This 78.2-mile drive from Pound Ridge, NY, to Smithtown, NY, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 51 minutes. Primarily utilizing major parkways and expressways like the Hutchinson River Parkway, Northern State Parkway, and the Long Island Expressway, this route offers a straightforward journey through New York. With a projected fuel cost of around $13, it's an economical option for a quick excursion. The highway-focused profile means you'll be covering ground efficiently, making it ideal for those who want to reach their destination without extensive detours. This trip is a practical choice for a day out, requiring no overnight stops.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.1 miles from Pound Ridge, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 57m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 51m. Total distance: 78.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive for 83% of your journey. The route is characterized by its efficient travel on main roads, including the Long Island Expressway, Northern State Parkway, and Hutchinson River Parkway. You'll experience stretches of uninterrupted driving, with the longest segment spanning 14.2 miles on the Long Island Expressway. This suggests a consistent pace for much of the trip, allowing you to maintain a steady speed as you navigate between these New York locations. The character is geared towards getting you there smoothly and directly.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Long Island Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 14.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Island Expressway and Northern State Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 18.4 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.2 miles you will encounter 20 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 18.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 20 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
18.4 mi into trip|~26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Hutchinson River Parkway, New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Exit 1
Toward Hutchinson River Parkway, New York City
8
33.5 mi into trip|~48m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South: George Washington Bridge, Stillwell Avenue
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 2A
Toward I 95 South: George Washington Bridge, St...
8
33.5 mi into trip|~48m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 South: George Washington Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 95 South: George Washington Bridge
9
35.5 mi into trip|~51m in|I 695 / Throgs Neck Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 695 / Throgs Neck Expressway toward I 695 South: Throgs Neck Bridge, Long Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 7A
Toward I 695 South: Throgs Neck Bridge, Long Is...
8
42.9 mi into trip|~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward I 495: Manhattan, Eastern Long Island
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 4E-W
Toward I 495: Manhattan, Eastern Long Island
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Pound Ridge, NY and Smithtown, NY, road signs point toward New York City, Long Island, Eastern Long Island, N East: Hauppauge and Sm North: Kings Park.
New York City
18.4 mi in|~26m
Long Island
35.5 mi in|~51m|via I 695
Eastern Long Island
42.9 mi in|~1h 1m
N East: Hauppauge
57.4 mi in|~1h 22m
Sm North: Kings Park
71.6 mi in|~1h 42m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Long Island Expressway
14.2 mi
19m
Northern State Parkway
13.7 mi
18m
Hutchinson River Parkway
13.6 mi
19m
I 684
11.5 mi
13m
Pound Ridge Road
3.9 mi
6m
Jericho Turnpike
3.9 mi
5m
Clearview Expressway
3.2 mi
3m
Throgs Neck Expressway
2.2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Long Island Expressway
— 14.2 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pound Ridge, NY and Smithtown, NY.
1
Start on NY 137
54 ft·8 sec·Westchester Avenue
2
Continue on Westchester Avenue
288 ft·5 sec·Westchester Avenue
3
Turn straight onto NY 172
2.6 mi·3 min·Pound Ridge Road
4
Continue on NY 172
1.2 mi·2 min·Pound Ridge Road
5
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 172
0.2 mi·24 sec·Pound Ridge Road
6
Turn straight onto NY 22; NY 172
1.0 mi·1 min·Old Post Road
7
Turn right onto NY 172
1.7 mi·4 min·South Bedford Road
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward I 684 SouthUse the left lane.
9
Merge onto I 684
11 mi·13 min·I 684
10
Keep slight left at fork
1.5 mi·2 min
Exit 1Toward Hutchinson River Parkway, New York CityUse the straight lane.
11
Merge onto Hutchinson River Parkway
7.7 mi·10 min·Hutchinson River Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto Hutchinson River Parkway
5.9 mi·8 min·Hutchinson River Parkway
Toward Whitestone BridgeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
141 ft·4 sec
Exit 2AToward I 95 South: George Washington Bridge, Stillwell AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·47 sec
Toward I 95 South: George Washington BridgeUse the straight / right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 95
0.4 mi·31 sec·New England Thruway
16
Continue on I 95
1.3 mi·2 min·Bruckner Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 695
2.2 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Expressway
Exit 7AToward I 695 South: Throgs Neck Bridge, Long IslandUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 295
3.2 mi·3 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 4E-WToward I 495: Manhattan, Eastern Long IslandUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 4EToward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, Eastern Long Island
22
Merge onto I 495
14 mi·19 min·Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Exit 42Toward N East: HauppaugeUse the slight right lane.
24
Merge onto N
14 mi·18 min·Northern State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 45Toward SM North: Kings ParkUse the right lane.
26
Merge onto SA
499 ft·6 sec·Sagtikos State Parkway
27
Continue on SM
1.7 mi·1 min·Sunken Meadow State Parkway
28
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit SM3EToward NY 25 East: Jericho Turnpike East, SmithtownUse the slight right lane.
29
Turn slight right onto NY 25
3.9 mi·5 min·Jericho Turnpike
30
Continue on NY 25; NY 25A
0.6 mi·54 sec·West Main Street
Use the left lane.
31
Arrive at destination
NY 25; NY 25A
Trip Plan
Given the manageable 1 hour and 51-minute duration, you have flexibility in planning your departure time. Consider leaving Pound Ridge, NY, outside of peak morning or evening commute hours to ensure the most straightforward drive. While there are no specified stops, you can easily find rest areas or service plazas along the Long Island Expressway if needed. Keep an eye on traffic conditions, especially as you approach more populated areas on Long Island. With a fuel cost estimated at $13, it's a budget-friendly trip, so refueling shouldn't be a major concern unless you plan extensive sightseeing upon arrival.
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 39.1 miles from Pound Ridge, NY, or about 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 14.2 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 17 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.1 miles or 57m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Smithtown, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Pound Ridge, NY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Pound Ridge, NY
This is one driving day of about 78.2 miles and 1h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Pound Ridge, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Long Island Expressway for about 14.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 39.1 mi from Pound Ridge, NY
· 57m 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...
7 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 35.1
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 35.1
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...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
Free
near mile 43.2
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...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 40.5
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...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 43.2
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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 43.2
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.5
0
$8.21
$3.75
Efficient EV
19.6
0
$6.84
$3.13
EV Truck/SUV
31.3
0
$10.95
$5.00
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Pound Ridge, NY
Late night
in Pound Ridge on Friday
Local time
3:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Smithtown, NY
Late night
in Smithtown on Friday
Local time
3:47 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
34°F
Mount Vernon, NY
39 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
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
1h 51m 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 Pound Ridge, NY to Smithtown, NY covers 78.2 miles and takes about 1h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Long Island Expressway, Northern State Parkway, Hutchinson River Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 39.1 miles from Pound Ridge, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $12.87 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.2 miles you will encounter 20 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 18.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Pound Ridge, NY and Smithtown, NY, road signs point toward New York City, Long Island, Eastern Long Island, N East: Hauppauge and Sm North: Kings Park.
Yes. Nearby national parks include General Grant National Memorial, Hamilton Grange National Memorial and African Burial Ground National Monument. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.
Data sources
The figures on this page are computed from open government and mapping datasets, not crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
EV charging comes from the
NREL Alternative Fuels
dataset.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Full methodology, refresh cadence, and limitations are documented on the
methodology page.
