Trip from New York City, NY to Islip Terrace, NY

Drive 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

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 9m ★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 27m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 20m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 12m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown New York City, NY, NY

New York City, NY

Renan Tagliaferro

Downtown Islip Terrace, NY, NY

Islip Terrace, NY

Mel Audelo

Trip Overview

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 .

Drive Character

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.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 34 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Sunrise Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 29.7 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

116 ft 7 ft

Total Climb

200 ft

Total Descent

215 ft

Highest Point

116 ft

~8.4 mi in

Elevation Range

110 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

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.

Route Complexity 10/10

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.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 29 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

8
6.3 mi into trip | ~13m in

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 35A-B Toward I 495: Midtown Tunnel, Eastern Long Isla...
10
6.5 mi into trip | ~13m in

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

Use the straight / slight left / none lanes. Exit 35B Toward I 495 East: Eastern Long Island, Riverhe...
9
6.6 mi into trip | ~13m in

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

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes. Exit 35E Toward I 495 East: Eastern Long Island, Riverhe...
10
16.9 mi into trip | ~29m in

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

Use the slight left lane. Exit 1E Toward NY 27 East: Eastern Long Island, Belt Pa...
9
17.1 mi into trip | ~29m in

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

Use the slight left lane. Toward Belt Parkway East, Eastern Long Island

Towns Along This Route

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

6.3 mi in | ~13m

Riverhead

6.5 mi in | ~13m

Grand Central Parkway East

10.8 mi in | ~20m

Kennedy Airport

12.4 mi in | ~22m

Terminals 7 8

16.6 mi in | ~28m

Belt Parkway East

16.7 mi in | ~28m

Main Roads

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
Longest stretch: Sunrise Highway — 29.7 mi, about 39m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between New York City, NY and Islip Terrace, NY.

1

Start on Broadway

79 ft · 10 sec · Broadway
2

Turn left onto Chambers Street

0.1 mi · 36 sec · Chambers Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
3

Turn right onto Centre Street

0.1 mi · 24 sec · Centre Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
4

Continue on Brooklyn Bridge

1.1 mi · 2 min · Brooklyn Bridge
5

Take the exit

343 ft · 9 sec
Toward I 278: Brooklyn Queens Expressway, Cadman Plaza West Use the right lane.
6

Turn right

254 ft · 9 sec
Toward I 278: Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
7

Turn right onto Cadman Plaza West

31 ft · 1 sec · Cadman Plaza West
8

Turn slight right

223 ft · 8 sec
Toward Brooklyn-Queens Expressway East
9

Turn slight right onto Prospect Street

0.2 mi · 52 sec · Prospect Street
Use the right lane.
10

Turn right onto Jay Street

276 ft · 17 sec · Jay Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11

At end of road, turn left onto Sands Street

56 ft · 2 sec · Sands Street
Use the left lane.
12

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Toward I 278 East: Triborough Bridge, Brooklyn-Queens Expressway Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Merge onto I 278

3.6 mi · 5 min · Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
Use the none lane.
14

Keep slight right at fork onto I 278

0.8 mi · 1 min · Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 15 sec
Exit 35A-B Toward I 495: Midtown Tunnel, Eastern Long Island, 48th Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Continue on this road

0.1 mi · 18 sec · this road
Exit 35 Toward I 495: Midtown Tunnel, Eastern Long Island, 48 Street
17

Keep slight right at fork

308 ft · 8 sec
Exit 35B Toward I 495 East: Eastern Long Island, Riverhead, 48th Street Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.
18

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 35E Toward I 495 East: Eastern Long Island, Riverhead Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
19

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward I 495 East: Eastern Long Island Use the none lane.
20

Merge onto I 495

2.9 mi · 4 min · Long Island Expressway
Use the none lane.
21

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Exit 22A-E Toward I 678: Grand Central Parkway, Van Wyck Expressway Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 42 sec
Exit 22A Toward Grand Central Parkway East
23

Merge onto GCP

1.4 mi · 1 min · Grand Central Parkway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
24

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 13 Toward I 678 South: Van Wyck Expressway, Kennedy Airport
25

Merge onto I 678

3.5 mi · 4 min · Van Wyck Expressway
Use the none lane.
26

Keep slight left at fork

274 ft · 6 sec
Toward Terminals 7 8
27

Continue on this road

0.2 mi · 25 sec · this road
Exit 1E Toward NY 27 East, NY 878 East: South Conduit Avenue, Belt Parkway East, Eastern Long Island, Nassau Expressway
28

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 34 sec
Exit 1E Toward NY 27 East: Eastern Long Island, Belt Parkway East, South Conduit Avenue Use the slight left lane.
29

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Toward Belt Parkway East, Eastern Long Island Use the slight left lane.
30

Merge onto BP

2.2 mi · 3 min · Belt Parkway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
31

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 22 sec
Exit 23B Toward NY 27: Sunrise Highway, Brookville Boulevard Use the slight right lane.
32

Continue on NY 27

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Conduit Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
33

Continue on NY 27

30 mi · 39 min · Sunrise Highway
Use the none lane.
34

Arrive at destination

NY 27

Trip Plan

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.

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 25.2 miles from New York City, NY, or about 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 29.7 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 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.

Before You Leave

+

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.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from New York City, 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 Sunrise Highway for about 29.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Long Beach, NY, NY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Long Beach, NY

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Islip, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 50.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hempstead, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 25.2 miles from New York City, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Islip Terrace, NY

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$8.20 one way

$16.41 round trip

$4.14/gal 25.4 MPG avg 18 kg CO2
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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

New York City, NY

Afternoon in New York City on Sunday

Local time

4:27 PM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Islip Terrace, NY

Afternoon in Islip Terrace on Sunday

Local time

4:27 PM

EDT

Current temp

51°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

10 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 15m 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 New York City, NY to Islip Terrace, NY covers 50.4 miles and takes about 1h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Sunrise Highway, Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, Van Wyck Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 25.2 miles from New York City, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $8.20 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 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.
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.
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.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 7 ft to 116 ft elevation with about 200 ft of total climbing.

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Return Trip

Islip Terrace, NY to New York City, NY

Plan the drive back the other way.

55.2 mi 1h 22m

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