This 185.5-mile drive from Clarksville, NY to Islip, NY will take approximately 4 hours and 3 minutes, making it a manageable one-day trip. You'll primarily travel on the New York State Thruway and the Southern State Parkway, with a portion on NJ 17. With a projected fuel cost of around $31, this route offers a straightforward journey through the Northeast region. The mixed drive profile suggests a varied experience, so planning for one stop is recommended to break up the drive. This trip is well-suited for a single day without needing an overnight stay.
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
92.8 miles from Clarksville, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 58m into the drive
.
Islip (pronounced "ICE-lip") is a town on Long Island in the state of New York. Located within Suffolk County, the Town of Islip includes the villages of Brightwaters, Islandia, Ocean Beach and Saltaire. It also includes numerous hamlets including Bay Shore and Sayville which are ferry terminals for Fire Island. Other prominent communities are Bayport, Brentwood, Central Islip, Hauppauge, Islip village (the town seat), and Ronkonkoma.
Top landmarks
•Bayport Aerodrome — airport in Suffolk County, New York, United States
•Connetquot River State Park Preserve — state park in New York
•Modesty — oyster-dredging sloop built in Long Island
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 3m. Total distance: 185.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a mixed drive experience on this route, with 38% of it being on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 93.5 miles on the New York State Thruway, offering a period of consistent travel. The road character will likely shift as you transition between major parkways and state routes, providing a dynamic driving experience. This isn't a purely monotonous interstate cruise; rather, it's a blend of faster-paced highway sections and potentially more varied road conditions as you approach your destination.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 48 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
New York State Thruway is the longest continuous segment at about 93.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 112.3 miles in near NY 17.
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 28 significant decision points across 185.5 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 112.3 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 113.7 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 142.7 miles (I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 28 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
112.3 mi into trip|~2h 21m in|NY 17
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17 toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 15
Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
8
113.7 mi into trip|~2h 23m in|NJ 17
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17 toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 66
Toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
8
142.7 mi into trip|~3h 3m in|I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 6B
Toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge
8
155.7 mi into trip|~3h 22m in
Take the exit toward Southern State Parkway East, Eastern Long Island
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 25A
Toward Southern State Parkway East, Eastern Lon...
9
180.9 mi into trip|~3h 54m in
Take the exit toward Bay Shore Road South, Bay Shore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 41S
Toward Bay Shore Road South, Bay Shore
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Clarksville, NY and Islip, NY, road signs point toward Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York, Cross Island Parkway South, Southern State Parkway East and Eastern Long Island.
Gsp South: Paterson
127.8 mi in|~2h 41m
Fort Lee
127.8 mi in|~2h 41m
New York
127.8 mi in|~2h 41m
Cross Island Parkway South
154.2 mi in|~3h 19m
Southern State Parkway East
155.7 mi in|~3h 22m
Eastern Long Island
155.7 mi in|~3h 22m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New York State Thruway
93.5 mi
1h 47m
Southern State Parkway
24.7 mi
31m
NJ 17
14.1 mi
18m
Route 9W
6.9 mi
12m
NJ 4
6.7 mi
9m
Cross Bronx Expressway
6.6 mi
8m
Clearview Expressway
5 mi
5m
Cedar Grove Road
3.5 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 93.5 mi, about 1h 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clarksville, NY and Islip, NY.
1
Start on NY 443
27 ft·1 sec·Delaware Turnpike
2
Turn right onto CR 301
1.5 mi·3 min·Tarrytown Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto CR 301
0.9 mi·2 min·Tarrytown Road
4
Continue on CR 301
3.5 mi·4 min·Cedar Grove Road
5
Continue on NY 396
1.9 mi·3 min·Bridge Street
6
Turn right onto CR 101
0.2 mi·28 sec·South Street
7
Continue on CR 101
3.4 mi·5 min·County Road 101
8
Turn right onto US 9W
6.9 mi·12 min·Route 9W
Use the left lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·17 sec
Use the left lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·19 sec
Toward I 87 South: NY City
11
Merge onto I 87
94 mi·1 hr 47 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17
0.9 mi·59 sec·NY 17
Exit 15Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New JerseyUse the slight right lane.
