Origin
Zena, NY
Afternoon in Zena on Sunday
Local time
4:41 PM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Zena, NY to Brookhaven, NY
Drive Time
3h 26m
Distance
156.3 mi
252 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$25
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 14m
★
6 AM
3h 27m
8 AM
3h 51m
10 AM
3h 35m
12 PM
3h 33m
3 PM
3h 36m
5 PM
3h 50m
8 PM
3h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Zena, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Trip Overview
The drive from Zena, NY to Brookhaven, NY covers 156.3 miles and takes about 3h 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on State Route 28, Kingston Traffic Circle, I 87 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.44 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
78.2 miles from Zena, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 43m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 26m drive with frequent turns across 156.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
State Route 28 is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Zena, NY to Brookhaven, NY is easy. At 3h 26m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Zena, NY to Brookhaven, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Route 28 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Kingston Traffic Circle | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 87 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| New York State Thruway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 287 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| NJ 17 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| NJ 4 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| NJ 4 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
State Route 28
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Zena, NY and Brookhaven, NY.
1
Start on Zena Road
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Zena Road
2
Turn sharp left onto State Route 28
5.0 mi
·
8 min
·
State Route 28
3
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward Kingston Traffic Circle
341 ft
·
4 sec
·
Kingston Traffic Circle
4
Exit the rotary onto I 87: New York State Thruway
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
I 87: New York State Thruway
5
Keep slight left to continue on I 87: New York State Thruway
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 87: New York State Thruway
6
Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway
61 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
New York State Thruway
7
Keep slight right to continue on I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
8
Continue straight
0.5 mi
·
39 sec
9
Keep slight left to continue on NJ 17 South: Mahwah
14 mi
·
18 min
·
NJ 17 South: Mahwah
10
Take the exit slight right toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
11
Keep slight left to continue on NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
12
Merge slight left
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
13
Continue straight
6.4 mi
·
8 min
14
Take the exit slight left toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
I 95 North: George Washington Bridge
15
Merge slight left
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
16
Keep slight left
0.8 mi
·
1 min
17
Continue on George Washington Bridge (upper level)
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
George Washington Bridge (upper level)
18
Continue on Trans-Manhattan Expressway
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Trans-Manhattan Expressway
19
Continue on Cross Bronx Expressway
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Cross Bronx Expressway
20
Keep slight right to continue on Cross Bronx Expressway
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Cross Bronx Expressway
21
Merge slight left onto Throgs Neck Expressway
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
·
Throgs Neck Expressway
22
Continue on Throgs Neck Bridge
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Throgs Neck Bridge
23
Continue on Clearview Expressway
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Clearview Expressway
24
Take the exit slight right toward I 495: Manhattan, Eastern Long Island
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
I 495: Manhattan, Eastern Long Island
25
Keep slight left to continue on I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, Eastern Long Island
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, Eastern Long Island
26
Merge slight left onto Long Island Expressway
43 mi
·
59 min
·
Long Island Expressway
27
Take the exit slight right toward CR 16: Horse Block Road, Centereach, Shirley
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
CR 16: Horse Block Road, Centereach, Shirley
28
Turn straight onto Express Drive South
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Express Drive South
29
Turn slight right onto Horseblock Road
4.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Horseblock Road
30
At the end of the road, turn right onto Montauk Highway
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Montauk Highway
31
Turn left onto South Country Road
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
South Country Road
32
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 78.2 miles from Zena, NY, or about 1h 43m into the drive.
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 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.2 miles or 1h 43m 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 49m
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 Zena, 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 Zena, NY
This is one driving day of about 156.3 miles and 3h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Zena, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 78.2 mi from Zena, NY · 1h 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
78 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 78.2 miles from Zena, 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
$25.44 one way
$50.89 round trip
$4.14/gal
25.4 MPG avg
55 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $27.57 | $55.15 |
| premium | $4.88 | $30.05 | $60.10 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $34.72 | $69.45 |
Estimated Tolls: $22.55
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
New York State Thruway
$0.00
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
$25
Tolls
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 46.9 | 0 | $16.41 | $7.50 |
| Efficient EV | 39.1 | 0 | $13.68 | $6.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 62.5 | 0 | $21.88 | $10.00 |
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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
Brookhaven, NY
Afternoon in Brookhaven on Sunday
Local time
4:41 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
20 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
3h 26m 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 Zena, NY to Brookhaven, NY covers 156.3 miles and takes about 3h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Route 28, Kingston Traffic Circle, I 87. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 78.2 miles from Zena, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $25.44 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.
The drive from Zena, NY to Brookhaven, NY is easy. At 3h 26m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Zena, NY to Brookhaven, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Zena, NY to Brookhaven, NY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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