Bangor to Islip is 382.9 miles and takes about 8h 10m via I 87/Adirondack Northway/Adirondack Trail, with a fuel budget near $62 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip spans New York, taking you from the Northeast region down towards the southern part of the state. Expect a drive that's mostly surface roads, so plan for a more leisurely pace than a pure interstate cruise. With a recommended two days for the trip, you'll have ample time to break up the drive comfortably. This route is a solid choice if you're looking for a straightforward drive with a manageable fuel cost and a clear endpoint.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
191.5 miles from Bangor, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 11m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 87
118.6 mi
2h 17m
Adirondack Northway
103.7 mi
2h 1m
Adirondack Trail
31 mi
42m
Southern State Parkway
24.7 mi
31m
State Highway 73
18.7 mi
27m
NJ 17
14.1 mi
18m
NJ 4
6.7 mi
9m
Cross Bronx Expressway
6.6 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
I 87
— 118.6 mi, about 2h 17m
Traffic on I-87
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 60 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,467 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,399
Quietest
1 AM
~114 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
21.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 79 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bangor, NY and Islip, NY.
1
Start on NY 11B
5.3 mi·7 min·NY 11B
2
Turn sharp right onto NY 30
0.4 mi·1 min·Finney Boulevard
3
Continue on NY 30
31 mi·42 min·Adirondack Trail
4
Turn left onto NY 86
3.7 mi·5 min·Easy Street
5
Continue on NY 86
1.9 mi·2 min·State Highway 86
6
Continue on NY 86
2.8 mi·4 min·Harrietstown Road
7
Continue on NY 86
3.0 mi·4 min·State Highway 86
8
Continue on NY 86
0.5 mi·56 sec·Broadway Street
9
Turn left onto NY 86
490 ft·12 sec·Bloomingdale Avenue
10
Turn right onto NY 3; NY 86
0.4 mi·50 sec·Church Street
11
At end of road, turn left onto NY 86
0.2 mi·32 sec·River Street
12
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 86
304 ft·8 sec·River Street
13
Turn slight right onto NY 86
1.1 mi·2 min·Lake Flower Avenue
14
Continue on NY 86
4.9 mi·7 min·Saranac-Placid Road
15
Turn right onto CR 35
3.6 mi·6 min·Old Military Road
16
Turn straight onto NY 73
5.3 mi·7 min·Cascade Road
17
Continue on NY 73
7.2 mi·10 min·State Highway 73
18
Turn straight onto NY 9N; NY 73
1.8 mi·3 min·State Highway 9N
19
Continue on NY 73
11 mi·16 min·State Highway 73
20
Turn straight onto US 9
2.1 mi·2 min·US 9
21
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·32 sec
Toward I 87 South
22
Merge onto I 87
104 mi·2 hr 1 min·Adirondack Northway
Use the slight right lane.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87
0.3 mi·31 sec·I 87
Exit 1E-WToward I 87 South, I 90: Boston, Albany, New York, BuffaloUse the slight right lane.
24
Continue on I 87
0.5 mi·51 sec·I 87
Exit 1WToward I 87 South, I 90 West: New York, Buffalo
25
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87
118 mi·2 hr 16 min·I 87
Toward I 87 South: New YorkUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17
0.9 mi·59 sec·NY 17
Exit 15Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New JerseyUse the slight right lane.
27
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
0.5 mi·39 sec·I 287; NJ 17
28
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17
14 mi·18 min·NJ 17
Exit 66Toward NJ 17 South: MahwahUse the slight left / straight lanes.
29
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
30
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
31
Merge onto NJ 4
0.3 mi·24 sec·NJ 4
Use the right lane.
32
Continue on NJ 4
6.4 mi·8 min·NJ 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington BridgeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
34
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.7 mi·54 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
36
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
38
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi·6 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39
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.
40
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi·58 sec·Throgs Neck Expressway
41
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
42
Continue on I 295
5.0 mi·5 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
43
Continue on NY 24
0.7 mi·1 min·Hollis Court Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
44
At end of road, turn left onto NY 24
0.2 mi·35 sec·Jamaica Avenue
Use the left lane.
45
Turn right onto Hempstead Avenue
0.9 mi·2 min·Hempstead Avenue
46
Turn right onto 225th Street
228 ft·9 sec·225th Street
Use the right lane.
47
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward Cross Island Parkway South, Verrazano Bridge
48
Merge onto CI
1.3 mi·1 min·Cross Island Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
49
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 25AToward Southern State Parkway East, Eastern Long IslandUse the slight left / straight lanes.
50
Merge onto SO
25 mi·31 min·Southern State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
51
Keep slight left at fork onto SO
0.2 mi·16 sec·Southern State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
52
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 41SToward Bay Shore Road South, Bay ShoreUse the slight right lane.
53
Turn straight onto CR 57
0.5 mi·1 min·Bay Shore Road
54
Continue on CR 57
0.3 mi·43 sec·Howells Road
55
Turn straight onto CR 57
341 ft·6 sec·Sunrise Highway
56
Keep slight right at fork onto CR 57
0.6 mi·1 min·Howells Road
Toward Howells Road SouthUse the right lane.
