Drive Time
54m
Distance
32.4 mi
52 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
If you are looking to head from Manhattan to Bethpage, you are in for a 32.4-mile trip that typically takes about 54 minutes. This journey is perfectly suited as a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stops along the way. You will navigate primarily through local streets like 5th Avenue, East 72nd Street, and 2nd Avenue, making this a strictly urban transit experience. With a modest fuel budget of just $5, it remains an affordable trek within the Northeast region. Because the entire route stays within New York state, you won't need to worry about changing regional driving regulations.
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
16.2 miles from Manhattan, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 29m into the drive .
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention from start to finish. Since the route features a 0% highway share, you will be navigating city blocks rather than open lanes or sprawling interstates. Without any long, uninterrupted stretches, the pace remains consistent and requires frequent adjustments to your speed and direction. This is a technical, low-speed drive that keeps you engaged with the surrounding urban environment. Do not expect the typical high-speed cruising associated with long-distance road trips; instead, prepare for a steady flow of stop-and-go navigating.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Island Expressway and South Broadway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near East 72nd Street.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 32.4 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 1 miles (East 72nd Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles (2nd Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles (NY 25): 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.
Turn left onto East 72nd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Take the ramp onto NY 25 toward Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, Lower Roadway
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 25 toward NY 25A, NY 25
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward NY 106 South, NY 107 South: Hicksville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Between Manhattan, NY and Bethpage, NY, road signs point toward Lower Roadway and Eastern Long Island.
Lower Roadway
Eastern Long Island
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Long Island Expressway | 21.8 mi | 31m |
| South Broadway | 2.5 mi | 4m |
| NY 25 | 2 mi | 3m |
| North Broadway | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| Borden Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Central Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| 2nd Avenue | 0.6 mi | 2m |
| 5th Avenue | 0.6 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Manhattan, NY and Bethpage, NY.
Start on 86th Street Transverse
Turn right onto 5th Avenue
Turn left onto East 72nd Street
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue
Take the ramp onto NY 25
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 25
Turn right onto Van Dam Street
Turn left onto Borden Avenue
Take the ramp onto Borden Avenue
Merge onto I 495
Take the exit
Turn straight onto South Marginal Road
Turn right onto NY 106; NY 107
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 107
Continue on NY 107
Continue on NY 107
Turn left onto Central Avenue
Continue on Central Avenue
Turn left onto Stewart Avenue
Arrive at destination
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to plan your departure around local traffic patterns to ensure you hit that 54-minute estimate. Because the route is entirely local, there are no highway rest stops to rely on, so make sure you are fueled up and ready before leaving Manhattan. Keep in mind that the lack of highway miles means you will be relying on city navigation for the duration of the 32.4-mile journey. A concrete tip for this specific drive is to stay alert for complex turns early on, as the transition from 5th Avenue to 2nd Avenue requires careful navigation through dense city infrastructure.
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 32.4 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 16.2 miles or 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bethpage, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Manhattan, 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 Manhattan, NY
This is one driving day of about 32.4 miles and 54m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 16.2 mi from Manhattan, NY · 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 32.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 16.2 miles from Manhattan, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Bethpage, 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 Bethpage, NY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$5.27 one way
$10.55 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $5.72 | $11.43 |
| premium | $4.88 | $6.23 | $12.46 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $7.20 | $14.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.40 | $1.56 |
| Efficient EV | 8.1 | 0 | $2.83 | $1.30 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13 | 0 | $4.54 | $2.07 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Evening in Manhattan on Saturday
Local time
7:40 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Evening in Bethpage on Saturday
Local time
7:40 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
54°F
Hempstead, NY
16 mi in
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.
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