Brookhaven, NY to Portland, NY is 456.9 miles and takes about 9h 52m via Keystone Shortway, Christopher Columbus Highway, and Long Island Expressway, with a fuel budget near $76 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within New York State, traversing the Northeast region. Expect a route that primarily utilizes surface roads, making it a more leisurely pace than a pure interstate trip. With a recommended two days for the drive, you can comfortably break up the 456.9 miles and avoid feeling rushed.
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
228.5 miles from Brookhaven, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
200 mi
3h 44m
Christopher Columbus Highway
68.2 mi
1h 20m
Long Island Expressway
41.4 mi
55m
West Lake Road
12.5 mi
18m
Jackson Run Road
12.5 mi
17m
US 219
12.3 mi
18m
Montmorenci Road
8.8 mi
13m
PA 948
8.6 mi
12m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 200 mi, about 3h 44m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 194 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,076 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,665
Quietest
1 AM
~346 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Brookhaven, NY and Portland, NY.
1
Start on CR 36
0.4 mi·46 sec·South Country Road
2
Continue on South Country Road
354 ft·16 sec·South Country Road
3
Turn straight onto CR 80
0.8 mi·1 min·Montauk Highway
4
Turn left onto CR 16
4.2 mi·6 min·Horseblock Road
Use the left lane.
5
Turn left onto Express Drive North
0.2 mi·14 sec·Express Drive North
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward I 495 WEST: New York
7
Merge onto I 495
41 mi·55 min·Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 31N-SToward Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Bridge, Kennedy AirportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 31NToward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone BridgeUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto CI
3.1 mi·4 min·Cross Island Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 33Toward I 295 North: Throgs Neck Bridge, Bronx, New EnglandUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 295
1.8 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
13
Continue on I 295
0.7 mi·1 min·Throgs Neck Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295
6.6 mi·8 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
Toward Upper Level
16
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.6 mi·59 sec·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
17
Continue on I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
0.5 mi·48 sec·I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
0.6 mi·39 sec·I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; NJTP
0.1 mi·8 sec·I 95 EXPR; NJTP
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: HackensackUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·29 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: HackensackUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
22
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
2.0 mi·2 min·New Jersey Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 69Toward I 80 West: Paterson, HackensackUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on I 80
68 mi·1 hr 20 min·Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·8 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
195 mi·3 hr 35 min·Keystone Shortway
27
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward PA 153: Clearfield, Penfield
28
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·32 sec
29
Turn straight onto PA 153
7.5 mi·13 min·State Park Road
30
Continue on PA 153
5.0 mi·8 min·Hoovertown Road
31
Continue on PA 153
3.7 mi·6 min·Penfield Road
32
At end of road, turn right onto US 219
12 mi·18 min·US 219
33
Turn right onto PA 948
1.0 mi·2 min·Montmorenci Avenue
34
Continue on PA 948
8.8 mi·13 min·Montmorenci Road
35
Continue on PA 948
5.4 mi·7 min·Highland Road
36
At end of road, turn left onto PA 66
2.7 mi·3 min·Kane-Russell City Road
37
Take the exit onto PA 948
8.6 mi·12 min·PA 948
38
Continue on PA 666
2.3 mi·4 min·PA 666
39
At end of road, turn left onto US 6
1.2 mi·2 min·West Main Street
40
Continue on US 6
4.5 mi·6 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
41
Continue on US 6
1.4 mi·2 min·South Main Street
42
Continue on US 6
2.9 mi·4 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
43
Continue on US 6
0.2 mi·35 sec·Main Street
44
Continue on US 6
1.8 mi·3 min·Crescent Park
Use the straight lane.
45
Continue on Crescent Park
0.4 mi·1 min·Crescent Park
Use the right lane.
46
Turn right onto Hickory Bridge
0.1 mi·17 sec·Hickory Bridge
Use the right lane.
