Trip from Great River, NY to Brookhaven, NY

Drive 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

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 8 min
4 AM
0h 25m ★
6 AM
0h 28m
8 AM
0h 33m
10 AM
0h 30m
12 PM
0h 29m
3 PM
0h 30m
5 PM
0h 32m
8 PM
0h 26m

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

Downtown Great River, NY, NY

Great River, NY

Mel Audelo

Trip Overview

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 .

Drive Character

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.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 16 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Sunrise Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 13.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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.

Route Complexity 6/10

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.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 13 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

7
2.5 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the exit toward NY 27 East: Montauk

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 44E Toward NY 27 East: Montauk
5
3.4 mi into trip | ~6m in | NY 27 / Sunrise Highway

Merge onto NY 27 / Sunrise Highway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
8
16.8 mi into trip | ~24m in

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 57 S Toward CR 21 South: Yaphank Avenue, Brookhaven
5
17 mi into trip | ~25m in | CR 21 / Yaphank Avenue

Turn right onto CR 21 / Yaphank Avenue

Navigation decision point

5
17.8 mi into trip | ~27m in | CR 36 / South Country Road

Turn left onto CR 36 / South Country Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

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
Longest stretch: Sunrise Highway — 13.8 mi, about 18m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Great River, NY and Brookhaven, NY.

1

Start on New Street

52 ft · 7 sec · New Street
2

Turn left onto Woodhollow Road

0.2 mi · 55 sec · Woodhollow Road
3

Turn right onto River Road

0.3 mi · 43 sec · River Road
4

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 36 sec
Toward Heckscher Parkway west
5

Merge onto H

1.7 mi · 2 min · Heckscher State Parkway
6

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 16 sec
Exit 44E Toward NY 27 East: Montauk Use the slight right lane.
7

Continue on this road

460 ft · 10 sec · this road
Exit 46E Toward NY 27 East: Montauk
8

Turn straight onto Sunrise Highway

0.3 mi · 32 sec · Sunrise Highway
9

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Toward NY 27 East: Montauk
10

Merge onto NY 27

13 mi · 18 min · Sunrise Highway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

492 ft · 19 sec
Exit 57 S Toward CR 21 South: Yaphank Avenue, Brookhaven Use the slight right lane.
12

Turn left onto Sunrise Hwy South Service Road

426 ft · 15 sec · Sunrise Hwy South Service Road
13

Turn right onto CR 21

0.3 mi · 43 sec · Yaphank Avenue
14

Turn right onto CR 80

0.5 mi · 58 sec · Montauk Highway
15

Turn left onto CR 36

0.4 mi · 50 sec · South Country Road
Use the left lane.
16

Arrive at destination

CR 36

Trip Plan

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 9.1 miles from Great River, NY, or about 14m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 13.8 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 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.

Before You Leave

+

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.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Great River, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Sunrise Highway for about 13.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Islip, NY, NY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Islip, NY

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Smithtown, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 18.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Islip, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 9.1 miles from Great River, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Brookhaven, NY

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$2.96 one way

$5.93 round trip

$4.14/gal 25.4 MPG avg 6 kg CO2
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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Great River, NY

Evening in Great River on Sunday

Local time

5:02 PM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Brookhaven, NY

Evening in Brookhaven on Sunday

Local time

5:02 PM

EDT

Current temp

49°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

27m on the road

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Great River, NY to Brookhaven, NY covers 18.2 miles and takes about 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Sunrise Highway, Heckscher State Parkway, Montauk Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 9.1 miles from Great River, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.96 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.
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.
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.
The route from Great River, NY to Brookhaven, NY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Return Trip

Brookhaven, NY to Great River, NY

Plan the drive back the other way.

18.2 mi 29m

Explore more options from Great River, NY or browse trips ending in Brookhaven, NY.

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