Origin
Brookhaven, NY
Morning in Brookhaven on Friday
Local time
6:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Brookhaven, NY to Brighton, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 58m
Distance
373.2 mi
601 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$61
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 50m
★
6 AM
7h 59m
8 AM
8h 16m
10 AM
8h 5m
12 PM
8h 3m
3 PM
8h 6m
5 PM
8h 15m
8 PM
7h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Brighton, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Brookhaven, NY to Brighton, NY covers 373.2 miles and takes about 7h 58m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 81, Christopher Columbus Highway, Long Island Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 97.3 miles on I 81. At current regular gas prices, budget about $61.43 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
186.6 miles from Brookhaven, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 57m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 58m. Total distance: 373.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 58m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
Expect a 7h 58m drive with frequent turns across 373.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 61 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 81 is the longest continuous segment at about 97.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 47.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 41 significant decision points across 373.2 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 47.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 47.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 41 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
47.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Bridge, Kennedy Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 31N-S
Toward Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Bridge,...
10
47.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 31N
Toward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone B...
8
50.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
Take the exit toward I 295 North: Throgs Neck Bridge, Bronx, New England
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 33
Toward I 295 North: Throgs Neck Bridge, Bronx,...
8
63.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
8
63.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 28m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Brookhaven, NY and Brighton, NY, road signs point toward Kennedy Airport, Cross Island Parkway North, Bronx, New England, Upper Level and Njtp South: Hackensack - among others.
Kennedy Airport
47.3 mi in
|
~1h 4m
Cross Island Parkway North
47.5 mi in
|
~1h 5m
Bronx
50.9 mi in
|
~1h 10m
New England
50.9 mi in
|
~1h 10m
Upper Level
60.6 mi in
|
~1h 24m
|
via I 95; US 1
Njtp South: Hackensack
63.1 mi in
|
~1h 28m
Hackensack
65.7 mi in
|
~1h 32m
Albany
238.4 mi in
|
~4h 58m
|
via I 81
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 | 97.3 mi | 1h 55m |
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 68.2 mi | 1h 20m |
| Long Island Expressway | 41.4 mi | 55m |
| New York State Thruway | 30.3 mi | 34m |
| I 380 | 27.7 mi | 30m |
| Keystone Shortway | 17.3 mi | 24m |
| Eastern Expressway | 11.3 mi | 13m |
| Clinton Street | 10.5 mi | 15m |
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 97.3 mi, about 1h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brookhaven, NY and Brighton, NY.
1
Start on CR 36
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
South Country Road
2
Continue on South Country Road
354 ft
·
16 sec
·
South Country Road
3
Turn straight onto CR 80
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Montauk Highway
4
Turn left onto CR 16
4.2 mi
·
6 min
·
Horseblock Road
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left onto Express Drive North
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
Express Drive North
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 495 WEST: New York
7
Merge onto I 495
41 mi
·
55 min
·
Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 31N-S
Toward Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Bridge, Kennedy Airport
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 31N
Toward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone Bridge
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto CI
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Cross Island Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 33
Toward I 295 North: Throgs Neck Bridge, Bronx, New England
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 295
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Throgs Neck Bridge
13
Continue on I 295
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Throgs Neck Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295
6.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; US 1
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Trans-Manhattan Expressway
Toward Upper Level
16
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
George Washington Bridge (upper level)
17
Continue on I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
0.6 mi
·
39 sec
·
I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; NJTP
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
I 95 EXPR; NJTP
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
22
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 69
Toward I 80 West: Paterson, Hackensack
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on I 80
68 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
·
Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Keystone Shortway
27
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 293
Toward I 380 North: Scranton
28
Continue on I 380
28 mi
·
30 min
·
I 380
Use the straight lane.
29
Merge onto I 81
58 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
I 81
Use the straight lane.
30
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse, Albany
31
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
37 mi
·
43 min
·
I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse
32
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 52
Toward NY 13: Cortland
33
Turn right onto NY 13
39 ft
·
5 sec
·
Clinton Avenue
34
Turn left onto Locust Avenue
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Locust Avenue
35
Continue on Albany Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Albany Street
36
At end of road, turn right onto US 11; NY 41
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
37
Turn left onto NY 41
10 mi
·
15 min
·
Clinton Street
38
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
East Lake Road
39
Continue on NY 41
4.8 mi
·
7 min
·
State Route 41
40
Continue on NY 41
9.4 mi
·
13 min
·
East Lake Road
41
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
East Lake Street
42
Turn left onto US 20
7.3 mi
·
13 min
·
East Genesee Street
43
Turn right onto US 20
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
North Fulton Street
44
Turn left onto US 20; NY 5
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Arterial West
45
Continue on US 20; NY 5; NY 38
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
Chase Street
Use the left lane.
46
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Auburn Road
47
Turn right onto NY 318
4.1 mi
·
7 min
·
NY 318
48
Continue on NY 318
319 ft
·
10 sec
·
NY 318
Use the right lane.
49
Turn right onto NY 414
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
State Route 414
Use the right lane.
50
Continue on NY 414
217 ft
·
11 sec
·
Ridge Road
Use the left lane.
51
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Use the left lane.
52
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 90 West: Buffalo
Use the straight / right lanes.
53
Merge onto I 90
30 mi
·
34 min
·
New York State Thruway
54
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 45
Toward I 490: Rochester
Use the slight right lane.
55
Continue on I 490
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Eastern Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
56
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 20
Toward University Avenue, Winton Road
Use the slight right lane.
57
Turn straight onto University Avenue
333 ft
·
10 sec
·
University Avenue
58
Turn right onto North Winton Road
453 ft
·
9 sec
·
North Winton Road
59
Turn right onto Halstead Street
0.2 mi
·
49 sec
·
Halstead Street
60
Turn sharp left
177 ft
·
13 sec
61
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 186.6 miles from Brookhaven, NY, or about 3h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.3 miles.
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 82 miles or 1h 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 186.6 miles or 3h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 42m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brighton, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Brookhaven, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Brookhaven, NY
This is one driving day of about 373.2 miles and 7h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 82 miles from Brookhaven, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 97.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 186.6 mi from Brookhaven, NY · 3h 57m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
187 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 82 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 186.6 miles from Brookhaven, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 81 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 97.3 miles.
Arriving in Brighton, NY
The final approach into Brighton, 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 Brighton, NY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$61.43 one way
$122.86 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
131 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $66.43 | $132.85 |
| premium | $4.92 | $72.33 | $144.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $82.40 | $164.80 |
Estimated Tolls: $24.35
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
New York State Thruway
(30.3 mi)
$1.52
New Jersey Turnpike
(2 mi)
$0.28
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$61
Tolls
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$111–$136
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 130.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 112 | 1 | $39.19 | $17.91 |
| Efficient EV | 93.3 | 1 | $32.65 | $14.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 149.3 | 1 | $52.25 | $23.88 |
Gas CO2
131 kg
EV CO2
44 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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.
Destination
Brighton, NY
Morning in Brighton on Friday
Local time
6:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Ramapo, NY
187 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
7h 58m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Brookhaven, NY to Brighton, NY covers 373.2 miles and takes about 7h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 81, Christopher Columbus Highway, Long Island Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 186.6 miles from Brookhaven, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $61.43 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 41 significant decision points across 373.2 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 47.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 47.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Brookhaven, NY and Brighton, NY, road signs point toward Kennedy Airport, Cross Island Parkway North, Bronx, New England, Upper Level and Njtp South: Hackensack - among others.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
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