Traveling from Tusten to Brookhaven covers 159.1 miles across the Northeast, making for a manageable single-day excursion. You should budget approximately 3 hours and 40 minutes of driving time, assuming typical traffic conditions. With a fuel cost estimate of $26, this route is quite economical for a solo traveler or a small group. Because the journey is relatively straightforward, you can easily complete it in one day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend most of your time on major thoroughfares like the Long Island Expressway, State Route 97, and NJ 23. This trek is best suited for those who prefer a direct, highway-focused drive through New York State.
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
79.6 miles from Tusten, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 52m into the drive
.
Brookhaven is the largest town in Suffolk County, part of Long Island, New York. With 485,000 residents (2020). It includes a patchwork of villages and other communities, and is the only town on the island to touch both the Long Island Sound and Atlantic Ocean. The villages of Belle Terre, Bellport, Lake Grove, Mastic Beach, Old Field, Patchogue, Poquott, Port Jefferson, and Shoreham are semi-autonomous, and provide their own services in addition to those provided by the town. Other prominent communities include Mount Sinai, Stony Brook, and Fire Island, a long and car-free resort island off the south coast of the town.
Top landmarks
•Wardenclyffe Tower — early experimental wireless transmission station designed and built by Nikola Te...
•West Meadow Beach Historic District — historic district in the United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 40m. Total distance: 159.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This trip is a highway-focused drive, with 71% of your time spent on high-speed roads. You will navigate a transition from the winding, rural character of State Route 97 and NJ 23 into the more intense, high-traffic environment of the Long Island Expressway. Once you merge onto the expressway, you will encounter the longest stretch of the trip, covering 43.5 miles of continuous highway driving. Be prepared for the shift in pace as you move from local state routes into the more heavily trafficked arterial roads. While the route offers a consistent rhythm, the change in road types ensures you remain focused behind the wheel.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 39 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,332 ft-1 ft
Total Climb
1,535 ft
Total Descent
2,234 ft
Highest Point
1,332 ft
~34.1 mi in
Elevation Range
1,333 ft
Notable High Points
1,332 ft at ~34.1 miles+736 ft prominence
1,000 ft at ~56.8 miles+510 ft prominence
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Island Expressway and State Route 97. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 92 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 159.1 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 92 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 92.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 101.7 miles (I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 24 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
92 mi into trip|~2h 6m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, Ne...
9
92.3 mi into trip|~2h 6m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Leonia, Teaneck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 70A-B
Toward Leonia, Teaneck
8
101.7 mi into trip|~2h 21m 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 lanes.
Exit 6B
Toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge
8
109.4 mi into trip|~2h 31m 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
109.6 mi into trip|~2h 31m 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...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Tusten, NY and Brookhaven, NY, road signs point toward Clifton, New York City, Leonia, Teaneck, George Washington Bridge Upper Level and Eastern Long Island.
Clifton
77.4 mi in|~1h 50m
New York City
92 mi in|~2h 6m
Leonia
92.3 mi in|~2h 6m
Teaneck
92.3 mi in|~2h 6m
George Washington Bridge Upper Level
94.5 mi in|~2h 11m
Eastern Long Island
109.4 mi in|~2h 31m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Long Island Expressway
43.5 mi
59m
State Route 97
28.2 mi
41m
NJ 23
18.8 mi
25m
Walling Avenue
18.1 mi
27m
Christopher Columbus Highway
14 mi
15m
Paterson - Hamburg Turnpike
9.8 mi
11m
Cross Bronx Expressway
6.6 mi
8m
Horseblock Road
4.1 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
Long Island Expressway
— 43.5 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tusten, NY and Brookhaven, NY.
1
Start on Crawford Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Crawford Road
2
Turn sharp right onto NY 97
28 mi·41 min·State Route 97
3
Continue on NY 42; NY 97
1.9 mi·2 min·West Main Street
4
Turn right onto CR 15
0.4 mi·31 sec·CR 15
5
Continue on NJ 23
13 mi·17 min·NJ 23
6
Continue on NJ 23
18 mi·27 min·Walling Avenue
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on NJ 23
9.8 mi·11 min·Paterson - Hamburg Turnpike
8
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 23
6.2 mi·7 min·NJ 23
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
297 ft·7 sec
Toward I 80 East, US 46 East: New York, Clifton
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 80 East: New YorkUse the slight left lane.
