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Create accountDrive Time
1h 9m
Distance
44.6 mi
72 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brentwood, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
New York City, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Traveling from Brentwood to New York City is a straightforward 44.6-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 9 minutes. Because this trip is short, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight logistics. You should budget approximately $7 for fuel, keeping the trip quite affordable. Navigating this route involves transitioning from suburban Long Island into the heart of the city using a mix of local roads and major expressways. It is a highly practical connection for commuters or visitors looking to reach the city quickly. Whether you are heading in for a meeting or a day of exploration, the modest duration makes it a manageable drive.
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
22.3 miles from Brentwood, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 32m into the drive .
This drive is heavily highway-focused, with 81% of your travel occurring on high-speed roads. You will spend the bulk of your time on the Long Island Expressway, which accounts for the longest uninterrupted stretch of 34 miles. The route begins with a brief transition onto Crooked Hill Road before merging onto the main artery of the expressway. As you approach the city, the character of the drive shifts as you navigate onto the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. Expect a fast-paced environment that demands your attention as you move from the quieter outskirts toward the dense urban traffic patterns of the five boroughs.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
67 ft
Total Descent
0 ft
Highest Point
140 ft
~3.7 mi in
Elevation Range
67 ft
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Island Expressway and Crooked Hill Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 37.8 miles in.
Involved — several decision points to watch
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 44.6 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 37.8 miles: Exit ramp — move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 38.8 miles: Highway fork — watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs — pick the right one; at 38.9 miles: 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.
Exit ramp — move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Highway fork — watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs — pick the right one
Highway fork — watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Highway fork — watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs — pick the right one
Lane positioning matters here
Between Brentwood, NY and New York City, NY, road signs point toward 48Th Street, Williamsburg Bridge and Manhattan.
48Th Street
Williamsburg Bridge
Manhattan
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Long Island Expressway | 34 mi | 46m |
| Crooked Hill Road | 2.3 mi | 4m |
| Brooklyn-Queens Expressway | 2 mi | 3m |
| Williamsburg Bridge | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| Suffolk Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Delancey Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Broadway | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| North Service Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Brentwood, NY and New York City, NY.
Start on CR 100
Turn right onto CR 13
Keep slight left at fork onto CR 13
Turn left onto North Service Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 495
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 278
Keep slight left at fork onto Williamsburg Bridge
Keep slight left at fork onto Williamsburg Bridge
Continue on Delancey Street
Continue on Kenmare Street
At end of road, turn left onto Lafayette Street
Turn right onto Howard Street
Turn left onto Broadway
Arrive at destination
Flexibility is your biggest advantage on this short 44.6-mile route, allowing you to plan your departure around the city's notorious traffic cycles. Since there are zero scheduled stops required, you can power through the drive in just over an hour if you time your trip outside of peak rush hours. Keep a close eye on real-time traffic reports for the Long Island Expressway, as congestion can significantly alter your arrival time despite the short distance. Because the fuel cost is a low $7, you won't need to worry about planning refueling stops along the way. Your best strategy is to fill up your tank before leaving Brentwood to avoid navigating city gas stations upon your arrival.
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 44.6 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 22.3 miles or 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New York City, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Brentwood, 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 Brentwood, NY
This is one driving day of about 44.6 miles and 1h 9m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.3 mi from Brentwood, NY · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 44.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 22.3 miles from Brentwood, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into New York City, 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 New York City, NY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$7.04 one way
$14.08 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $7.87 | $15.74 |
| premium | $4.86 | $8.54 | $17.07 |
| diesel | $4.69 | $8.24 | $16.48 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.6 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.4 | 0 | $4.68 | $2.14 |
| Efficient EV | 11.2 | 0 | $3.90 | $1.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.8 | 0 | $6.24 | $2.85 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Brentwood on Sunday
Local time
4:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Sunny
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 12:56PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Destination
Afternoon in New York City on Sunday
Local time
4:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Sunny
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 12:56PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
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
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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