Origin
Smithtown, NY
Late night in Smithtown on Wednesday
Local time
5:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Smithtown, NY to Ghent, NY
Data updated 1 hour ago
Drive Time
3h 42m
Distance
163.6 mi
263 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 29m
★
6 AM
3h 42m
8 AM
4h 7m
10 AM
3h 51m
12 PM
3h 48m
3 PM
3h 52m
5 PM
4h 6m
8 PM
3h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Smithtown, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Ghent, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 163.6-mile drive from Smithtown, NY, to Ghent, NY, is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in a single day, taking about 3 hours and 42 minutes. You'll primarily navigate the Long Island Expressway, I-684, and the Taconic State Parkway, with 95% of the route being highway. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $27. Given its manageable length and primarily highway profile, it's well-suited as a day trip for those looking to travel between these two points in New York without needing an overnight stay. The drive offers a practical way to cover the distance with minimal fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
81.8 miles from Smithtown, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 51m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience on this 163.6-mile route, with 95% of your travel occurring on major roads. The journey transitions from the familiar Long Island Expressway and I-684 to the Taconic State Parkway, which offers the longest uninterrupted stretch of 42.7 miles. While still a parkway, it generally maintains a higher speed limit than local roads, contributing to the overall highway feel. This drive is designed for efficient travel, prioritizing steady progress over frequent stops or winding scenic byways.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 38 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Taconic State Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 42.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Taconic State Parkway and I 684. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.6 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 28 significant decision points across 163.6 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 7.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.3 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. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 28 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
7.6 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 West: New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 495 West: New York
8
33.3 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Take the exit toward Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Bridge, Kennedy Airport
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 31N-S
Toward Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Bridge,...
10
33.5 mi into trip
|
~46m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 31N
Toward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone B...
8
36.9 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Take the exit toward I 295 North: Throgs Neck Bridge, Bronx, New England
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 33
Toward I 295 North: Throgs Neck Bridge, Bronx,...
8
39.9 mi into trip
|
~57m in
|
I 695 / Throgs Neck Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 695 / Throgs Neck Expressway toward I 695 North: New Haven
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 10
Toward I 695 North: New Haven
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Smithtown, NY and Ghent, NY, road signs point toward Kennedy Airport, Cross Island Parkway North, Bronx, New England, Hutchinson Parkway North and Hutchinson River Parkway North - among others.
Kennedy Airport
33.3 mi in
|
~46m
Cross Island Parkway North
33.5 mi in
|
~46m
Bronx
36.9 mi in
|
~51m
New England
36.9 mi in
|
~51m
Hutchinson Parkway North
42.9 mi in
|
~1h 1m
Hutchinson River Parkway North
43 mi in
|
~1h 1m
Taconic State Parkway North
100.9 mi in
|
~2h 14m
Albany
100.9 mi in
|
~2h 14m
Hudson
144 mi in
|
~3h 13m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Taconic State Parkway | 42.7 mi | 57m |
| I 684 | 27 mi | 31m |
| Long Island Expressway | 24.8 mi | 33m |
| I 84 | 15.4 mi | 18m |
| Hutchinson River Parkway | 13.5 mi | 19m |
| State Highway 9H | 7.4 mi | 10m |
| State Route 66 | 6.9 mi | 10m |
| State Highway 82 | 4.9 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
Taconic State Parkway
— 42.7 mi, about 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Smithtown, NY and Ghent, NY.
