Trip from Islip, NY to New York City, NY

Drive Time

1h 17m

Distance

57.3 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Quick day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from Islip, NY to New York City, NY covers 57.3 miles and takes about 1h 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Nassau Avenue, Commack Road, Sunrise Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $9.04 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

28.7 miles from Islip, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day.

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 17m drive with frequent turns across 57.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Nassau Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Nassau Avenue	0 mi	0m
Commack Road	0 mi	0m
Sunrise Highway	0 mi	0m
NY 27 West	0 mi	0m
Belt Parkway West	0 mi	0m
Belt Parkway	0 mi	0m
I 678 North	0 mi	0m
Van Wyck Expressway	0 mi	0m

Longest stretch: Nassau Avenue — 0 mi, about 0m

Step-by-Step Directions

1

Start on Main Street

2

Turn right onto Nassau Avenue

3

Continue on Nassau Avenue

4

Continue on Commack Road

5

Turn left onto Sunrise Highway

6

Take the ramp slight left toward NY 27 West: New York

7

Merge slight left onto Sunrise Highway

8

Take the exit straight toward Belt Parkway West, Verrazano Bridge

9

Merge slight left onto Belt Parkway

10

Keep slight left to continue on Belt Parkway

11

Take the exit slight right toward I 678 North: Van Wyck Expressway, Whitestone Bridge

12

Keep slight left to continue on I 678 North: Van Wyck Expressway

13

Keep slight left

14

Merge slight left onto Van Wyck Expressway

15

Take the exit slight right toward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel

16

Merge slight left onto Long Island Expressway

17

Take the exit slight right toward I 278 West: Brooklyn

18

Keep slight right to continue on I 278 West: Brooklyn, 48th Street

19

Keep slight left to continue on I 278 West: Brooklyn

20

Merge slight left onto Brooklyn-Queens Expressway

21

Keep slight left to continue on Williamsburg Bridge

22

Keep slight left to continue on Williamsburg Bridge

23

Continue on Delancey Street

24

Continue on Kenmare Street

25

At the end of the road, turn left onto Lafayette Street

26

Turn right onto Howard Street

27

Turn left onto Broadway

28

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

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 28.7 miles from Islip, NY.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Drive Plan

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 80 miles

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 28.7 miles

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Last hour of driving

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New York City, 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.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Islip, NY

This is one driving day of about 57.3 miles and 1h 17m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Islip, 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.

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Meal stop

Long Beach, NY

29 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.

Popular next leg

Long Beach, NY to New York City, NY

37.8 mi · 1h 11m

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

The final approach into New York City, 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 New York City, NY.

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.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 28.7 mi from Islip, NY

Babylon, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Long Beach, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 28.7 miles from Islip, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions for the drive, so the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
regular	$4.01	$9.04	$18.09
midgrade	$4.48	$10.11	$20.22
premium	$4.86	$10.97	$21.93
diesel	$4.69	$10.59	$21.18

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 20 kg one way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Islip, NY to New York City, NY covers 57.3 miles and takes about 1h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Nassau Avenue, Commack Road, Sunrise Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 28.7 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 $9.04 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.