Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 26, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
54 mi
87 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Astoria, NY
Wikimedia Commons
East Setauket, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Astoria, NY to East Setauket, NY is 54 miles and takes about 1 hour 18 minutes via the Long Island Expressway, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This quick trip stays within New York State, moving from the bustling Northeast region towards its eastern end. Given its short distance and primarily highway profile, it's a straightforward drive ideal for a single day. Plan for a smooth transition as you head out, making it a convenient option for a quick getaway or errand.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Long Island Expressway | 34 mi | 46m |
| Nesconset Highway | 4.9 mi | 5m |
| Grand Central Parkway | 4.6 mi | 7m |
| Nicolls Road | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| Wheeler Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Nesconset-Port Jefferson Highway | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Route 25A | 1 mi | 1m |
| Astoria Boulevard | 0.7 mi | 2m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 22 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~4,880 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~521 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 24 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Astoria, NY and East Setauket, NY.
Start on 12th Street
Turn right onto Astoria Boulevard
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 278; GCP
Keep slight left at fork onto GCP
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto Horace Harding Expressway
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 495
Take the exit
Turn straight onto Express Drive South
Continue on Express Drive South
Turn left onto NY 111
Continue on NY 111
Turn left onto NY 111
Turn slight right onto NY 347
Continue on NY 347
Turn left onto CR 97
Take the exit
Turn straight onto NY 25A
Continue on NY 25A
Continue on NY 25A
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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.
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 27 miles from Astoria, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.3 and 40.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight left at fork onto GCP / Grand Central Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 495: Long Island Expressway, Eastern Long Island, Riverhead, Midtown Tunnel, Manhattan
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 East: Eastern Long Island, Riverhead
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 495 East: Eastern Long Island, Riverhead
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward NY 111: Smithtown, Islip
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$8.78 one way
$17.55 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.47 | $9.50 | $19.00 |
| premium | $4.87 | $10.35 | $20.69 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $11.49 | $22.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.67 | $2.59 |
| Efficient EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.73 | $2.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.56 | $3.46 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Astoria on Sunday
Local time
12:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Rain Showers
Destination
Late night in East Setauket on Sunday
Local time
12:40 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This drive is mostly highway, with 74% of the 54 miles on major expressways like the Long Island Expressway. You'll experience a long stretch of 34 miles on the Long Island Expressway before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a relatively consistent driving experience with frequent exits as you navigate the Long Island Expressway.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Island Expressway and Nesconset Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.3 miles in near GCP / Grand Central Parkway.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.3 miles (GCP / Grand Central Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Astoria, NY and East Setauket, NY, road signs point toward Eastern Long Island, Riverhead, Manhattan and Islip.
Eastern Long Island
Riverhead
Manhattan
Islip
Founded 1659
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 18m. Total distance: 54 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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