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Create accountDrive Time
1h 10m
Distance
45.4 mi
73 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
New York City, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Brentwood, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
If you are heading from New York City to Brentwood, you are looking at a manageable 45.4-mile trek across Long Island. Expect the drive to take roughly 1 hour and 10 minutes under normal conditions, making it an easy day trip that does not require an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and the Long Island Expressway before transitioning onto Crooked Hill Road to reach your destination. With a modest fuel budget of about $7, this is a straightforward commute between two points in the Northeast. Since the entire route is contained within New York state, you will not have to worry about crossing regional borders or dealing with major climate changes. It is a practical, no-fuss journey that gets you from the city to the suburbs efficiently.
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
22.7 miles from New York City, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 37m into the drive .
This trip is a quintessential highway-focused drive, with 79% of your time spent on major expressways. You will spend the vast majority of your journey on the Long Island Expressway, which accounts for a 31.4-mile stretch of uninterrupted travel. The experience is largely defined by high-speed, multi-lane transit rather than scenic backroads or winding curves. As you exit the dense urban environment of New York City and move toward Brentwood, the road character remains consistent and utilitarian. You should be prepared for the typical rhythm of heavy-traffic thoroughfares, as the route is built for speed and direct access rather than leisure.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
158 ft
Total Descent
32 ft
Highest Point
161 ft
~26.5 mi in
Elevation Range
127 ft
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Island Expressway and Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Chambers Street.
Complex — stay alert throughout
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 45.4 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: near the start (Chambers Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.3 miles: Exit ramp — move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs — pick the right one; at 6.5 miles: Highway fork — watch signs carefully. 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.
Lane positioning matters here
Exit ramp — move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs — pick the right one
Highway fork — watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs — pick the right one
Highway fork — watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs — pick the right one
Exit ramp — move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs — pick the right one
Between New York City, NY and Brentwood, NY, road signs point toward Eastern Long Island, 48Th Street, 48 Street, Riverhead and Babylon.
Eastern Long Island
48Th Street
48 Street
Riverhead
Babylon
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Long Island Expressway | 31.4 mi | 44m |
| Brooklyn-Queens Expressway | 4.4 mi | 7m |
| Crooked Hill Road | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| L I Exwy Service Road | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| South Service Road | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Brooklyn Bridge | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Suffolk Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Express Drive South | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between New York City, NY and Brentwood, NY.
Start on Broadway
Turn left onto Chambers Street
Turn right onto Centre Street
Continue on Brooklyn Bridge
Take the exit
Turn right
Turn right onto Cadman Plaza West
Turn slight right
Turn slight right onto Prospect Street
Turn right onto Jay Street
At end of road, turn left onto Sands Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 278
Keep slight right at fork onto I 278
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 495
Take the exit
Turn straight onto South Service Road
Continue on L I Exwy Service Road
Keep slight right at fork onto Express Drive South
Turn right onto CR 13
Turn straight onto CR 13
Turn left onto CR 100
Arrive at destination
Because this is a relatively short trip with no required stops, you have plenty of flexibility in your scheduling. Aim to avoid peak commuting hours to ensure you stay within the 1-hour and 10-minute estimate, as traffic volume on the Long Island Expressway can significantly impact your travel time. Since you are only spending $7 on fuel, you do not need to worry about complex refueling logistics along the way. Keep a close eye on your GPS as you transition from the expressway onto Crooked Hill Road, as navigating off the main highway is the most critical part of your arrival. Taking advantage of the lack of mandatory stops allows you to complete the journey in one quick, efficient push.
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 45.4 miles or 1h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 22.7 miles or 37m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brentwood, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving New York City, 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 New York City, NY
This is one driving day of about 45.4 miles and 1h 10m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 22.7 mi from New York City, NY · 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 45.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 22.7 miles from New York City, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Brentwood, 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 Brentwood, NY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$7.17 one way
$14.33 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $8.01 | $16.02 |
| premium | $4.86 | $8.69 | $17.38 |
| diesel | $4.69 | $8.39 | $16.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.9 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.77 | $2.18 |
| Efficient EV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.97 | $1.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.2 | 0 | $6.36 | $2.91 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in New York City on Sunday
Local time
4:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Sunny
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 12:56PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Destination
Afternoon in Brentwood on Sunday
Local time
4:01 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Sunny
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 12:56PM EDT by NWS Binghamton 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.
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
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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