The drive from Niles, NY to Islip, NY covers 289.1 miles and takes about 6h 10m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 81, Keystone Shortway, Southern State Parkway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 98.8 miles on I 81.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $47.59 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
144.6 miles from Niles, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 4m into the drive
.
Islip (pronounced "ICE-lip") is a town on Long Island in the state of New York. Located within Suffolk County, the Town of Islip includes the villages of Brightwaters, Islandia, Ocean Beach and Saltaire. It also includes numerous hamlets including Bay Shore and Sayville which are ferry terminals for Fire Island. Other prominent communities are Bayport, Brentwood, Central Islip, Hauppauge, Islip village (the town seat), and Ronkonkoma.
Top landmarks
•Bayport Aerodrome — airport in Suffolk County, New York, United States
•Connetquot River State Park Preserve — state park in New York
•Modesty — oyster-dredging sloop built in Long Island
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 10m. Total distance: 289.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 10m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 10m drive with frequent turns across 289.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 54 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 81 is the longest continuous segment at about 98.8 miles.
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 122.1 miles in near US 6.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 35 significant decision points across 289.1 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 122.1 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 236.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 236.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 35 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
122.1 mi into trip|~2h 39m in|US 6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6 toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 187
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbo...
8
236.6 mi into trip|~4h 55m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, Ne...
9
236.9 mi into trip|~4h 55m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Leonia, Teaneck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 70A-B
Toward Leonia, Teaneck
8
246.3 mi into trip|~5h 9m in|I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 6B
Toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge
9
284.5 mi into trip|~6h 1m in
Take the exit toward Bay Shore Road South, Bay Shore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 41S
Toward Bay Shore Road South, Bay Shore
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Niles, NY and Islip, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford, New York City, Leonia, Teaneck and George Washington Bridge Upper Level - among others.
Mt Pocono
122.1 mi in|~2h 39m|via US 6
Milford
122.8 mi in|~2h 40m|via I 84; I 380
New York City
236.6 mi in|~4h 55m
Leonia
236.9 mi in|~4h 55m
Teaneck
236.9 mi in|~4h 55m
George Washington Bridge Upper Level
239.2 mi in|~4h 59m
Cross Island Parkway South
257.8 mi in|~5h 26m
Southern State Parkway East
259.3 mi in|~5h 28m
Eastern Long Island
259.3 mi in|~5h 28m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
98.8 mi
1h 57m
Keystone Shortway
80 mi
1h 37m
Southern State Parkway
24.7 mi
31m
I 380
23.6 mi
25m
NY 41A
13.5 mi
22m
Cross Bronx Expressway
6.6 mi
8m
Christopher Columbus Highway
5.5 mi
5m
Clearview Expressway
5 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 98.8 mi, about 1h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Niles, NY and Islip, NY.
1
Start on NY 38A
3.3 mi·4 min·State Highway 38A
2
Turn left onto Burdock Road
0.9 mi·3 min·Burdock Road
3
Continue on New Hope Road
1.0 mi·2 min·New Hope Road
4
Turn right onto NY 41A
13 mi·22 min·NY 41A
5
At end of road, turn right onto NY 41
2.5 mi·3 min·NY 41
6
Turn right onto NY 281
1.2 mi·2 min·North West Street
7
Take the ramp
0.7 mi·1 min
Use the left lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 81 South: Binghamton
9
Merge onto I 81
45 mi·54 min·I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
53 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 81
Toward I 81 South: ScrantonUse the straight lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
0.8 mi·1 min·US 6
Exit 187Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt PoconoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on I 84; I 380
3.7 mi·4 min·I 84; I 380
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, MilfordUse the straight lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
24 mi·25 min·I 380
Exit 4Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
14
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 1BToward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
15
Merge onto I 80
80 mi·1 hr 37 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·5 min·Christopher Columbus Highway
Toward I 95: George Washington Bridge Lower LevelUse the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·23 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 70A-BToward Leonia, TeaneckUse the slight right lane.
