway, with exit numbers increasing north. At exit 25A (Southern State Parkway), the Cross Island Parkway becomes the Belt Parkway (more specifically, the section once known as the Laurelton Parkway). Before its exits were renumbered to align with the Belt Parkway, they were numbered to co-align with the Southern State Parkway, which is why that parkway begins with Exit 13 (the Cross Island Parkway was once Exits 1 to 12).

Southbound
The southbound Cross Island Parkway begins at Exit 16 on the Van Wyck Expressway in Whitestone. The expressway goes over the Bronx-Whitestone Expressway to Interstate 95. Exit 16 leaves to the left for the Cross Island, which begins in less than a 1/2 mile. Going northbound, Exit 36S-N takes you to the Van Wyck, however there is no exit going southbound.

The parkway's first exit going southbound is Exit 35 for Francis Lewis Boulevard and 14th Avenue in Whitestone. To access downtown Whitestone, take Exit 35 to Clintonville Street and turn left at the intersection. The parkway continues under Whitestone for the Utopia Parkway and 160th Street at Exit 34. Exit 33 is for Interstate 295, the Clearview Expressway. Going northbound on 295 will take you over the Throgs Neck Bridge into the Bronx.