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Trip from Brookhaven, NY to Watkins Glen, NY

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

6h 36m

Distance

316.4 mi

509 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$52

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
6h 24m ★
6 AM
6h 36m
8 AM
7h 0m
10 AM
6h 45m
12 PM
6h 42m
3 PM
6h 46m
5 PM
6h 59m
8 PM
6h 29m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Village and CDP in New York, US

Watkins Glen, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Brookhaven, NY to Watkins Glen, NY covers 316.4 miles and takes about 6h 36m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on South Country Road, Montauk Highway, Horseblock Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $52.08 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

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

158.2 miles from Brookhaven, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 18m into the drive .

About the Cities

Starting in Brookhaven, NY

Full guide →

Founded 1655

Brookhaven is the largest town in Suffolk County, part of Long Island, New York. With 485,000 residents (2020). It includes a patchwork of villages and other communities, and is the only town on the island to touch both the Long Island Sound and Atlantic Ocean. The villages of Belle Terre, Bellport, Lake Grove, Mastic Beach, Old Field, Patchogue, Poquott, Port Jefferson, and Shoreham are semi-autonomous, and provide their own services in addition to those provided by the town. Other prominent communities include Mount Sinai, Stony Brook, and Fire Island, a long and car-free resort island off the south coast of the town.

Top landmarks

  • Wardenclyffe Tower — early experimental wireless transmission station designed and built by Nikola Te...
  • West Meadow Beach Historic District — historic district in the United States
  • Stony Brook Grist Mill — watermill

Arriving in Watkins Glen, NY

Full guide →

Watkins Glen is a small town of 1,863 (2020) in New York's Finger Lakes region. It is famous among motorsports fans for its speedway.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 36m. Total distance: 316.4 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 36m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 6h 36m drive with frequent turns across 316.4 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 40 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Country Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 36m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Brookhaven, NY to Watkins Glen, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South Country Road
Montauk Highway
Horseblock Road
Express Drive North
I 495 WEST
Long Island Expressway
Cross Island Parkway
Cross Island Parkway North

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: South Country Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Brookhaven, NY and Watkins Glen, NY.

1

Start on South Country Road

0.4 mi · 47 sec · South Country Road
2

Continue on South Country Road

354 ft · 17 sec · South Country Road
3

Turn straight onto Montauk Highway

0.8 mi · 1 min · Montauk Highway
4

Turn left onto Horseblock Road

4.2 mi · 6 min · Horseblock Road
5

Turn left onto Express Drive North

0.2 mi · 15 sec · Express Drive North
6

Take the ramp straight toward I 495 WEST: New York

0.2 mi · 22 sec · I 495 WEST: New York
7

Merge slight left onto Long Island Expressway

41 mi · 55 min · Long Island Expressway
8

Take the exit slight right toward Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Bridge, Kennedy Airport

0.2 mi · 27 sec · Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Bridge, Kennedy Airport
9

Keep slight right to continue on Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone Bridge

0.3 mi · 38 sec · Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone Bridge
10

Merge slight left onto Cross Island Parkway

3.1 mi · 4 min · Cross Island Parkway
11

Take the exit slight right toward I 295 North: Throgs Neck Bridge, Bronx, New England

0.6 mi · 1 min · I 295 North: Throgs Neck Bridge, Bronx, New England
12

Merge slight left onto Throgs Neck Bridge

1.8 mi · 3 min · Throgs Neck Bridge
13

Continue on Throgs Neck Expressway

0.7 mi · 1 min · Throgs Neck Expressway
14

Keep slight left to continue on Cross Bronx Expressway

6.6 mi · 8 min · Cross Bronx Expressway
15

Keep slight left to continue on Trans-Manhattan Expressway

0.7 mi · 1 min · Trans-Manhattan Expressway
16

Continue on George Washington Bridge (upper level)

