Origin
New York City, NY
Afternoon in New York City on Sunday
Local time
4:27 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
1h 15m
Distance
50.4 mi
81 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
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station data
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
Islip Terrace, NY
Mel Audelo
Traveling from New York City to Islip Terrace is a straightforward 50.4-mile trek that typically takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. This journey is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. Budgeting around $8 for fuel should cover your needs for this Northeast excursion. You will navigate a variety of thoroughfares, including the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, the Van Wyck Expressway, and the Sunrise Highway. Because the distance is relatively short, it offers a practical way to transition from the city environment to the more residential character of Islip Terrace.
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
25.2 miles from New York City, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 41m into the drive .
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you transition between major expressways and surface roads. While highway driving accounts for only 28% of the total distance, you will find a primary rhythm once you merge onto the Sunrise Highway. This specific road provides your longest uninterrupted stretch of 29.7 miles, allowing for a bit of consistency after the initial complexity of the city exits. The personality of this route shifts from high-density urban infrastructure to a more localized feel as you approach your destination, making for an engaging, albeit technical, hour behind the wheel.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
200 ft
Total Descent
215 ft
Highest Point
116 ft
~8.4 mi in
Elevation Range
110 ft
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.3 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 29 significant decision points across 50.4 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 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; at 6.6 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.
Take the exit toward I 495: Midtown Tunnel, Eastern Long Island, 48th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 495 East: Eastern Long Island, Riverhead, 48th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 East: Eastern Long Island, Riverhead
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward NY 27 East: Eastern Long Island, Belt Parkway East, South Conduit Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward Belt Parkway East, Eastern Long Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Between New York City, NY and Islip Terrace, NY, road signs point toward Eastern Long Island, Riverhead, Grand Central Parkway East, Kennedy Airport, Terminals 7 8 and Belt Parkway East.
Eastern Long Island
Riverhead
Grand Central Parkway East
Kennedy Airport
Terminals 7 8
Belt Parkway East
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sunrise Highway | 29.7 mi | 39m |
| Brooklyn-Queens Expressway | 4.4 mi | 7m |
| Van Wyck Expressway | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| Long Island Expressway | 2.9 mi | 4m |
| Belt Parkway | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| Grand Central Parkway | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Brooklyn Bridge | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| South Conduit Avenue | 1 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between New York City, NY and Islip Terrace, 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
Take the ramp
Merge onto GCP
Take the exit
Merge onto I 678
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on this road
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto BP
Take the exit
Continue on NY 27
Continue on NY 27
Arrive at destination
Given the urban nature of the starting point, plan your departure carefully to avoid peak congestion times, as traffic can significantly impact your 1 hour and 15-minute travel estimate. Since the entire trip is just over 50 miles, you won't need to build in formal stops, giving you the flexibility to complete the drive in one go. Keep a close watch on your navigation when exiting the Van Wyck Expressway to ensure a smooth transition toward the Sunrise Highway. Since you are only spending about $8 on fuel, it is wise to fill up before leaving the city to avoid dealing with local traffic near your arrival point. Take advantage of the short duration to remain flexible with your schedule throughout the day.
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 50.4 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 25.2 miles or 41m 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 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Islip Terrace, 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 50.4 miles and 1h 15m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 25.2 mi from New York City, NY · 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
25 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 50.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 25.2 miles from New York City, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Islip Terrace, 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 Islip Terrace, NY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$8.20 one way
$16.41 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $8.89 | $17.78 |
| premium | $4.88 | $9.69 | $19.38 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $11.20 | $22.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$8
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$33–$58
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.1 | 0 | $5.29 | $2.42 |
| Efficient EV | 12.6 | 0 | $4.41 | $2.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.2 | 0 | $7.06 | $3.23 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (67% 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
4:27 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Islip Terrace on Sunday
Local time
4:27 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
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.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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Return Trip
Islip Terrace, NY to New York City, NYPlan the drive back the other way.
Explore more options from New York City, NY or browse trips ending in Islip Terrace, NY.
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