The drive from Brookhaven, NY to Hillside Lake, NY covers 124.2 miles and takes about 2h 50m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Long Island Expressway, I 684, I 84 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 41.4 miles on Long Island Expressway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.44 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
62.1 miles from Brookhaven, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 28m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 50m. Total distance: 124.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 50m highway drive covering 124.2 miles, with most of the trip on Long Island Expressway and I 684. The longest continuous stretch is about 41.4 miles on Long Island Expressway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 35 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Long Island Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 41.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Island Expressway and I 684. 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 Effort10/10
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 26 significant decision points across 124.2 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 26 key points
These 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
53.9 mi into trip|~1h 15m in|I 695 / Throgs Neck Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 695 / Throgs Neck Expressway toward I 695 North: New Haven
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 10
Toward I 695 North: New Haven
8
57 mi into trip|~1h 20m in
Take the exit toward Hutchinson Parkway North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 9
Toward Hutchinson Parkway North
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 Hillside Lake, NY, road signs point toward Kennedy Airport, Cross Island Parkway North, Bronx, New England, Hutchinson Parkway North and Hutchinson River Parkway North - 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
Hutchinson Parkway North
57 mi in|~1h 20m
Hutchinson River Parkway North
57.1 mi in|~1h 20m
Taconic State Parkway North
114.9 mi in|~2h 33m
Albany
114.9 mi in|~2h 33m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Long Island Expressway
41.4 mi
55m
I 684
27 mi
31m
I 84
15.4 mi
18m
Hutchinson River Parkway
13.5 mi
19m
Horseblock Road
4.2 mi
6m
Taconic State Parkway
3.8 mi
5m
Cross Island Parkway
3.1 mi
4m
Throgs Neck Expressway
2.5 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Long Island Expressway
— 41.4 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Brookhaven, NY and Hillside Lake, 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-SToward Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Bridge, Kennedy AirportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 31NToward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone BridgeUse 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 33Toward I 295 North: Throgs Neck Bridge, Bronx, New EnglandUse 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 right at fork onto I 695
1.8 mi·2 min·Throgs Neck Expressway
Exit 10Toward I 695 North: New HavenUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 95
1.0 mi·1 min·Bruckner Expressway
16
Continue on I 95
0.2 mi·18 sec·New England Thruway
17
Take the exit
430 ft·14 sec
Exit 9Toward Hutchinson Parkway NorthUse the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward Hutchinson River Parkway NorthUse the straight / right lanes.
19
Merge onto HR
14 mi·19 min·Hutchinson River Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork
1.6 mi·2 min
Exit 16AToward I 684 North: BrewsterUse the slight left lane.
21
Merge onto I 684
26 mi·30 min·I 684
22
Continue on I 684
0.8 mi·1 min·I 684
Exit |; 9W|9E
23
Take the exit
0.3 mi·1 min
Exit 9WToward I 84 West: NewburghUse the right lane.
24
Merge onto I 84
15 mi·18 min·I 84
25
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 52BToward Taconic State Parkway North, AlbanyUse the slight right lane.
26
Merge onto Taconic State Parkway
3.8 mi·5 min·Taconic State Parkway
27
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward Hopewell Junction, Sylvan Lake
28
Turn left onto CR 9
1.4 mi·2 min·Beekman Road
29
Turn right onto CR 29
2.0 mi·3 min·Clove Branch Road
30
Turn right
112 ft·6 sec
31
Turn right onto CR 33
0.9 mi·2 min·Hillside Lake Road
32
Turn right onto South Hillside Road
343 ft·15 sec·South Hillside Road
33
Continue on South Hillside Lake Road
0.2 mi·52 sec·South Hillside Lake Road
34
Turn right onto 3rd Road
408 ft·18 sec·3rd Road
35
Arrive at destination
3rd Road
Trip Plan
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 62.1 miles from Brookhaven, NY, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.4 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 27 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.1 miles or 1h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hillside Lake, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Brookhaven, NY
This is one driving day of about 124.2 miles and 2h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Brookhaven, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Long Island Expressway for about 41.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 62.1 mi from Brookhaven, NY
· 1h 28m into the drive
The midpoint is around 62.1 miles from Brookhaven, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Hillside Lake, NY
The final approach into Hillside Lake, 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 Hillside Lake, NY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Fire Island National Seashore
National Seashore
Immerse yourself in an enchanting collage of coastal life and history. Rhythmic waves, high dunes, ancient maritime forests, historic landmarks and glimpses of wildlife, Fire Island has been a special...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
Park Closure: Pet Restrictions, Beach Driving Closures in Effect March 15 through Labor Day
Caution: Avian Influenza (HPAI) Suspected in Dead Birds in Seashore Areas
The final resting place of President Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, Julia, is the largest mausoleum in North America. It testifies to a people’s gratitude for the man who ended the bloodiest conflict...
7 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 55.7
Merchant’s clerk, Revolutionary War soldier, first Secretary Treasury of the United States: Alexander Hamilton’s life is memorialized at The Grange, the home he built on a country estate in uptown Man...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 55.7
The African Burial Ground stands as the oldest and largest known excavated burial site in North America for both free and enslaved Africans. It offers a profound testament to the enduring legacy of Af...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
Free
near mile 51.4
Before the 1960s, almost everything about living authentically as a lesbian, a bisexual person or a gay man was illegal. The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969 is a milestone in the quest for civil r...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 51.4
Located at the southern tip of Manhattan, Castle Clinton marks the place where New York City began and reflects the growth of both the city and the nation. Built to defend the harbor during the War of...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 51.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.44 one way
$40.89 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$22.11
$44.21
premium
$4.92
$24.07
$48.14
diesel
$5.61
$27.42
$54.84
Estimated Tolls: $6.55
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
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
$20
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.3
0
$13.04
$5.96
Efficient EV
31.1
0
$10.87
$4.97
EV Truck/SUV
49.7
0
$17.39
$7.95
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (65% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Brookhaven, NY
Evening
in Brookhaven on Thursday
Local time
5:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
77°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Hillside Lake, NY
Evening
in Hillside Lake on Thursday
Local time
5:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
12 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 50m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Brookhaven, NY to Hillside Lake, NY covers 124.2 miles and takes about 2h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Long Island Expressway, I 684, I 84. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 62.1 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 $20.44 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 124.2 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 Hillside Lake, NY, road signs point toward Kennedy Airport, Cross Island Parkway North, Bronx, New England, Hutchinson Parkway North and Hutchinson River Parkway North - among others.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Fire Island National Seashore, General Grant National Memorial and Hamilton Grange National Memorial. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.