13
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
0.5 mi·39 sec·I 287; NJ 17
14
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17
14 mi·18 min·NJ 17
Exit 66Toward NJ 17 South: MahwahUse the slight left / straight lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
17
Merge onto NJ 4
0.3 mi·24 sec·NJ 4
Use the right lane.
18
Continue on NJ 4
6.4 mi·8 min·NJ 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington BridgeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
20
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.7 mi·54 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
22
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
24
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi·6 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
2.0 mi·2 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Exit 6BToward I 295 South: Throgs Neck BridgeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
26
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi·58 sec·Throgs Neck Expressway
27
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Continue on I 295
5.0 mi·5 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Continue on NY 24
0.7 mi·1 min·Hollis Court Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
30
At end of road, turn left onto NY 24
0.2 mi·35 sec·Jamaica Avenue
Use the left lane.
31
Turn right onto Hempstead Avenue
0.9 mi·2 min·Hempstead Avenue
32
Turn right onto 225th Street
228 ft·9 sec·225th Street
Use the right lane.
33
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward Cross Island Parkway South, Verrazano Bridge
34
Merge onto CI
1.3 mi·1 min·Cross Island Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 25AToward Southern State Parkway East, Eastern Long IslandUse the slight left / straight lanes.
36
Merge onto SO
25 mi·31 min·Southern State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Keep slight left at fork onto SO
0.2 mi·16 sec·Southern State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 41SToward Bay Shore Road South, Bay ShoreUse the slight right lane.
39
Turn straight onto CR 57
0.5 mi·1 min·Bay Shore Road
40
Continue on CR 57
0.3 mi·43 sec·Howells Road
41
Turn straight onto CR 57
341 ft·6 sec·Sunrise Highway
42
Keep slight right at fork onto CR 57
0.6 mi·1 min·Howells Road
Toward Howells Road SouthUse the right lane.
43
Continue on CR 57
0.2 mi·24 sec·Roosevelt Street
44
Continue on CR 57
0.7 mi·1 min·3rd Avenue
45
At end of road, turn left onto NY 27A
1.1 mi·1 min·East Main Street
46
Continue on Montauk Highway
0.2 mi·17 sec·Montauk Highway
47
Continue on NY 27A
0.8 mi·1 min·Main Street
48
Arrive at destination
NY 27A
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4-hour drive, consider an early morning departure to avoid potential traffic, especially as you get closer to Islip. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in choosing where to rest or refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the longest stretch without a planned stop is 93.5 miles. Given the manageable duration, you can easily complete this trip in one day, so pack some snacks and enjoy the journey. A specific tip: be aware of potential toll charges on the New York State Thruway.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 92.8 miles from Clarksville, NY, or about 1h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 93.5 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 41 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.8 miles or 1h 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Islip, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Clarksville, 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 Clarksville, NY
This is one driving day of about 185.5 miles and 4h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Clarksville, 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 New York State Thruway for about 93.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 92.8 mi from Clarksville, NY
· 1h 58m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
General Grant National Memorial
National Memorial
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...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 134.3
Caution: Lower Crypt Access Subject to Safe Conditions
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...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 140.7
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...
10 mi from route
~24 min detour
Free
near mile 140.7
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 140.7
Here at Federal Hall, George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States, marking the beginning of the American constitutional republic. This historic site served as...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 140.7
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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 185.5
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
55.7
0
$19.48
$8.90
Efficient EV
46.4
0
$16.23
$7.42
EV Truck/SUV
74.2
0
$25.97
$11.87
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 kg (66% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Clarksville, NY
Night
in Clarksville on Friday
Local time
9:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Islip, NY
Night
in Islip on Friday
Local time
9:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Scattered Rain Showers then Partly Cloudy
NE 6 mph33% chanceLive forecast
57°F
Ramapo, NY
93 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
2 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
4h 3m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Clarksville, NY to Islip, NY covers 185.5 miles and takes about 4h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are New York State Thruway, Southern State Parkway, NJ 17. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 92.8 miles from Clarksville, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.53 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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.
This is a demanding drive. With 28 significant decision points across 185.5 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 112.3 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 113.7 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 142.7 miles (I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Clarksville, NY and Islip, NY, road signs point toward Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York, Cross Island Parkway South, Southern State Parkway East and Eastern Long Island.
Yes. Nearby national parks include General Grant National Memorial, Hamilton Grange National Memorial and Stonewall National Monument. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.
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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
