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Trip from Oyster Bay, NY to Nelson, NY

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 40m

Distance

258.3 mi

416 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$43

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 27m ★
6 AM
5h 41m
8 AM
6h 7m
10 AM
5h 50m
12 PM
5h 47m
3 PM
5h 51m
5 PM
6h 6m
8 PM
5h 33m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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town on Long Island, New York, United States

Oyster Bay, NY

Wikimedia Commons

town in Madison County, New York, United States of America

Nelson, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Oyster Bay, NY to Nelson, NY covers 258.3 miles and takes about 5h 40m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on South Street, Pine Hollow Road, Oyster Bay Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $42.52 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

129.2 miles from Oyster Bay, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 50m into the drive .

About the Cities

Starting in Oyster Bay, NY

Full guide →

Oyster Bay is one of three towns in Nassau County, on Long Island, New York. The town of Oyster Bay comprises a large portion of eastern Nassau County and includes a slew of villages and other communities. This article covers North Oyster Bay – the area closest to Oyster Bay itself (in other words, everything that is north of the Long Island Expressway). See South Oyster Bay for the southern half of the town (in other words, the area south of the expressway). See the article for Glen Cove for communities in the northwest part of the town that are closest to that city.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 40m. Total distance: 258.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a 5h 40m drive with frequent turns across 258.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 51 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
South Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 5h 40m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Oyster Bay, NY to Nelson, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South Street — —
Pine Hollow Road — —
Oyster Bay Road — —
Northern Boulevard — —
Cross Island Parkway North — —
Cross Island Parkway — —
I 295 North — —
Throgs Neck Bridge — —

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: South Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Oyster Bay, NY and Nelson, NY.

1

Start on Berry Hill Road

289 ft · 21 sec · Berry Hill Road
2

Turn sharp left onto South Street

430 ft · 9 sec · South Street
3

Continue on Pine Hollow Road

0.9 mi · 1 min · Pine Hollow Road
4

Continue on Oyster Bay Road

0.7 mi · 1 min · Oyster Bay Road
5

Turn right onto Northern Boulevard

13 mi · 22 min · Northern Boulevard
6

Take the ramp right toward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone Bridge

0.2 mi · 29 sec · Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone Bridge
7

Merge slight left onto Cross Island Parkway

2.3 mi · 3 min · Cross Island Parkway
8

Take the exit slight right toward I 295 North: Throgs Neck Bridge, Bronx, New England

0.6 mi · 1 min · I 295 North: Throgs Neck Bridge, Bronx, New England
9

Merge slight left onto Throgs Neck Bridge

1.8 mi · 3 min · Throgs Neck Bridge
10

Continue on Throgs Neck Expressway

0.7 mi · 1 min · Throgs Neck Expressway
11

Keep slight left to continue on Cross Bronx Expressway

6.6 mi · 8 min · Cross Bronx Expressway
12

Keep slight left to continue on Trans-Manhattan Expressway

0.7 mi · 1 min · Trans-Manhattan Expressway
13

Continue on George Washington Bridge (upper level)

0.6 mi · 1 min · George Washington Bridge (upper level)
14

Continue straight

0.5 mi · 48 sec
15

Keep slight left

0.6 mi · 39 sec
16

Keep slight left

0.1 mi · 9 sec
17

Take the exit slight right toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack

0.2 mi · 23 sec · I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
18

Keep slight right to continue on NJ 4 West: Paramus

0.2 mi · 24 sec · NJ 4 West: Paramus
19

Merge slight right

6.7 mi · 9 min
20

Take the exit straight toward GSP South, NJ 17 South, GSP North, NJ 17 North: Grand State Plaza, Newark, Mahwah

0.2 mi · 26 sec · GSP South, NJ 17 South, GSP North, NJ 17 North: Grand State Plaza, Newark, Mahwah
21

Keep slight right to continue on NJ 17 North: Mahwah

0.2 mi · 37 sec · NJ 17 North: Mahwah
22

Merge slight left

3.3 mi · 4 min
23

Continue straight

7.3 mi · 9 min
24

Continue straight

0.7 mi · 50 sec
25

Continue straight

3.3 mi · 4 min
26

Continue straight

0.2 mi · 11 sec
27

Keep slight left to continue on I 87 North, NY 17 North, New York State Thruway North: Albany

14 mi · 16 min · I 87 North, NY 17 North, New York State Thruway North: Albany
28

