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Trip from Lindenhurst, NY to Manhattan, NY

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 1m

Distance

38.9 mi

63 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$6

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 15 min
4 AM
0h 57m ★
6 AM
1h 2m
8 AM
1h 12m
10 AM
1h 5m
12 PM
1h 4m
3 PM
1h 6m
5 PM
1h 11m
8 PM
0h 59m

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

village in Suffolk County, New York, United States

Lindenhurst, NY

Wikimedia Commons

borough of New York City, New York, United States

Manhattan, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Lindenhurst, NY to Manhattan, NY is 38.9 miles and takes about 1h 1m via Sunrise Highway and Van Wyck Expressway, with a fuel budget near $6 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip takes you from the Northeast region of New York to its bustling heart in Manhattan. It's a straightforward drive that's ideal for a same-day excursion, offering a direct path into the city. You'll experience a mixed drive, so be prepared for varying road conditions as you approach your destination. This route is a practical choice for getting into Manhattan without a lengthy commitment.

About the Cities

Arriving in Manhattan, NY

Full guide →

Wall Street. Madison Avenue. 34th Street. Broadway. Times Square. Manhattan is so well known that even the names of its streets have become iconic and understood the world over. This long, thin island is only one of New York City's five boroughs, but it's Manhattan that has the concrete canyons and the inimitable skyline; Manhattan that has the world's brightest theater district; Manhattan that has Central Park, Rockefeller Center, the Empire State Building, and the Met; and Manhattan that includes iconic neighborhoods like Harlem, the Upper East Side, Times Square, and Greenwich Village. The rest of New York City has much to see and do, but it's Manhattan that represents the city—and sometimes the entire United States—to the world. You could spend a month on this tiny island and still not see all there is to see.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 1m. Total distance: 38.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (30%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

This drive presents a mixed profile, with about 30% of the journey on highways. You'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch at 16.7 miles along Sunrise Highway. As you progress, the character of the drive shifts from suburban roadways to more significant expressways like the Van Wyck Expressway as you approach Manhattan. Expect a blend of steady cruising and more dynamic traffic conditions, particularly closer to the city. This route requires you to adapt to different driving environments.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 30 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 16.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 21.9 miles in near BP / Belt Parkway.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 38.9 miles you will encounter 20 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 21.9 miles (BP / Belt Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 20 key points

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

6
21.9 mi into trip | ~30m in | BP / Belt Parkway

Keep slight left at fork onto BP / Belt Parkway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
22.4 mi into trip | ~31m in

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

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. Exit 19 Toward I 678 North: Van Wyck Expressway, Whites...
7
28.5 mi into trip | ~40m in

Take the exit toward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel

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

Use the slight right lane. Exit 12B Toward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel
8
33.5 mi into trip | ~47m in

Take the exit toward Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, Hunters Point Avenue, Greenpoint Avenue

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. Exit 16 Toward Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, Hunters Point...
7
36.7 mi into trip | ~54m in | NY 25

Keep slight right at fork onto NY 25 toward 60th Street West

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward 60th Street West

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Lindenhurst, NY and Manhattan, NY, road signs point toward Belt Parkway West and 60Th Street West.

Belt Parkway West

20 mi in | ~27m

60Th Street West

36.7 mi in | ~54m | via NY 25

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Sunrise Highway 16.7 mi 21m
Van Wyck Expressway 5 mi 6m
Long Island Expressway 4.4 mi 6m
Belt Parkway 2.3 mi 3m
Oak Street 2 mi 3m
Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge Lower Level 0.9 mi 2m
West Hoffman Avenue 0.8 mi 1m
Queensboro Plaza 0.7 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Sunrise Highway — 16.7 mi, about 21m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lindenhurst, NY and Manhattan, NY.

1

Start on South Wellwood Avenue

12 ft · 5 sec · South Wellwood Avenue
2

Turn left onto CR 12

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Hoffman Avenue
3

Continue on Oak Street

2.0 mi · 3 min · Oak Street
4

Continue on Old Sunrise Highway

0.5 mi · 53 sec · Old Sunrise Highway
5

Merge onto NY 27

17 mi · 21 min · Sunrise Highway
Use the right lane.
6

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 18 sec
Toward Belt Parkway West, Verrazano Bridge
7

Merge onto BP

1.8 mi · 2 min · Belt Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight left at fork onto BP

0.4 mi · 39 sec · Belt Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 19 Toward I 678 North: Van Wyck Expressway, Whitestone Bridge Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 47 sec
Toward I 678 North: Van Wyck Expressway
11

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 25 sec
12

Continue on I 678

5.0 mi · 6 min · Van Wyck Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
13

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 58 sec
Exit 12B Toward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel Use the slight right lane.
14

Merge onto I 495

4.4 mi · 6 min · Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 43 sec
Exit 16 Toward Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, Hunters Point Avenue, Greenpoint Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Turn straight onto Laurel Hill Boulevard

80 ft · 2 sec · Laurel Hill Boulevard
17

Keep slight right at fork onto Hunters Point Avenue

0.4 mi · 1 min · Hunters Point Avenue
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
18

Turn right onto Van Dam Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · Van Dam Street
19

Continue on Van Dam Street

113 ft · 8 sec · Van Dam Street
20

Turn left onto NY 25

0.4 mi · 35 sec · Queens Boulevard
21

Continue on NY 25

0.7 mi · 57 sec · Queensboro Plaza
22

Continue on NY 25

0.9 mi · 2 min · Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge Lower Level
23

Keep slight right at fork onto NY 25

317 ft · 11 sec · NY 25
Toward 60th Street West Use the slight right lane.
24

Turn left onto East 60th Street

0.1 mi · 28 sec · East 60th Street
25

Turn right onto 3rd Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · 3rd Avenue
Use the right lane.
26

Turn left onto East 72nd Street

0.3 mi · 40 sec · East 72nd Street
Use the left lane.
27

Turn right onto Madison Avenue

0.7 mi · 2 min · Madison Avenue
28

Turn left onto East 85th Street

507 ft · 12 sec · East 85th Street
29

Continue on 86th Street Transverse

0.4 mi · 1 min · 86th Street Transverse
Toward West Side
30

Arrive at destination

86th Street Transverse

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 19.4 mi from Lindenhurst, NY · 27m into the drive

Downtown Hillside, NY, NY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hillside, NY

19 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

New York City, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 38.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hillside, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 19.4 miles from Lindenhurst, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Manhattan, NY

The final approach into Manhattan, NY usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$6.40 one way

$12.81 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 14 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.52 $6.92 $13.85
premium $4.92 $7.54 $15.08
diesel $5.61 $8.59 $17.18

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$6

Estimated CO2 emission: 13.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 11.7 0 $4.08 $1.87
Efficient EV 9.7 0 $3.40 $1.56
EV Truck/SUV 15.6 0 $5.45 $2.49

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

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Lindenhurst, NY

Evening in Lindenhurst on Friday

Local time

8:55 PM

EDT

Current temp

45°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Manhattan, NY

Evening in Manhattan on Friday

Local time

8:55 PM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

34°F

Hillside, NY

19 mi in

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 warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 1m 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 Lindenhurst, NY to Manhattan, NY covers 38.9 miles and takes about 1h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Sunrise Highway, Van Wyck Expressway, Long Island Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 19.4 miles from Lindenhurst, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.40 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 38.9 miles you will encounter 20 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 21.9 miles (BP / Belt Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 22.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Between Lindenhurst, NY and Manhattan, NY, road signs point toward Belt Parkway West and 60Th Street West.

Yes. Nearby national parks include General Grant National Memorial, Hamilton Grange National Memorial and Stonewall National Monument. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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