19
Turn right
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 70AToward LeoniaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Turn straight onto CR 56
454 ft·9 sec·Degraw Avenue
21
Continue on CR 56
1.1 mi·2 min·Fort Lee Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Continue on CR 56
469 ft·13 sec·Main Street
23
Take the ramp
472 ft·12 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge
24
Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46
0.3 mi·28 sec·Bergen Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
312 ft·4 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level
26
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.3 mi·20 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
28
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
30
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi·6 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
2.0 mi·2 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Exit 6BToward I 295 South: Throgs Neck BridgeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
32
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi·58 sec·Throgs Neck Expressway
33
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Continue on I 295
5.0 mi·5 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Continue on NY 24
0.7 mi·1 min·Hollis Court Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
36
At end of road, turn left onto NY 24
0.2 mi·35 sec·Jamaica Avenue
Use the left lane.
37
Turn right onto Hempstead Avenue
0.9 mi·2 min·Hempstead Avenue
38
Turn right onto 225th Street
228 ft·9 sec·225th Street
Use the right lane.
39
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward Cross Island Parkway South, Verrazano Bridge
40
Merge onto CI
1.3 mi·1 min·Cross Island Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 25AToward Southern State Parkway East, Eastern Long IslandUse the slight left / straight lanes.
42
Merge onto SO
25 mi·31 min·Southern State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
43
Keep slight left at fork onto SO
0.2 mi·16 sec·Southern State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
44
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 41SToward Bay Shore Road South, Bay ShoreUse the slight right lane.
45
Turn straight onto CR 57
0.5 mi·1 min·Bay Shore Road
46
Continue on CR 57
0.3 mi·43 sec·Howells Road
47
Turn straight onto CR 57
341 ft·6 sec·Sunrise Highway
48
Keep slight right at fork onto CR 57
0.6 mi·1 min·Howells Road
Toward Howells Road SouthUse the right lane.
49
Continue on CR 57
0.2 mi·24 sec·Roosevelt Street
50
Continue on CR 57
0.7 mi·1 min·3rd Avenue
51
At end of road, turn left onto NY 27A
1.1 mi·1 min·East Main Street
52
Continue on Montauk Highway
0.2 mi·17 sec·Montauk Highway
53
Continue on NY 27A
0.8 mi·1 min·Main Street
54
Arrive at destination
NY 27A
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 144.6 miles from Niles, NY, or about 3h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.8 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 64 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 144.6 miles or 3h 4m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Islip, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Niles, 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 Niles, NY
This is one driving day of about 289.1 miles and 6h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Niles, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 98.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 144.6 mi from Niles, NY
· 3h 4m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
General Grant National Memorial
National Memorial
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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 239.3
Caution: Lower Crypt Access Subject to Safe Conditions
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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 239.3
Harriet Tubman was guided by a deep faith and devotion to family, freedom, and community. After emancipating herself and members of her family, she moved them from Ontario, Canada to Fleming and Aubur...
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...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 239.3
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...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 239.3
Here at Federal Hall, George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States, marking the beginning of the American constitutional republic. This historic site served as...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 239.3
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86.7
1
$30.36
$13.88
Efficient EV
72.3
0
$25.30
$11.56
EV Truck/SUV
115.6
1
$40.47
$18.50
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 18, 2026
Origin
Niles, NY
Late night
in Niles on Saturday
Local time
5:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Islip, NY
Late night
in Islip on Saturday
Local time
5:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Partly Cloudy
NE 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 18 at 2:37AM EDT until April 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Burlington VT
57°F
Ramapo, NY
145 mi in
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
4 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
6h 10m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Niles, NY to Islip, NY covers 289.1 miles and takes about 6h 10m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 81, Keystone Shortway, Southern State Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 144.6 miles from Niles, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $47.59 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 35 significant decision points across 289.1 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 122.1 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 236.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 236.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Niles, NY and Islip, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford, New York City, Leonia, Teaneck and George Washington Bridge Upper Level - among others.
Yes. Nearby national parks include General Grant National Memorial, Hamilton Grange National Memorial and Harriet Tubman National Historical Park. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