47
Continue on Hickory Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Hickory Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
48
Turn right onto US 62
0.2 mi·23 sec·West 4th Avenue
49
Turn left onto US 62
2.1 mi·2 min·Market Street
50
Turn left onto PA 69
8.8 mi·12 min·Jackson Run Road
51
Continue on PA 69
0.2 mi·23 sec·Main Street
52
Continue on PA 69
3.6 mi·5 min·Jackson Run Road
53
Continue on PA 69
0.3 mi·38 sec·Mechanic Street
54
At end of road, turn right onto PA 69; PA 957
403 ft·13 sec·Main Street
55
Turn left onto PA 69
0.6 mi·1 min·Forrest Street
56
Continue on PA 69
1.0 mi·1 min·Big Tree Road
57
Continue on CR 69
3.9 mi·6 min·Big Tree-Sugar Grove Road
58
Continue on CR 69
2.6 mi·4 min·Big Tree Road
59
Turn left onto NY 394
0.3 mi·40 sec·West Fairmount Avenue
60
Continue on NY 394
13 mi·18 min·West Lake Road
61
Continue on NY 394
2.5 mi·3 min·South Erie Street
62
Continue on NY 394
4.4 mi·6 min·Portage Road
63
Continue on NY 394
1.1 mi·1 min·South Portage Street
64
Turn right onto US 20
1.4 mi·3 min·East Main Street
65
Continue on US 20
5.6 mi·8 min·Erie Road
66
Arrive at destination
US 20
Trip Plan
Given the 9 hour 52 minute estimated drive time, splitting this trip over two days is a good strategy to avoid fatigue. Aim to depart Brookhaven in the morning to maximize daylight, especially if you plan to take two days. The recommended two stops are well-placed to break up the 456.9 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $76, and plan your refueling stops accordingly, particularly before embarking on the 200-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway. Make sure to check for any local events or road work that might impact surface road travel.
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 228.5 miles from Brookhaven, NY, or about 4h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 200 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 101 miles or 2h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 228.5 miles or 4h 40m 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 228.5 miles or 4h 40m
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 8h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Portland, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Brookhaven, 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 Brookhaven, NY
Aim for roughly 228 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Portland, NY
Aim for roughly 228 miles and 4.9 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 101 miles from Brookhaven, 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 Keystone Shortway for about 200 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 36
5 decision points cluster between mile 47.3 and 63.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
47.3 mi into trip|~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Bridge, Kennedy Airport
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 31N-S
Toward Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Bridge,...
10
47.5 mi into trip|~1h 5m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 31N
Toward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone B...
8
50.9 mi into trip|~1h 10m in
Take the exit toward I 295 North: Throgs Neck Bridge, Bronx, New England
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 33
Toward I 295 North: Throgs Neck Bridge, Bronx,...
8
63.1 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
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.
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
8
63.3 mi into trip|~1h 28m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$81.09 one way
$162.18 round trip
$4.51/gal25.4 MPG avg160 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.85
$87.17
$174.34
premium
$5.24
$94.24
$188.48
diesel
$5.35
$96.24
$192.47
Estimated Tolls: $22.83
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
New Jersey Turnpike
(2 mi)$0.28
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
$81
Tolls
$23
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$234–$344
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 159.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $48 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
137.1
1
$47.97
$21.93
Efficient EV
114.2
1
$39.98
$18.28
EV Truck/SUV
182.8
2
$63.97
$29.24
Gas CO2
160 kg
EV CO2
53 kg (67% 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 Jun 1, 2026
Origin
Brookhaven, NY
Afternoon
in Brookhaven on Wednesday
Local time
3:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Isolated Rain Showers
E 2 to 6 mph22% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Portland, NY
Afternoon
in Portland on Wednesday
Local time
3:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Clear
SW 2 mph1% 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
9h 52m 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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 63
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a highway share of 17%, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 200 miles along the Keystone Shortway. After this segment, you'll transition to roads with more local traffic and potentially more frequent stops. The profile is mostly surface roads, so anticipate navigating through towns and varied speed limits.
Only 17% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
66 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 200 mi on Keystone Shortway.
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 47.3 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 36 significant decision points across 456.9 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 47.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 47.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
2,163 ft9 ft
Total Climb
4,374 ft
Total Descent
3,623 ft
Highest Point
2,163 ft
~359 mi in
Elevation Range
2,154 ft
Notable High Points
1,636 ft at ~163.2 miles+928 ft prominence
2,163 ft at ~359 miles+790 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Brookhaven, NY and Portland, NY, road signs point toward Kennedy Airport, Cross Island Parkway North, Bronx, New England, Upper Level and Njtp South: Hackensack - among others.
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
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 200 miles on Keystone Shortway. 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 228 miles on day one.
Expect about $22.83 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 36 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 Portland, 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 36 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 47.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 47.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — General Grant National Memorial, Hamilton Grange National Memorial and Fire Island National Seashore (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 9.9 hours each way, a round trip means 19.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Portland, NY before the return drive.