57
Continue on CR 57
0.2 mi·24 sec·Roosevelt Street
58
Continue on CR 57
0.7 mi·1 min·3rd Avenue
59
At end of road, turn left onto NY 27A
1.1 mi·1 min·East Main Street
60
Continue on Montauk Highway
0.2 mi·17 sec·Montauk Highway
61
Continue on NY 27A
0.8 mi·1 min·Main Street
62
Arrive at destination
NY 27A
Trip Plan
Given the 8h 10m estimated drive time, splitting this trip over two days is a sensible approach to avoid a single, long day behind the wheel. Aim to depart early in the morning to maximize daylight, especially if you plan to take advantage of the full two days. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $62 budget is an estimate and gas prices can fluctuate. The longest stretch without a major highway is considerable, so plan your stops for fuel and rest accordingly, perhaps around the 118.6-mile mark on I 87. Consider breaking the drive roughly in half to make each day more relaxed.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 191.5 miles from Bangor, NY, or about 4h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 118.6 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 84 miles or 2h 4m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 191.5 miles or 4h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 191.5 miles or 4h 11m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Islip, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bangor, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bangor, NY
Aim for roughly 191 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Islip, NY
Aim for roughly 191 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 84 miles from Bangor, NY.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 87 for about 118.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 33
5 decision points cluster between mile 191.1 and 378.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
191.1 mi into trip|~4h 10m in|I 87
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87 toward I 87 South, I 90: Boston, Albany, New York, Buffalo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1E-W
Toward I 87 South, I 90: Boston, Albany, New Yo...
9
309.7 mi into trip|~6h 28m in|NY 17
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17 toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 15
Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
8
311.1 mi into trip|~6h 30m in|NJ 17
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17 toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 66
Toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
8
340.1 mi into trip|~7h 10m 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
9
378.3 mi into trip|~8h 2m in
Take the exit toward Bay Shore Road South, Bay Shore
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 41S
Toward Bay Shore Road South, Bay Shore
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$67.02 one way
$134.05 round trip
$4.45/gal25.4 MPG avg134 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$72.63
$145.26
premium
$5.23
$78.84
$157.68
diesel
$6.28
$94.61
$189.22
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
$67
Tolls
$23
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$220–$330
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 134 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
114.9
1
$40.20
$18.38
Efficient EV
95.7
1
$33.50
$15.32
EV Truck/SUV
153.2
1
$53.61
$24.51
Gas CO2
134 kg
EV CO2
45 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Bangor, NY
Night
in Bangor on Thursday
Local time
9:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Clear
SW 13 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Islip, NY
Night
in Islip on Thursday
Local time
9:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Clear
NE 6 mph0% chanceLive 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
2 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
8h 10m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
General Grant National Memorial
National Memorial
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...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 330.1
Caution: Lower Crypt Access Subject to Safe Conditions
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...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 330.1
In 1777, a large British invasion force met an equally large American army here at Saratoga. After two intense battles, an eight-mile retreat, and a three-day siege, British General John Burgoyne surr...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 171.7
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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 382.9
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 330.1
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...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 330.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive involves 55% highway driving, with the longest stretch on I 87 covering 118.6 miles. You'll transition from the Adirondack Northway onto surface roads for a significant portion of the trip. The highway segments offer efficient travel, but be prepared for more frequent stops and varied speed limits as you move onto the Adirondack Trail and other surface roads. Expect a mix of open cruising and areas with more local traffic.
Only 55% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
62 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 118.6 mi on I 87.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 191.1 miles in near I 87.
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 33 significant decision points across 382.9 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 191.1 miles (I 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 309.7 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 311.1 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,762 ft0 ft
Total Climb
1,544 ft
Total Descent
2,302 ft
Highest Point
1,762 ft
~54.7 mi in
Elevation Range
1,762 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bangor, NY and Islip, NY, road signs point toward Albany, New York, Buffalo, Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee and Cross Island Parkway South - among others.
Islip (pronounced "ICE-lip") is a town on Long Island in the state of New York. Located within Suffolk County, the Town of Islip includes the villages of Brightwaters, Islandia, Ocean Beach and Saltaire. It also includes numerous hamlets including Bay Shore and Sayville which are ferry terminals for Fire Island. Other prominent communities are Bayport, Brentwood, Central Islip, Hauppauge, Islip village (the town seat), and Ronkonkoma.
Top landmarks
•Bayport Aerodrome — airport in Suffolk County, New York, United States
•Connetquot River State Park Preserve — state park in New York
•Modesty — oyster-dredging sloop built in Long Island
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 118.6 miles on I 87. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 191 miles on day one.
Expect about $22.55 in tolls one way, starting with George Washington Bridge. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 22 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Islip, NY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. There are 22 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 191.1 miles (I 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 309.7 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 311.1 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — General Grant National Memorial, Hamilton Grange National Memorial and Saratoga National Historical Park (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.2 hours each way, a round trip means 16.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Islip, NY before the return drive.
