Trip from Suffern, NY to Brookhaven, NY

Drive Time

2h 1m

Distance

86.7 mi

140 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
1h 53m ★
6 AM
2h 2m
8 AM
2h 19m
10 AM
2h 8m
12 PM
2h 6m
3 PM
2h 9m
5 PM
2h 18m
8 PM
1h 57m

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

Trip Overview

Connecting Suffern, NY, to Brookhaven, NY, covers a total distance of 86.7 miles, typically taking about 2 hours and 1 minute of travel time. Because of the relatively short duration, this trip is easily manageable as a single-day excursion, eliminating the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $14 for fuel to complete the trek. The route transitions across the Northeast region, utilizing major thoroughfares like NJ 17, NJ 4, and the Long Island Expressway to move you efficiently toward your destination. It is a straightforward, highway-focused drive designed for those looking to reach their end point without unnecessary detours or complicated navigation.

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

43.3 miles from Suffern, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 1m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a trip dominated by high-speed travel, as roughly 85% of your journey takes place on major highways. The road personality here is strictly functional, acting as a direct artery rather than a scenic, winding backroad. You will encounter a significant, uninterrupted stretch of 43.5 miles while navigating the Long Island Expressway. While the drive is efficient, be prepared for the consistent pace required when sticking to these high-traffic corridors. The experience is best described as a utilitarian interstate grind, prioritizing speed and connectivity over varied terrain or technical driving challenges.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 28 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 43.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Island Expressway and NJ 17. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.5 miles in near US 202 / Orange Avenue.

Route Complexity 10/10

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

This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 86.7 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 0.5 miles (US 202 / Orange Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 29.3 miles (I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 37 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 18 key points

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

6
0.5 mi into trip | ~1m in | US 202 / Orange Avenue

Turn left onto US 202 / Orange Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
8
29.3 mi into trip | ~42m in | I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left / none lanes. Exit 6B Toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge
8
37 mi into trip | ~52m 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
8
37.2 mi into trip | ~52m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, Eastern Long Island

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 4E Toward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, East...
8
80.9 mi into trip | ~1h 52m in

Take the exit toward CR 16: Horse Block Road, Centereach, Shirley

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 65 Toward CR 16: Horse Block Road, Centereach, Shi...

Towns Along This Route

Between Suffern, NY and Brookhaven, NY, road signs point toward Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York, Eastern Long Island, Centereach and Shirley - among others.

Gsp South: Paterson

14.3 mi in | ~20m

Fort Lee

14.3 mi in | ~20m

New York

14.3 mi in | ~20m

Eastern Long Island

37 mi in | ~52m

Centereach

80.9 mi in | ~1h 52m

Shirley

80.9 mi in | ~1h 52m

Cr 101: Yaphank

81.2 mi in | ~1h 53m | via Express Drive South

Riverhead

81.2 mi in | ~1h 53m | via Express Drive South

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Long Island Expressway 43.5 mi 59m
NJ 17 10.9 mi 14m
NJ 4 6.7 mi 9m
Cross Bronx Expressway 6.6 mi 8m
Horseblock Road 4.1 mi 6m
Clearview Expressway 3.2 mi 3m
Orange Avenue 2.8 mi 4m
Throgs Neck Bridge 2 mi 3m
Longest stretch: Long Island Expressway — 43.5 mi, about 59m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Suffern, NY and Brookhaven, NY.

1

Start on Washington Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · Washington Avenue
2

Continue on Washington Avenue

54 ft · 6 sec · Washington Avenue
3

Turn left onto US 202

2.8 mi · 4 min · Orange Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 21 sec
5

Merge onto NJ 17

11 mi · 14 min · NJ 17
Use the none lane.
6

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 19 sec
Toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
7

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
8

Merge onto NJ 4

0.3 mi · 24 sec · NJ 4
Use the none lane.
9

Continue on NJ 4

6.4 mi · 8 min · NJ 4
Use the none lane.
10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 18 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11

Merge onto I 95 EXPR

0.7 mi · 54 sec · I 95 EXPR
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
12

