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Trip from Shirley, NY to Manhattan, NY

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

1h 34m

Distance

64.1 mi

103 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 21 min
4 AM
1h 28m ★
6 AM
1h 35m
8 AM
1h 49m
10 AM
1h 40m
12 PM
1h 38m
3 PM
1h 40m
5 PM
1h 48m
8 PM
1h 30m

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

census-designated place in New York, USA

Shirley, NY

Wikimedia Commons

borough of New York City, New York, United States

Manhattan, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Shirley, NY to Manhattan, NY covers 64.1 miles and takes about 1h 34m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Long Island Expressway, Horseblock Road, Sunrise Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 51.7 miles on Long Island Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.55 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

32.1 miles from Shirley, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 44m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a 1h 34m highway drive covering 64.1 miles, with most of the trip on Long Island Expressway and Horseblock Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 51.7 miles on Long Island Expressway.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 25 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 51.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Island Expressway and Horseblock Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 64.1 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 0.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 2.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 19 key points

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

6
0.3 mi into trip | ~0m in

Take the exit toward NY 27 West: New York

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward NY 27 West: New York
8
2.5 mi into trip | ~3m in

Take the exit toward CR 16 West: Yaphank, Horseblock Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Exit 57N Toward CR 16 West: Yaphank, Horseblock Road
8
58.7 mi into trip | ~1h 20m in

Take the exit toward Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, Hunters Point Avenue, Greenpoint 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 16 Toward Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, Hunters Point...
6
59.2 mi into trip | ~1h 21m in | Hunters Point Avenue

Keep slight right at fork onto Hunters Point Avenue

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
61.9 mi into trip | ~1h 27m in | NY 25

Keep slight right at fork onto NY 25 toward 60th Street West

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward 60th Street West

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Long Island Expressway 51.7 mi 1h 10m
Horseblock Road 3.9 mi 5m
Sunrise Highway 2 mi 2m
Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge Lower Level 0.9 mi 2m
Queensboro Plaza 0.7 mi <1m
Madison Avenue 0.7 mi 2m
3rd Avenue 0.6 mi 1m
Hunters Point Avenue 0.4 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Long Island Expressway — 51.7 mi, about 1h 10m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Shirley, NY and Manhattan, NY.

1

Start on CR 46

0.3 mi · 29 sec · William Floyd Parkway
Toward I 495, NY 27: East Shoreham, Wading River Use the straight / right lanes.
2

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
Toward NY 27 West: New York
3

Merge onto NY 27

2.0 mi · 2 min · Sunrise Highway
4

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 23 sec
Exit 57N Toward CR 16 West: Yaphank, Horseblock Road Use the right lane.
5

Turn left onto CR 56

0.2 mi · 21 sec · Victory Avenue
6

Turn right onto CR 16

3.9 mi · 5 min · Horseblock Road
Use the left lane.
7

Turn left onto Express Drive North

0.2 mi · 14 sec · Express Drive North
Use the left lane.
8

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 21 sec
Toward I 495 WEST: New York
9

Merge onto I 495

52 mi · 1 hr 10 min · Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 43 sec
Exit 16 Toward Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, Hunters Point Avenue, Greenpoint Avenue Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Turn straight onto Laurel Hill Boulevard

80 ft · 2 sec · Laurel Hill Boulevard
12

Keep slight right at fork onto Hunters Point Avenue

0.4 mi · 1 min · Hunters Point Avenue
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13

Turn right onto Van Dam Street

0.4 mi · 1 min · Van Dam Street
14

Continue on Van Dam Street

113 ft · 8 sec · Van Dam Street
15

Turn left onto NY 25

0.4 mi · 35 sec · Queens Boulevard
16

Continue on NY 25

0.7 mi · 57 sec · Queensboro Plaza
17

Continue on NY 25

0.9 mi · 2 min · Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge Lower Level
18

Keep slight right at fork onto NY 25

317 ft · 11 sec · NY 25
Toward 60th Street West Use the slight right lane.
19

Turn left onto East 60th Street

0.1 mi · 28 sec · East 60th Street
20

Turn right onto 3rd Avenue

0.6 mi · 1 min · 3rd Avenue
Use the right lane.
21

Turn left onto East 72nd Street

0.3 mi · 40 sec · East 72nd Street
Use the left lane.
22

Turn right onto Madison Avenue

0.7 mi · 2 min · Madison Avenue
23

Turn left onto East 85th Street

507 ft · 12 sec · East 85th Street
24

Continue on 86th Street Transverse

0.4 mi · 1 min · 86th Street Transverse
Toward West Side
25

Arrive at destination

86th Street Transverse

Trip Plan

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 32.1 miles from Shirley, NY, or about 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 51.7 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 64.1 miles or 1h 34m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 32.1 miles or 44m 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 15m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Shirley, 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 Shirley, NY

This is one driving day of about 64.1 miles and 1h 34m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Shirley, 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 Long Island Expressway for about 51.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 32.1 mi from Shirley, NY · 44m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Hempstead, NY

32 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

New York City, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 64.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hempstead, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 32.1 miles from Shirley, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Manhattan, NY

The final approach into Manhattan, 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 Manhattan, 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

$10.55 one way

$21.10 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.52 $11.41 $22.82
premium $4.92 $12.42 $24.85
diesel $5.61 $14.15 $28.30

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$11

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$36–$61

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 22.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 19.2 0 $6.73 $3.08
Efficient EV 16 0 $5.61 $2.56
EV Truck/SUV 25.6 0 $8.97 $4.10

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (68% 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 1 day ago

Origin

Shirley, NY

Late night in Shirley on Wednesday

Local time

5:39 AM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Manhattan, NY

Late night in Manhattan on Wednesday

Local time

5:39 AM

EDT

Current temp

80°F

Slight Chance Rain Showers

SW 15 mph 19% chance 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

31 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 34m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Shirley, NY to Manhattan, NY covers 64.1 miles and takes about 1h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Long Island Expressway, Horseblock Road, Sunrise Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 32.1 miles from Shirley, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $10.55 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 19 significant decision points across 64.1 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 0.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 2.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Shirley, NY to Manhattan, NY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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