Embarking on a road trip from Southampton, NY, to Manhattan, NY, covers 90.8 miles and is estimated to take around 2 hours and 13 minutes. This journey is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing you ample time to explore your destination without needing an overnight stay. You'll primarily travel on the Long Island Expressway, Sunrise Highway, and County Road 39, with a significant portion of the drive, 57%, on highways. Expect a fuel cost of approximately $15 for this trip. Given that both your origin and destination are within the Northeast region and New York State, this route offers a straightforward transition from Long Island's coastal areas to the urban heart of Manhattan.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.4 miles from Southampton, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 5m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 13m. Total distance: 90.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (57%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This drive offers a mixed experience, with 57% of it being highway driving. You'll encounter stretches on major arteries like the Long Island Expressway, including one uninterrupted segment of 51.7 miles, which allows for consistent progress. The character of the road shifts as you move east to west, transitioning from potentially more varied local roads to these significant expressways. While not exclusively a highway grind, be prepared for substantial periods of higher-speed travel as you approach the dense environment of Manhattan.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 26 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 route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 29.2 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 90.8 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 29.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 85.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 85.9 miles (Hunters Point Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
29.2 mi into trip|~42m 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
85.5 mi into trip|~1h 59m 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
85.9 mi into trip|~2h 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
88.6 mi into trip|~2h 6m 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
6
88.8 mi into trip|~2h 7m in|3rd Avenue
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Southampton, NY to Manhattan, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 16 West: Yaphank along the way.
Cr 16 West: Yaphank
29.2 mi in|~42m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Long Island Expressway
51.7 mi
1h 10m
Sunrise Highway
24.2 mi
31m
County Road 39
4 mi
8m
Horseblock Road
3.9 mi
5m
Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge Lower Level
0.9 mi
2m
Queensboro Plaza
0.7 mi
<1m
North Sea Road
0.7 mi
1m
Madison Avenue
0.7 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Long Island Expressway
— 51.7 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Southampton, NY and Manhattan, NY.
1
Start on Main Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Main Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Continue on North Sea Road
0.7 mi·1 min·North Sea Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
3
Turn left onto NY 27; CR 39
4.0 mi·8 min·County Road 39
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on NY 27
24 mi·31 min·Sunrise Highway
5
Take the exit
0.1 mi·23 sec
Exit 57NToward CR 16 West: Yaphank, Horseblock RoadUse the right lane.
6
Turn left onto CR 56
0.2 mi·21 sec·Victory Avenue
7
Turn right onto CR 16
3.9 mi·5 min·Horseblock Road
Use the left lane.
8
Turn left onto Express Drive North
0.2 mi·14 sec·Express Drive North
Use the left lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward I 495 WEST: New York
10
Merge onto I 495
52 mi·1 hr 10 min·Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi·43 sec
Exit 16Toward Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, Hunters Point Avenue, Greenpoint AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn straight onto Laurel Hill Boulevard
80 ft·2 sec·Laurel Hill Boulevard
13
Keep slight right at fork onto Hunters Point Avenue
For this 90.8-mile drive, departing early in the morning, perhaps before 7 AM, is advisable to bypass potential traffic congestion as you near Manhattan. Since the total duration is just over 2 hours, you won't need to split the journey with an overnight stop. Plan for one brief rest stop if needed, but the relatively short distance makes this flexible. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, with an estimated cost of $15, and consider topping up before leaving Southampton. A specific tip for this route: familiarize yourself with the various Long Island Expressway exits as you get closer to the city, as they can become numerous and closely spaced.
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 45.4 miles from Southampton, NY, or about 1h 5m 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 20 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.4 miles or 1h 5m 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 44m
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 Southampton, 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 Southampton, NY
This is one driving day of about 90.8 miles and 2h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Southampton, 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 51.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 45.4 mi from Southampton, NY
· 1h 5m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.95 one way
$29.89 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$16.16
$32.32
premium
$4.92
$17.60
$35.20
diesel
$5.61
$20.05
$40.09
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.2
0
$9.53
$4.36
Efficient EV
22.7
0
$7.94
$3.63
EV Truck/SUV
36.3
0
$12.71
$5.81
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% 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
Southampton, NY
Afternoon
in Southampton on Friday
Local time
3:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Manhattan, NY
Afternoon
in Manhattan on Friday
Local time
3:59 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°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
2h 13m 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 Southampton, NY to Manhattan, NY covers 90.8 miles and takes about 2h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Long Island Expressway, Sunrise Highway, County Road 39. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 45.4 miles from Southampton, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.95 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 17 significant decision points across 90.8 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 29.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 85.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 85.9 miles (Hunters Point Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Southampton, NY to Manhattan, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 16 West: Yaphank along the way.
