Drive Time
53m
Distance
32.4 mi
52 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
Photo: Renan Tagliaferro
Traveling from Bethpage to Manhattan covers 37.9 miles, typically taking about one hour of drive time. Since this route functions as a local commute across the Northeast, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $6 for fuel to complete the journey. Because there are no scheduled stops, you can expect a direct trip once you pull out of your driveway. This is a practical, straightforward transit between Long Island and the heart of New York City.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
16.2 miles from Bethpage, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 24m into the drive .
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. You will navigate via Central Avenue, Hicksville Road, and South Broadway, which keeps you off the major highways entirely. With a highway share of 0%, this route relies on local roads, meaning you will be dealing with frequent intersections and varying traffic signals. The character of the road remains consistent as you transition from the suburban atmosphere of Bethpage into the denser, more complex street grid of Manhattan.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Island Expressway and South Broadway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near Central Avenue.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 32.4 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (Central Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 27.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27.5 miles (Hunters Point Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto Central Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, Hunters Point Avenue, Greenpoint Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto Hunters Point Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 25 toward 60th Street West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
On the drive from Bethpage, NY to Manhattan, NY, road signs begin pointing toward 60Th Street West along the way.
60Th Street West
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Long Island Expressway | 20.4 mi | 28m |
| South Broadway | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| North Broadway | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| North Marginal Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge Lower Level | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Queensboro Plaza | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| Central Avenue | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Madison Avenue | 0.7 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Bethpage, NY and Manhattan, NY.
Start on Stewart Avenue
Turn right onto Central Avenue
Continue on Central Avenue
Turn slight right
Turn straight onto NY 107
Turn straight onto NY 107
Continue on NY 107
Turn left onto North Service Road
Continue on North Marginal Road
Turn straight onto NY 25
Turn slight right onto Store Hill Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 495
Take the exit
Turn straight onto Laurel Hill Boulevard
Keep slight right at fork onto Hunters Point Avenue
Turn right onto Van Dam Street
Continue on Van Dam Street
Turn left onto NY 25
Continue on NY 25
Continue on NY 25
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 25
Turn left onto East 60th Street
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue
Turn left onto East 72nd Street
Turn right onto Madison Avenue
Turn left onto East 85th Street
Continue on 86th Street Transverse
Arrive at destination
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to leave whenever suits your schedule best. Keep in mind that as a local road route, travel times can fluctuate based on daily congestion, so check your navigation app before departing. You won't need to worry about long-distance rest stops or complex fueling logistics given the $6 fuel estimate. For the smoothest experience, stay focused on the frequent turns required by the local road navigation. Being prepared for a stop-and-go pace will make the hour-long trip much more manageable.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 32.4 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 16.2 miles or 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Manhattan, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Bethpage, NY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bethpage, NY
This is one driving day of about 32.4 miles and 53m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 16.2 mi from Bethpage, NY · 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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.
A short stop after about 32.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 16.2 miles from Bethpage, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Manhattan, NY usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Manhattan, NY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$5.27 one way
$10.55 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $5.72 | $11.43 |
| premium | $4.88 | $6.23 | $12.46 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $7.20 | $14.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.40 | $1.56 |
| Efficient EV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.83 | $1.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13 | 0 | $4.54 | $2.07 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Evening in Bethpage on Saturday
Local time
7:40 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Evening in Manhattan on Saturday
Local time
7:40 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
54°F
Hempstead, NY
16 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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