The drive from Mount Vernon, NY to Mastic Beach, NY covers 66.9 miles and takes about 1h 39m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Long Island Expressway, Horseblock Road, Clearview Expressway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 43.5 miles on Long Island Expressway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.01 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.
Midpoint
33.4 miles from Mount Vernon, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 39m. Total distance: 66.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 39m highway drive covering 66.9 miles, with most of the trip on Long Island Expressway and Horseblock Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 43.5 miles on Long Island Expressway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 27 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 43.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Island Expressway and Horseblock Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.5 miles in near I 695 / Throgs Neck Expressway.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 66.9 miles you will encounter 16 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 5.5 miles (I 695 / Throgs Neck Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
5.5 mi into trip|~11m in|I 695 / Throgs Neck Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 695 / Throgs Neck Expressway toward I 695 South: Throgs Neck Bridge, Long Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 7A
Toward I 695 South: Throgs Neck Bridge, Long Is...
8
12.9 mi into trip|~21m in
Take the exit toward I 495: Manhattan, Eastern Long Island
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 4E-W
Toward I 495: Manhattan, Eastern Long Island
8
13 mi into trip|~21m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, Eastern Long Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 4E
Toward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, East...
8
56.8 mi into trip|~1h 21m 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...
7
61.3 mi into trip|~1h 28m in|CR 80 / Montauk Highway
At end of road, turn left onto CR 80 / Montauk Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Mount Vernon, NY and Mastic Beach, NY, road signs point toward Long Island, Eastern Long Island, Centereach, Shirley, Cr 101: Yaphank and Riverhead.
Long Island
5.5 mi in|~11m|via I 695
Eastern Long Island
12.9 mi in|~21m
Centereach
56.8 mi in|~1h 21m
Shirley
56.8 mi in|~1h 21m
Cr 101: Yaphank
57 mi in|~1h 21m|via Express Drive South
Riverhead
57 mi in|~1h 21m|via Express Drive South
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Long Island Expressway
43.5 mi
59m
Horseblock Road
4.1 mi
6m
Clearview Expressway
3.2 mi
3m
Montauk Highway
2.3 mi
3m
Throgs Neck Expressway
2.2 mi
3m
Throgs Neck Bridge
2 mi
3m
New England Thruway
1.8 mi
2m
North 5th Avenue
1.5 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Long Island Expressway
— 43.5 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mount Vernon, NY and Mastic Beach, NY.
1
Start on East Prospect Avenue
315 ft·17 sec·East Prospect Avenue
2
Turn left onto North 5th Avenue
1.5 mi·3 min·North 5th Avenue
3
Continue on Dyre Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Dyre Avenue
4
Continue on Steenwick Avenue
0.2 mi·30 sec·Steenwick Avenue
5
At end of road, turn right onto New England Thruway
0.3 mi·32 sec·New England Thruway
6
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·14 sec
Toward I 95 South
7
Merge onto I 95
1.5 mi·2 min·New England Thruway
8
Continue on I 95
1.3 mi·2 min·Bruckner Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 695
2.2 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Expressway
Exit 7AToward I 695 South: Throgs Neck Bridge, Long IslandUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Continue on I 295
3.2 mi·3 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 4E-WToward I 495: Manhattan, Eastern Long IslandUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 4EToward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, Eastern Long Island
14
Merge onto I 495
43 mi·59 min·Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 65Toward CR 16: Horse Block Road, Centereach, ShirleyUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn straight onto Express Drive South
0.2 mi·21 sec·Express Drive South
Toward I 495, CR 101: Yaphank, Riverhead
17
Turn slight right onto CR 16
4.1 mi·6 min·Horseblock Road
Use the right lane.
18
At end of road, turn left onto CR 80
2.3 mi·3 min·Montauk Highway
Use the left lane.
19
Turn right onto CR 46
1.3 mi·2 min·William Floyd Parkway
Toward Smith Point ParkUse the right lane.
20
Turn left onto Roberts Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Roberts Road
21
At end of road, turn right onto Floyd Road
0.1 mi·20 sec·Floyd Road
22
Turn left onto Francis Landau Place
0.4 mi·52 sec·Francis Landau Place
23
Continue on Mastic Beach Road
0.2 mi·39 sec·Mastic Beach Road
24
Turn right onto Mastic Road
0.9 mi·2 min·Mastic Road
25
Turn left onto West Drive
81 ft·3 sec·West Drive
26
Turn slight right onto Clearview Drive
8 ft·0 sec·Clearview Drive
27
Arrive at destination
Clearview Drive
Trip Plan
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 33.4 miles from Mount Vernon, NY, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.5 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 15 miles or 24m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.4 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mastic Beach, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mount Vernon, NY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Mount Vernon, NY
This is one driving day of about 66.9 miles and 1h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Mount Vernon, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Long Island Expressway for about 43.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 33.4 mi from Mount Vernon, NY
· 49m into the drive
The midpoint is around 33.4 miles from Mount Vernon, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Mastic Beach, NY
The final approach into Mastic Beach, 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Hamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
Merchant’s clerk, Revolutionary War soldier, first Secretary Treasury of the United States: Alexander Hamilton’s life is memorialized at The Grange, the home he built on a country estate in uptown Man...
Immerse yourself in an enchanting collage of coastal life and history. Rhythmic waves, high dunes, ancient maritime forests, historic landmarks and glimpses of wildlife, Fire Island has been a special...
The final resting place of President Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, Julia, is the largest mausoleum in North America. It testifies to a people’s gratitude for the man who ended the bloodiest conflict...
Before the 1960s, almost everything about living authentically as a lesbian, a bisexual person or a gay man was illegal. The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969 is a milestone in the quest for civil r...
11 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 6.9
The African Burial Ground stands as the oldest and largest known excavated burial site in North America for both free and enslaved Africans. It offers a profound testament to the enduring legacy of Af...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
Free
near mile 11.5
Located at the southern tip of Manhattan, Castle Clinton marks the place where New York City began and reflects the growth of both the city and the nation. Built to defend the harbor during the War of...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 11.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.01 one way
$22.02 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg23 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$11.91
$23.82
premium
$4.92
$12.97
$25.93
diesel
$5.61
$14.77
$29.54
Estimated Tolls: $6.66
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
New England Thruway
(1.5 mi)$0.11
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.1
0
$7.02
$3.21
Efficient EV
16.7
0
$5.85
$2.68
EV Truck/SUV
26.8
0
$9.37
$4.28
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Mount Vernon, NY
Morning
in Mount Vernon on Friday
Local time
7:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Mastic Beach, NY
Morning
in Mastic Beach on Friday
Local time
7:31 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°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
3 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
1h 39m 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 Mount Vernon, NY to Mastic Beach, NY covers 66.9 miles and takes about 1h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Long Island Expressway, Horseblock Road, Clearview Expressway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 33.4 miles from Mount Vernon, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.01 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 66.9 miles you will encounter 16 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 5.5 miles (I 695 / Throgs Neck Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 12.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Mount Vernon, NY and Mastic Beach, NY, road signs point toward Long Island, Eastern Long Island, Centereach, Shirley, Cr 101: Yaphank and Riverhead.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Hamilton Grange National Memorial, Fire Island National Seashore and General Grant National Memorial. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
