Origin
Elmhurst, NY
Night in Elmhurst on Saturday
Local time
11:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Clear
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 2:05PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Trip from Elmhurst, NY to Smithtown, NY
Drive Time
59m
Distance
41.1 mi
66 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
Photo: Peter Olexa
Trip Overview
The drive from Elmhurst, NY to Smithtown, NY covers 41.1 miles and takes about 59m 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, Northern State Parkway, Jericho Turnpike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 19.3 miles on Long Island Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.69 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
20.6 miles from Elmhurst, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 30m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 59m highway drive covering 41.1 miles, with most of the trip on Long Island Expressway and Northern State Parkway. The longest continuous stretch is about 19.3 miles on Long Island Expressway.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
300 ft
Total Descent
268 ft
Highest Point
251 ft
~30.8 mi in
Elevation Range
229 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Island Expressway and Northern State Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Queens Boulevard.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 8 significant decision points across 41.1 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: near the start (Queens Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn right onto Queens Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp toward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, Eastern Long Island
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward N East: Hauppauge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward SM North: Kings Park
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward NY 25 East: Jericho Turnpike East, Smithtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Towns Along This Route
Between Elmhurst, NY and Smithtown, NY, road signs point toward N East: Hauppauge and Sm North: Kings Park.
N East: Hauppauge
Sm North: Kings Park
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Long Island Expressway | 19.3 mi | 27m |
| Northern State Parkway | 13.7 mi | 18m |
| Jericho Turnpike | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| Sunken Meadow State Parkway | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| West Main Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Queens Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Sagtikos State Parkway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Grand Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elmhurst, NY and Smithtown, NY.
Start on Grand Avenue
Turn right onto Queens Boulevard
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 495
Take the exit
Merge onto N
Take the exit
Merge onto SA
Continue on SM
Take the exit
Turn slight right onto NY 25
Continue on NY 25; NY 25A
Arrive at destination
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.
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 41.1 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 20.6 miles or 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Smithtown, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
Open the route before leaving Elmhurst, 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 Elmhurst, NY
This is one driving day of about 41.1 miles and 59m.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.6 mi from Elmhurst, NY · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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
A short stop after about 41.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 20.6 miles from Elmhurst, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Smithtown, NY
The final approach into Smithtown, 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 Smithtown, 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
$6.69 one way
$13.38 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $7.25 | $14.50 |
| premium | $4.88 | $7.90 | $15.80 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $9.13 | $18.26 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.27
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
$7
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.32 | $1.97 |
| Efficient EV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.60 | $1.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.75 | $2.63 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Local time and weather at both ends of the drive
Current conditions at both ends of the drive. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Destination
Smithtown, NY
Night in Smithtown on Saturday
Local time
11:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Clear
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 2:05PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Along the Route
54°F
Hempstead, NY
21 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
6 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
59m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Frequently Asked Questions
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