Trip from Manhattan, NY to Montauk, NY

Drive Time

3h 2m

Distance

116.8 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Same-day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from Manhattan, NY to Montauk, NY covers 116.8 miles and takes about 3h 2m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on 5th Avenue, East 72nd Street, 2nd Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.44 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

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

58.4 miles from Manhattan, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day.

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 2m drive with frequent turns across 116.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

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

There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

5th Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
5th Avenue	0 mi	0m
East 72nd Street	0 mi	0m
2nd Avenue	0 mi	0m
Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge	0 mi	0m
NY 25A	0 mi	0m
Van Dam Street	0 mi	0m
Borden Avenue	0 mi	0m
I 495 East	0 mi	0m

Longest stretch: 5th Avenue — 0 mi, about 0m

Step-by-Step Directions

1

Start on 86th Street Transverse

2

Turn right onto 5th Avenue

3

Turn left onto East 72nd Street

4

Turn right onto 2nd Avenue

5

Take the ramp slight left toward Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, Lower Roadway

6

Keep slight left to continue on NY 25A, NY 25

7

Turn right onto Van Dam Street

8

Turn left onto Borden Avenue

9

Take the ramp straight toward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, Eastern Long Island, Brooklyn-Queens Expressway

10

Merge slight left onto Long Island Expressway

11

Take the exit slight right toward CR 111: Manorville, Eastport

12

Turn right onto Captain Daniel Roe Highway

13

Take the exit left toward NY 27 East: Montauk

14

Merge slight left onto Sunrise Highway

15

Continue on County Road 39

16

Turn left onto Montauk Highway

17

Continue on Woods Lane

18

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

19

Continue on Pantigo Road

20

Continue on Montauk Highway

21

Continue on Main Street

22

Continue on Montauk Highway

23

Continue on Montauk Point State Parkway

24

Continue on Montauk Highway

25

Turn left onto Second House Road

26

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 58.4 miles from Manhattan, 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 58.4 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 Montauk, NY than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

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.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Manhattan, NY

This is one driving day of about 116.8 miles and 3h 2m.

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

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

Brookhaven, NY

58 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.

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

The final approach into Montauk, 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 Montauk, 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 58.4 mi from Manhattan, NY

Hempstead, NY

Fuel and coffee

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

Brookhaven, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 58.4 miles from Manhattan, 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	$18.44	$36.87
midgrade	$4.48	$20.61	$41.21
premium	$4.86	$22.35	$44.71
diesel	$4.69	$21.59	$43.17

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 40.9 kg one way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Manhattan, NY to Montauk, NY covers 116.8 miles and takes about 3h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are 5th Avenue, East 72nd Street, 2nd Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 58.4 miles from Manhattan, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.44 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.