1
Start on NY 25; NY 25A
0.6 mi
·
51 sec
·
West Main Street
2
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 25; NY 25A
179 ft
·
5 sec
·
West Main Street
3
Continue on NY 25
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Jericho Turnpike
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward SM South: Bay Shore
5
Merge onto SM
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Sunken Meadow State Parkway
6
Continue on SA
0.8 mi
·
49 sec
·
Sagtikos State Parkway
7
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Exit S1W
Toward I 495 West: New York
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward I 495 West: New York
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn straight onto LIE North Service Road
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
LIE North Service Road
10
Turn straight onto North Service Road
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
North Service Road
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 495 West: New York
12
Merge onto I 495
25 mi
·
33 min
·
Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 31N-S
Toward Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Bridge, Kennedy Airport
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 31N
Toward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone Bridge
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto CI
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Cross Island Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 33
Toward I 295 North: Throgs Neck Bridge, Bronx, New England
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 295
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Throgs Neck Bridge
18
Continue on I 295
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Throgs Neck Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 695
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Throgs Neck Expressway
Exit 10
Toward I 695 North: New Haven
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Merge onto I 95
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Bruckner Expressway
21
Continue on I 95
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
New England Thruway
22
Take the exit
430 ft
·
14 sec
Exit 9
Toward Hutchinson Parkway North
Use the slight right lane.
23
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward Hutchinson River Parkway North
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Merge onto HR
14 mi
·
19 min
·
Hutchinson River Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork
1.6 mi
·
2 min
Exit 16A
Toward I 684 North: Brewster
Use the slight left lane.
26
Merge onto I 684
26 mi
·
30 min
·
I 684
27
Continue on I 684
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 684
Exit |; 9W|9E
28
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
1 min
Exit 9W
Toward I 84 West: Newburgh
Use the right lane.
29
Merge onto I 84
15 mi
·
18 min
·
I 84
30
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 52B
Toward Taconic State Parkway North, Albany
Use the slight right lane.
31
Merge onto Taconic State Parkway
43 mi
·
57 min
·
Taconic State Parkway
32
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward NY 82: Ancram, Hudson
33
Keep slight right at fork
401 ft
·
14 sec
34
Turn straight onto NY 82
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 82
35
Turn right onto NY 9H; NY 23
7.4 mi
·
10 min
·
State Highway 9H
36
Turn right onto NY 66
6.9 mi
·
10 min
·
State Route 66
37
Turn left onto Garage Place Road
57 ft
·
2 sec
·
Garage Place Road
38
Arrive at destination
Garage Place Road
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour and 42-minute drive covering 163.6 miles, you can comfortably depart anytime in the morning to arrive in Ghent by afternoon. With only one suggested stop and a fuel cost of approximately $27, planning is minimal, giving you flexibility. The main roads include the Long Island Expressway, I-684, and the Taconic State Parkway. Keep an eye out for the transition onto the Taconic State Parkway, as it's the longest continuous stretch of your journey at 42.7 miles and offers a slightly different driving experience.
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 81.8 miles from Smithtown, NY, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.7 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 80 miles or 1h 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.8 miles or 1h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ghent, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Smithtown, 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 Smithtown, NY
This is one driving day of about 163.6 miles and 3h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Smithtown, 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 Taconic State Parkway for about 42.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 81.8 mi from Smithtown, NY · 1h 51m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
82 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 81.8 miles from Smithtown, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Ghent, NY
The final approach into Ghent, 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 Ghent, 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
$26.93 one way
$53.86 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
57 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $29.12 | $58.24 |
| premium | $4.92 | $31.71 | $63.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $36.12 | $72.24 |
Estimated Tolls: $6.83
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
Jericho Turnpike
(4 mi)
$0.28
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
$27
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 57.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 49.1 | 0 | $17.18 | $7.85 |
| Efficient EV | 40.9 | 0 | $14.31 | $6.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 65.4 | 0 | $22.90 | $10.47 |
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Destination
Ghent, NY
Late night in Ghent on Wednesday
Local time
5:44 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°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
16 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
3h 42m 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 Smithtown, NY to Ghent, NY covers 163.6 miles and takes about 3h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Taconic State Parkway, I 684, Long Island Expressway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 81.8 miles from Smithtown, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.93 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 28 significant decision points across 163.6 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 7.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.3 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. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Smithtown, NY and Ghent, NY, road signs point toward Kennedy Airport, Cross Island Parkway North, Bronx, New England, Hutchinson Parkway North and Hutchinson River Parkway North - among others.
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