This 118.8-mile journey from Islip, NY, to Clintondale, NY, is a straightforward drive that can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 42 minutes. With 87% of the route on highways, it's a predominantly fast-paced experience, making it ideal as a single-day trip. The estimated fuel cost is around $20, which is quite manageable for a drive of this length. You'll primarily be navigating on NY 17 and NJ 17, with a brief stint on the Southern State Parkway. This route keeps you within the Northeast region, offering a familiar driving environment as you travel between 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
59.4 miles from Islip, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 42m. Total distance: 118.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this trip, with 87% of the mileage spent on faster roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 29.9 miles along NY 17, allowing for a solid period of consistent travel. While primarily a highway experience, be prepared for potential variations as you transition between parkways and numbered routes. The overall feel is one of efficient travel, designed to get you from point A to point B with minimal fuss, though the specific character of each road segment will offer its own rhythm.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 56 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
NY 17 is the longest continuous segment at about 29.9 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NY 17 and Southern State Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.6 miles in near CR 57 / Howells Road.
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 33 significant decision points across 118.8 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 3.6 miles (CR 57 / Howells Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 33 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
3.6 mi into trip|~6m in|CR 57 / Howells Road
Keep slight right at fork onto CR 57 / Howells Road toward Howells Road, Deer Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward Howells Road, Deer Park
8
31.1 mi into trip|~43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NY 24 West: Hempstead Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward NY 24 West: Hempstead Avenue
8
31.2 mi into trip|~43m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Hempstead Avenue West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Hempstead Avenue West
8
50 mi into trip|~1h 10m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
9
50.3 mi into trip|~1h 11m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 4 West: Paramus
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 72A
Toward NJ 4 West: Paramus
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Islip, NY and Clintondale, NY, road signs point toward Cross Island Parkway North, Hempstead Avenue West, Grandstand, Upper Level, Njtp South: Hackensack and Gsp South - among others.
Cross Island Parkway North
29.4 mi in|~40m
Hempstead Avenue West
31.1 mi in|~43m
Grandstand
31.3 mi in|~43m
Upper Level
47.5 mi in|~1h 6m|via I 95; US 1
Njtp South: Hackensack
50 mi in|~1h 10m
Gsp South
57.1 mi in|~1h 20m
Gsp North
57.1 mi in|~1h 20m
Newark
57.1 mi in|~1h 20m
Mahwah
57.1 mi in|~1h 20m
New York State Thruway North: Albany
72.4 mi in|~1h 40m|via NY 17
Newburgh
102.3 mi in|~2h 14m
Scranton
102.4 mi in|~2h 15m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NY 17
29.9 mi
34m
Southern State Parkway
24.7 mi
31m
NJ 17
14.7 mi
18m
NJ 4
6.7 mi
9m
Cross Bronx Expressway
6.6 mi
8m
Clearview Expressway
5 mi
5m
Plattekill Turnpike
4.6 mi
8m
State Highway 32
4.6 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
NY 17
— 29.9 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Islip, NY and Clintondale, NY.
1
Start on NY 27A
0.8 mi·1 min·Main Street
2
Continue on Montauk Highway
0.2 mi·19 sec·Montauk Highway
3
Continue on NY 27A
1.1 mi·1 min·Main Street
4
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·3rd Avenue
5
Continue on CR 57
0.3 mi·36 sec·Rossevelt Street
6
Continue on CR 57
0.7 mi·1 min·Howells Road
Use the left lane.
7
Turn straight onto Sunrise Highway
163 ft·3 sec·Sunrise Highway
8
Keep slight right at fork onto CR 57
0.3 mi·36 sec·Howells Road
Toward Howells Road, Deer ParkUse the right lane.
9
Continue on CR 57
0.6 mi·1 min·Bay Shore Road
10
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·19 sec
Toward SO West: New York
11
Continue on this road
363 ft·8 sec·this road
12
Merge onto SO
25 mi·31 min·Southern State Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone BridgeUse the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto CI
1.3 mi·1 min·Cross Island Parkway
15
Take the exit
317 ft·9 sec
Exit 26BToward NY 24: UBS Arena-Belmont ParkUse the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
437 ft·12 sec
Toward NY 24 West: Hempstead AvenueUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·15 sec
Toward Cross Island Parkway North, Hempstead Avenue West
18
Keep slight right at fork
266 ft·8 sec
Toward Hempstead Avenue WestUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·13 sec·this road
Toward Grandstand, Hempstead Avenue West
20
Keep slight left at fork
100 ft·4 sec
Toward Hempstead Avenue
21
Turn right onto NY 24
1.0 mi·2 min·Hempstead Avenue
Use the right lane.