Take the exit slight right toward US 6, NY 17: Harriman

1.5 mi · 3 min · US 6, NY 17: Harriman
29

Continue straight

151 ft · 4 sec
30

Keep slight left to continue on NY 17 West: Binghamton

0.4 mi · 30 sec · NY 17 West: Binghamton
31

Continue straight

105 mi · 2 hr 11 min
32

Take the exit slight right toward NY 8, NY 10: Deposit, Walton

0.4 mi · 1 min · NY 8, NY 10: Deposit, Walton
33

Turn right onto State Highway 10

0.2 mi · 14 sec · State Highway 10
34

Continue on Oak Street

0.3 mi · 18 sec · Oak Street
35

Turn straight onto State Highway 8

19 mi · 21 min · State Highway 8
36

Continue on Airport Road

0.4 mi · 29 sec · Airport Road
37

Continue on State Highway 8

18 mi · 20 min · State Highway 8
38

Turn left onto West Street

8.3 mi · 9 min · West Street
39

Turn right onto North Broad Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Broad Street
40

Continue on State Highway 12

10 mi · 15 min · State Highway 12
41

Continue on South Main Street

1.4 mi · 2 min · South Main Street
42

Continue on State Highway 12B

3.7 mi · 5 min · State Highway 12B
43

Continue on South Main Street

1.4 mi · 2 min · South Main Street
44

Continue on State Route 12B

4.6 mi · 6 min · State Route 12B
45

Continue on Broad Street

1.1 mi · 1 min · Broad Street
46

Continue on Utica Street

1.1 mi · 1 min · Utica Street
47

Continue on State Route 12B

2.0 mi · 2 min · State Route 12B
48

Continue on State Route 46

1.4 mi · 2 min · State Route 46
49

Turn left

0.2 mi · 22 sec
50

Turn straight

11 mi · 15 min
51

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 129.2 miles from Oyster Bay, NY, or about 2h 50m into the drive.

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 57 miles or 1h 15m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 129.2 miles or 2h 50m 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 39m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Nelson, NY than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Oyster Bay, 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 Oyster Bay, NY

This is one driving day of about 258.3 miles and 5h 40m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Oyster Bay, 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.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 129.2 mi from Oyster Bay, NY · 2h 50m into the drive

city in New York, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Poughkeepsie, NY

129 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

Ramapo, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 57 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Poughkeepsie, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 129.2 miles from Oyster Bay, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Nelson, NY

The final approach into Nelson, 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 Nelson, NY.

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

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...

2 mi from route ~6 min detour Free near mile 26.7
View on nps.gov
General Grant National Memorial

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 26.7
View on nps.gov
Stonewall National Monument

Stonewall National Monument

National Monument

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 26.7
View on nps.gov
African Burial Ground National Monument

African Burial Ground National Monument

National Monument

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 26.7
View on nps.gov
Castle Clinton National Monument

Castle Clinton National Monument

National Monument

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...

11 mi from route ~28 min detour Free near mile 26.7
View on nps.gov
Federal Hall National Memorial

Federal Hall National Memorial

National Memorial

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...

11 mi from route ~27 min detour Free near mile 26.7
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$42.52 one way

$85.04 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 90 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.52 $45.98 $91.95
premium $4.92 $50.06 $100.13
diesel $5.61 $57.03 $114.06

Estimated Tolls: $29.10

George Washington Bridge $16.00
Whitestone Bridge $6.55
Throgs Neck Bridge $6.55
New York State Thruway $0.00

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

$43

Tolls

$29

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$97–$122

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 90.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 77.5 0 $27.12 $12.40
Efficient EV 64.6 0 $22.60 $10.33
EV Truck/SUV 103.3 1 $36.16 $16.53

Gas CO2

90 kg

EV CO2

30 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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

Oyster Bay, NY

Morning in Oyster Bay on Saturday

Local time

9:44 AM

EDT

Current temp

45°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Nelson, NY

Morning in Nelson on Saturday

Local time

9:44 AM

EDT

Current temp

52°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

7 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

5h 40m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Oyster Bay, NY to Nelson, NY covers 258.3 miles and takes about 5h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are South Street, Pine Hollow Road, Oyster Bay Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 129.2 miles from Oyster Bay, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $42.52 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

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 straightforward 5h 40m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Oyster Bay, NY to Nelson, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Oyster Bay, NY to Nelson, NY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Yes. Nearby national parks include Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial and Stonewall National Monument. 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Nelson, NY to Oyster Bay, NY

Plan the drive back the other way.

258.8 mi 5h 40m

Continue From Nelson, NY

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