Glen Oaks lies between Grand Central Parkway to the north, Union Turnpike to the south, the Queens/Nassau county border (Lakeville Road) to the east, and the Cross Island Parkway to the west. In this area, the Queens/Nassau border separates New York City from the Village of Lake Success. The Queens/Nassau border is referred to locally as "the city line" and is so designated on New York City buses. Union Turnpike is the main commercial road in the area.

The Kew Gardens subway station and Midtown Manhattan are accessible from Glen Oaks, using the Q46 bus, the QM5 express bus, or the QM6 express bus. Downtown Manhattan is accessible using the QM8 express bus. There are two different Q46 branches. One branch is routed along 260th Street between Union Turnpike and its terminal on Little Neck Parkway, and the other is routed along Union Turnpike, serving Lakeville Road and Long Island Jewish Medical Center.