22
Turn left onto Jamaica Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·Jamaica Avenue
23
Turn right onto NY 24
0.7 mi·1 min·212th Street
24
Continue on I 295
5.0 mi·5 min·Clearview Expressway
Toward I 295 North: Clearview Expressway, Through Neck BridgeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
26
Continue on I 295
0.7 mi·1 min·Throgs Neck Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295
6.6 mi·8 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
Toward Upper Level
29
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.6 mi·59 sec·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
30
Continue on I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
0.5 mi·48 sec·I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
31
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
0.6 mi·39 sec·I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; NJTP
0.1 mi·8 sec·I 95 EXPR; NJTP
33
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: HackensackUse the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 72AToward NJ 4 West: ParamusUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
35
Merge onto NJ 4
6.7 mi·9 min·NJ 4
Use the slight right lane.
36
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward GSP South, NJ 17 South, GSP North, NJ 17 North: Grand State Plaza, Newark, MahwahUse the straight lane.
37
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·36 sec
Toward NJ 17 North: MahwahUse the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Merge onto NJ 17
3.3 mi·4 min·NJ 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Continue on NJ 17
7.3 mi·9 min·NJ 17
Use the straight / right lanes.
40
Continue on NJ 17
0.7 mi·50 sec·NJ 17
41
Continue on NJ 17
3.3 mi·4 min·NJ 17
42
Continue on I 287; NY 17
0.2 mi·10 sec·I 287; NY 17
43
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 17
30 mi·34 min·NY 17
Toward I 87 North, NY 17 North, New York State Thruway North: Albany
44
Take the exit
0.1 mi·12 sec
Exit 17Toward I 84, NY 300, NY 17K: Scranton, NewburghUse the slight right lane.
45
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·28 sec
Toward I 84, NY 300: Danbury, Scranton
46
Continue on this road
485 ft·11 sec·this road
47
Keep slight left at fork
400 ft·9 sec
Toward I 84 West, NY 300: Scranton, Newburgh
48
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward NY 300: Newburgh
49
Turn left onto NY 300
0.2 mi·16 sec·Union Avenue
50
Continue on NY 300
2.5 mi·4 min·Route 300
51
Continue on NY 32
4.6 mi·8 min·Plattekill Turnpike
52
Turn straight onto NY 32
4.6 mi·7 min·State Highway 32
53
Turn right onto US 44; NY 55
1.8 mi·2 min·Vineyard Avenue
54
Continue on US 44; NY 55
2.1 mi·3 min·Vineyard Avenue
55
Turn left onto Maple Avenue
14 ft·0 sec·Maple Avenue
56
Arrive at destination
Maple Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of around 2 hours and 42 minutes, this drive is perfectly suited for a single day. You can afford to be flexible with your departure time, perhaps aiming to leave mid-morning to avoid the worst of any potential rush hour traffic. With only one suggested stop, you can easily plan your refueling and rest breaks strategically. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before embarking on the 29.9-mile stretch on NY 17, to ensure a smooth journey to Clintondale.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 59.4 miles from Islip, NY, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.9 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 26 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 59.4 miles or 1h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clintondale, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Islip, 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 Islip, NY
This is one driving day of about 118.8 miles and 2h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Islip, 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 NY 17 for about 29.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 59.4 mi from Islip, NY
· 1h 23m into the drive
The midpoint is around 59.4 miles from Islip, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Clintondale, NY
The final approach into Clintondale, 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 Clintondale, NY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Hamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
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...
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...
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...
9 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 49.2
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...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 49.2
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...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 49.2
Located at the southern tip of Manhattan, Castle Clinton marks the place where New York City began and reflects the growth of both the city and the nation. Built to defend the harbor during the War of...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 49.2
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.6
0
$12.47
$5.70
Efficient EV
29.7
0
$10.40
$4.75
EV Truck/SUV
47.5
0
$16.63
$7.60
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Islip, NY
Evening
in Islip on Thursday
Local time
8:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clintondale, NY
Evening
in Clintondale on Thursday
Local time
8:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
40°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
4 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
2h 42m 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 Islip, NY to Clintondale, NY covers 118.8 miles and takes about 2h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are NY 17, Southern State Parkway, NJ 17. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 59.4 miles from Islip, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.56 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 33 significant decision points across 118.8 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 3.6 miles (CR 57 / Howells Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Islip, NY and Clintondale, NY, road signs point toward Cross Island Parkway North, Hempstead Avenue West, Grandstand, Upper Level, Njtp South: Hackensack and Gsp South - among others.