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR

0.8 mi · 1 min · I 95 EXPR
13

Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9

0.6 mi · 1 min · George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
14

Continue on I 95; US 1

0.7 mi · 1 min · Trans-Manhattan Expressway
Use the none lane.
15

Continue on I 95; US 1

4.7 mi · 6 min · Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
16

Keep slight right at fork onto I 295

2.0 mi · 2 min · Cross Bronx Expressway
Exit 6B Toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.
17

Merge onto I 295

0.6 mi · 58 sec · Throgs Neck Expressway
Use the none lane.
18

Continue on I 295

2.0 mi · 3 min · Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
19

Continue on I 295

3.2 mi · 3 min · Clearview Expressway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
20

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Exit 4E-W Toward I 495: Manhattan, Eastern Long Island Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Exit 4E Toward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, Eastern Long Island
22

Merge onto I 495

43 mi · 59 min · Long Island Expressway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
23

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Exit 65 Toward CR 16: Horse Block Road, Centereach, Shirley Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24

Turn straight onto Express Drive South

0.2 mi · 21 sec · Express Drive South
Toward I 495, CR 101: Yaphank, Riverhead
25

Turn slight right onto CR 16

4.1 mi · 6 min · Horseblock Road
Use the right lane.
26

At end of road, turn right onto CR 80

0.9 mi · 1 min · Montauk Highway
Use the right lane.
27

Turn left onto CR 36

0.4 mi · 50 sec · South Country Road
Use the left lane.
28

Arrive at destination

CR 36

Trip Plan

Given that this is a direct, highway-focused route, your greatest advantage is flexibility in your departure time. However, since the majority of the 86.7-mile trek relies on the Long Island Expressway, try to avoid peak commuting hours to ensure you maintain that estimated 2-hour and 1-minute duration. You won't need to plan for formal stops, as the distance is short enough to drive in one go, but keeping $14 handy for fuel will keep your logistics simple. A helpful tip for this specific transit is to stay alert during the transition between NJ 4 and the Long Island Expressway, as traffic volume can shift quickly between these major roads. Focus on steady pacing to make the most of the highway-heavy layout.

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 43.3 miles from Suffern, NY, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.5 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 51m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 43.3 miles or 1h 1m 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 42m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Suffern, 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 Suffern, NY

This is one driving day of about 86.7 miles and 2h 1m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Suffern, 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 43.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 43.3 mi from Suffern, NY · 1h 1m into the drive

Downtown The Bronx, NY, NY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

The Bronx, NY

43 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

Smithtown, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Hempstead, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 43.3 miles from Suffern, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Brookhaven, NY

The final approach into Brookhaven, 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 Brookhaven, 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

$14.11 one way

$28.23 round trip

$4.14/gal 25.4 MPG avg 30 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.48 $15.30 $30.59
premium $4.88 $16.67 $33.34
diesel $5.64 $19.26 $38.52

Estimated Tolls: $22.55

George Washington Bridge $16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge $6.55

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

$14

Tolls

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$62–$87

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 30.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 26 0 $9.10 $4.16
Efficient EV 21.7 0 $7.59 $3.47
EV Truck/SUV 34.7 0 $12.14 $5.55

Gas CO2

30 kg

EV CO2

10 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 data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Suffern, NY

Evening in Suffern on Sunday

Local time

5:39 PM

EDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Brookhaven, NY

Evening in Brookhaven on Sunday

Local time

5:39 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

8 degrees cooler at arrival

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

Road read

2h 1m 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 Suffern, NY to Brookhaven, NY covers 86.7 miles and takes about 2h 1m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Long Island Expressway, NJ 17, NJ 4. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 43.3 miles from Suffern, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $14.11 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 18 significant decision points across 86.7 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 0.5 miles (US 202 / Orange Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 29.3 miles (I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 37 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Suffern, NY and Brookhaven, NY, road signs point toward Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York, Eastern Long Island, Centereach and Shirley - among others.

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Return Trip

Brookhaven, NY to Suffern, NY

Plan the drive back the other way.

85.3 mi 1h 59m

Explore more options from Suffern, NY or browse trips ending in Brookhaven, NY.

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