Origin
Great River, NY
Evening in Great River on Sunday
Local time
5:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
27m
Distance
18.2 mi
29 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Great River, NY
Mel Audelo
If you are planning a quick trip across Long Island, the 18.2-mile journey from Great River to Brookhaven is a straightforward commute. You can easily complete this drive in about 27 minutes, making it a perfect one-day excursion that requires no overnight stay. With a modest fuel budget of $3, it is an economical route for a local outing. You will transition through the Northeast region using a combination of Sunrise Highway, Heckscher State Parkway, and Montauk Highway. Because the distance is so short, you have plenty of flexibility to adjust your departure time to avoid heavy traffic. Consider this a practical, no-fuss connection between these two points in New York.
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
9.1 miles from Great River, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 14m into the drive .
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged rather than lulling you into a monotonous interstate trance. While about 9 miles of the route are highway-based, the experience shifts frequently as you navigate between local roads and larger thoroughfares. Your longest uninterrupted stretch covers 13.8 miles on Sunrise Highway, which provides the most consistent speed of the trip. The remaining segments require more focused attention as you maneuver through turns and transitions. You will feel a distinct change in pace as you move off the highway and onto the local portions of the drive, so stay alert behind the wheel.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.5 miles in.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 18.2 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 3.4 miles (NY 27 / Sunrise Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 16.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the exit toward NY 27 East: Montauk
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto NY 27 / Sunrise Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward CR 21 South: Yaphank Avenue, Brookhaven
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn right onto CR 21 / Yaphank Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto CR 36 / South Country Road
Lane positioning matters here
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sunrise Highway | 13.8 mi | 18m |
| Heckscher State Parkway | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Montauk Highway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| South Country Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| River Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Yaphank Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Woodhollow Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Sunrise Hwy South Service Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Great River, NY and Brookhaven, NY.
Start on New Street
Turn left onto Woodhollow Road
Turn right onto River Road
Take the ramp
Merge onto H
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Turn straight onto Sunrise Highway
Take the ramp
Merge onto NY 27
Take the exit
Turn left onto Sunrise Hwy South Service Road
Turn right onto CR 21
Turn right onto CR 80
Turn left onto CR 36
Arrive at destination
Since this is a short 27-minute trip, you have the advantage of being able to leave whenever fits your schedule best. You won't need to worry about planning formal rest stops given the 18.2-mile distance, allowing you to drive straight through to your destination. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before you head out, though the $3 cost estimate suggests you won't need to budget heavily for gas. Because the route relies on a mix of parkways and local highways, prioritize checking real-time traffic reports before departing to choose the smoothest path. Being prepared for the frequent turns along this route will ensure your drive remains stress-free and efficient.
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 18.2 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 9.1 miles or 14m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brookhaven, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Great River, 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 Great River, NY
This is one driving day of about 18.2 miles and 27m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 9.1 mi from Great River, NY · 14m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
9 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.
A short stop after about 18.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 9.1 miles from Great River, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Brookhaven, 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 Brookhaven, NY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$2.96 one way
$5.93 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $3.21 | $6.42 |
| premium | $4.88 | $3.50 | $7.00 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $4.04 | $8.09 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.5 | 0 | $1.91 | $0.87 |
| Efficient EV | 4.6 | 0 | $1.59 | $0.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.3 | 0 | $2.55 | $1.16 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (67% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Great River on Sunday
Local time
5:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Brookhaven on Sunday
Local time
5:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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