0.6 mi · 1 min · George Washington Bridge (upper level)
17

Continue straight

0.5 mi · 48 sec
18

Keep slight left

0.6 mi · 39 sec
19

Keep slight left

0.1 mi · 9 sec
20

Take the exit slight right toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack

0.2 mi · 23 sec · I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
21

Keep slight left to continue on I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack

0.4 mi · 29 sec · I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
22

Merge slight left onto New Jersey Turnpike

2.0 mi · 2 min · New Jersey Turnpike
23

Take the exit slight right toward I 80 West: Paterson, Hackensack

0.8 mi · 1 min · I 80 West: Paterson, Hackensack
24

Continue on Christopher Columbus Highway

68 mi · 1 hr 20 min · Christopher Columbus Highway
25

Keep slight left to continue on Keystone Shortway

5.5 mi · 8 min · Keystone Shortway
26

Keep slight left to continue on Keystone Shortway

12 mi · 15 min · Keystone Shortway
27

Take the exit slight right toward I 380 North: Scranton

0.7 mi · 46 sec · I 380 North: Scranton
28

Continue straight

28 mi · 30 min
29

Merge slight right

58 mi · 1 hr 9 min
30

Keep slight left to continue on I 86: Corning

61 mi · 1 hr 11 min · I 86: Corning
31

Take the exit slight right toward NY 14 North, CR 64: Watkins Glen

0.2 mi · 38 sec · NY 14 North, CR 64: Watkins Glen
32

Turn left onto County Road 64

0.1 mi · 9 sec · County Road 64
33

Take the exit slight right

0.1 mi · 23 sec
34

Merge slight left onto Westinghouse Road

1.4 mi · 1 min · Westinghouse Road
35

At the end of the road, turn left onto Watkins Road

5.6 mi · 7 min · Watkins Road
36

Continue on Main Street

1.5 mi · 3 min · Main Street
37

Continue on Watkins Road

6.0 mi · 7 min · Watkins Road
38

Continue on South Franklin Street

2.1 mi · 4 min · South Franklin Street
39

Turn right onto East Fourth Street

46 ft · 1 sec · East Fourth Street
40

Arrive at your 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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 158.2 miles from Brookhaven, NY, or about 3h 18m into the drive.

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 70 miles or 1h 27m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 158.2 miles or 3h 18m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 24m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Watkins Glen, 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 316.4 miles and 6h 36m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 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.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 158.2 mi from Brookhaven, NY · 3h 18m into the drive

town in Rockland County, New York, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ramapo, NY

158 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

The Bronx, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 70 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ramapo, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 158.2 miles from Brookhaven, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Watkins Glen, NY

The final approach into Watkins Glen, 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 Watkins Glen, 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

$52.08 one way

$104.16 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 111 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.52 $56.32 $112.63
premium $4.92 $61.32 $122.65
diesel $5.61 $69.86 $139.71

Estimated Tolls: $29.10

George Washington Bridge $16.00
Whitestone Bridge $6.55
Throgs Neck Bridge $6.55
New Jersey Turnpike $0.00

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

$52

Tolls

$29

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$106–$131

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 110.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 94.9 1 $33.22 $15.19
Efficient EV 79.1 0 $27.68 $12.66
EV Truck/SUV 126.6 1 $44.30 $20.25

Gas CO2

111 kg

EV CO2

37 kg (67% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Brookhaven, NY

Morning in Brookhaven on Saturday

Local time

9:08 AM

EDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Watkins Glen, NY

Morning in Watkins Glen on Saturday

Local time

9:08 AM

EDT

Current temp

58°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

57°F

Ramapo, NY

158 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

15 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

6h 36m 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 Watkins Glen, NY covers 316.4 miles and takes about 6h 36m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are South Country Road, Montauk Highway, Horseblock Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 158.2 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 $52.08 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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 36m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Brookhaven, NY to Watkins Glen, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Brookhaven, NY to Watkins Glen, NY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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