11
Merge onto I 80
8.5 mi·9 min·Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·5 min·Christopher Columbus Highway
Toward I 95: George Washington Bridge Lower LevelUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·23 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 70A-BToward Leonia, TeaneckUse the slight right lane.
15
Turn right
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 70AToward LeoniaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn straight onto CR 56
454 ft·9 sec·Degraw Avenue
17
Continue on CR 56
1.1 mi·2 min·Fort Lee Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Continue on CR 56
469 ft·13 sec·Main Street
19
Take the ramp
472 ft·12 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge
20
Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46
0.3 mi·28 sec·Bergen Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
312 ft·4 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level
22
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.3 mi·20 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
24
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
26
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi·6 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
2.0 mi·2 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Exit 6BToward I 295 South: Throgs Neck BridgeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
28
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi·58 sec·Throgs Neck Expressway
29
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Continue on I 295
3.2 mi·3 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 4E-WToward I 495: Manhattan, Eastern Long IslandUse the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 4EToward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, Eastern Long Island
33
Merge onto I 495
43 mi·59 min·Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 65Toward CR 16: Horse Block Road, Centereach, ShirleyUse the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Turn straight onto Express Drive South
0.2 mi·21 sec·Express Drive South
Toward I 495, CR 101: Yaphank, Riverhead
36
Turn slight right onto CR 16
4.1 mi·6 min·Horseblock Road
Use the right lane.
37
At end of road, turn right onto CR 80
0.9 mi·1 min·Montauk Highway
Use the right lane.
38
Turn left onto CR 36
0.4 mi·50 sec·South Country Road
Use the left lane.
39
Arrive at destination
CR 36
Trip Plan
To ensure a smooth trip, plan for at least one stop to break up the 3 hour and 40 minute duration. Since you are dealing with a significant percentage of highway driving, departing early in the morning can help you avoid the heaviest congestion on the Long Island Expressway. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $26 estimate can fluctuate based on idling time during traffic delays. Given that this is a one-day trip, your primary advantage is flexibility; if you find yourself ahead of schedule, you can easily adjust your pace. Specifically, factor in extra time for the transition between state routes and the expressway, as traffic density increases significantly as you approach your destination in Brookhaven.
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 79.6 miles from Tusten, NY, or about 1h 52m 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 35 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.6 miles or 1h 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h
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 Tusten, 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 Tusten, NY
This is one driving day of about 159.1 miles and 3h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from Tusten, 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 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 79.6 mi from Tusten, NY
· 1h 52m 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.
Hamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
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...
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 93.3
Immerse yourself in an enchanting collage of coastal life and history. Rhythmic waves, high dunes, ancient maritime forests, historic landmarks and glimpses of wildlife, Fire Island has been a special...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 159.1
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...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 93.3
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...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 93.3
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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 93.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.19 one way
$52.38 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg56 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$28.32
$56.64
premium
$4.92
$30.84
$61.67
diesel
$5.61
$35.13
$70.25
Estimated Tolls: $23.24
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
Paterson - Hamburg Turnpike
(9.8 mi)$0.69
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
$26
Tolls
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47.7
0
$16.71
$7.64
Efficient EV
39.8
0
$13.92
$6.36
EV Truck/SUV
63.6
0
$22.27
$10.18
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 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 14, 2026
Origin
Tusten, NY
Night
in Tusten on Friday
Local time
10:12 PM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Brookhaven, NY
Night
in Brookhaven on Friday
Local time
10:12 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Partly Cloudy
W 3 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:13PM EDT until April 16 at 2:00PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
57°F
Ramapo, NY
80 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
12 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 40m 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 Tusten, NY to Brookhaven, NY covers 159.1 miles and takes about 3h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Long Island Expressway, State Route 97, NJ 23. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 79.6 miles from Tusten, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.19 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 24 significant decision points across 159.1 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 92 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 92.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 101.7 miles (I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Tusten, NY and Brookhaven, NY, road signs point toward Clifton, New York City, Leonia, Teaneck, George Washington Bridge Upper Level and Eastern Long Island.
Gently rolling terrain. The route ranges from -1 ft to 1,332 ft elevation with about 1,535 ft of total climbing. There are 2 notable high points along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial and Fire Island National Seashore. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.
