Origin
Melville, NY
Morning in Melville on Wednesday
Local time
7:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Melville, NY to Brookhaven, NY
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
42m
Distance
29.5 mi
48 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 39m
★
6 AM
0h 42m
8 AM
0h 49m
10 AM
0h 45m
12 PM
0h 44m
3 PM
0h 45m
5 PM
0h 49m
8 PM
0h 40m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Melville, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 29.5-mile drive from Melville to Brookhaven, NY, is easily manageable in about 42 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily be on major roadways, with the Long Island Expressway taking up a significant portion of your journey. With a fuel cost estimated at around $5, this route is quite economical for a quick excursion within the Northeast region. Given its short duration and highway focus, no overnight stay is necessary, allowing for flexibility in your schedule. Consider this a practical point-to-point drive for getting between these two Long Island locations.
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
14.8 miles from Melville, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 20m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience on this trip, with 75% of the drive utilizing high-speed roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 22.3 miles on the Long Island Expressway, offering a consistent pace. You'll be navigating through a mix of fast-paced highway driving and potentially some local road transitions as you near your destination. This route prioritizes efficient travel over scenic detours, so settle in for a direct journey.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Long Island Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 22.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Island Expressway and Horseblock Road. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Old Country Road.
Route Complexity
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 29.5 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start (Old Country Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles (South Service Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles (I 495 / Long Island Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Old Country Road
Turn sharp left onto Old Country Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
South Service Road
Turn left onto South Service Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 495 / Long Island Expressway
Merge onto I 495 / Long Island Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
23.8 mi into trip
|
~32m in
Take the exit toward CR 16: Horse Block Road, Centereach, Shirley
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 65
Toward CR 16: Horse Block Road, Centereach, Shi...
6
28.3 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
CR 80 / Montauk Highway
At end of road, turn right onto CR 80 / Montauk Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Melville, NY and Brookhaven, NY, road signs point toward Centereach, Shirley, Cr 101: Yaphank and Riverhead.
Centereach
23.8 mi in
|
~32m
Shirley
23.8 mi in
|
~32m
Cr 101: Yaphank
24 mi in
|
~33m
|
via Express Drive South
Riverhead
24 mi in
|
~33m
|
via Express Drive South
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Long Island Expressway | 22.3 mi | 29m |
| Horseblock Road | 4.1 mi | 6m |
| Montauk Highway | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Pinelawn Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| South Country Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Broadhollow Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Express Drive South | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South Service Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Long Island Expressway
— 22.3 mi, about 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Melville, NY and Brookhaven, NY.
1
Start on NY 110
173 ft
·
12 sec
·
Broadhollow Road
2
Turn sharp left onto Old Country Road
109 ft
·
3 sec
·
Old Country Road
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto NY 110
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
Broadhollow Road
4
Turn left onto CR 3
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Pinelawn Road
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left onto South Service Road
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
South Service Road
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Toward I 495 East
7
Merge onto I 495
22 mi
·
29 min
·
Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 65
Toward CR 16: Horse Block Road, Centereach, Shirley
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn straight onto Express Drive South
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Express Drive South
Toward I 495, CR 101: Yaphank, Riverhead
10
Turn slight right onto CR 16
4.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Horseblock Road
Use the right lane.
11
At end of road, turn right onto CR 80
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Montauk Highway
Use the right lane.
12
Turn left onto CR 36
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
South Country Road
Use the left lane.
13
Arrive at destination
CR 36
Trip Plan
Since this is a short 42-minute drive, you have plenty of flexibility with departure times. Leaving during off-peak hours can help you avoid any potential traffic, especially on the Long Island Expressway. With only 29.5 miles and a low fuel cost of about $5, you won't need to worry much about refueling along the way. Plan for a brief stop if needed, but the short duration makes it convenient to go straight through. A good tip for this route is to have your GPS ready as you exit the Long Island Expressway, as the transition to local roads like Horseblock Road can sometimes be quick.
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 14.8 miles from Melville, NY, or about 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 22.3 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 29.5 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 14.8 miles or 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brookhaven, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Melville, 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 Melville, NY
This is one driving day of about 29.5 miles and 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Melville, 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.
The longest stretch is on Long Island Expressway for about 22.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 14.8 mi from Melville, NY · 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
15 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 29.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 14.8 miles from Melville, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Brookhaven, NY
The final approach into Brookhaven, 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 Brookhaven, NY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.86 one way
$9.71 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $5.25 | $10.50 |
| premium | $4.92 | $5.72 | $11.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.51 | $13.03 |
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: 10.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.9 | 0 | $3.10 | $1.42 |
| Efficient EV | 7.4 | 0 | $2.58 | $1.18 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.13 | $1.89 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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.
Destination
Brookhaven, NY
Morning in Brookhaven on Wednesday
Local time
7:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
49°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
6 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
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 Melville, NY to Brookhaven, NY covers 29.5 miles and takes about 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Long Island Expressway, Horseblock Road, Montauk Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 14.8 miles from Melville, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.86 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 29.5 miles you will encounter 11 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: near the start (Old Country Road): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles (South Service Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.5 miles (I 495 / Long Island Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Melville, NY and Brookhaven, NY, road signs point toward Centereach, Shirley, Cr 101: Yaphank and Riverhead.
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