Busti, NY to Smithtown, NY is 412.8 miles and takes about 8h 40m via Keystone Shortway and Long Island Expressway, with a fuel budget near $67 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, starting and ending in New York. Given the 20% highway share and mostly surface road profile, plan for a relaxed pace rather than a high-speed transit. With two recommended stops, this route is best enjoyed over two days, allowing you to break up the drive and make the most of your time on the road.
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
206.4 miles from Busti, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
262.7 mi
4h 57m
PA 948
23.8 mi
35m
Long Island Expressway
14.2 mi
19m
Northern State Parkway
13.7 mi
18m
US 62
11.9 mi
13m
Boot Jack Road
11.2 mi
16m
State Park Road
8.1 mi
14m
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
7.4 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 262.7 mi, about 4h 57m
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 Busti, NY and Smithtown, NY.
1
Start on Busti-Stillwater Road
3.8 mi·5 min·Busti-Stillwater Road
2
Turn right onto Kiantone Road
4.8 mi·6 min·Kiantone Road
3
At end of road, turn right onto US 62
12 mi·13 min·US 62
4
Turn right onto US 62
0.2 mi·23 sec·West 4th Avenue
5
Turn left onto Hickory Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·Hickory Street
6
Continue on Hickory Bridge
0.1 mi·24 sec·Hickory Bridge
7
Turn left onto Crescent Park
0.4 mi·57 sec·Crescent Park
Use the left lane.
8
Turn left onto US 6
1.8 mi·3 min·Crescent Park
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
9
Continue on US 6
0.2 mi·35 sec·Main Street
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on US 6
2.9 mi·4 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on US 6
1.4 mi·2 min·North Main Street
12
Continue on US 6
4.5 mi·6 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
13
Continue on US 6
1.1 mi·2 min·West Main Street
14
Take the exit
265 ft·9 sec
Toward PA 666 West
15
Merge onto PA 666
2.3 mi·4 min·South Main Street
16
Continue on PA 948
8.5 mi·12 min·PA 948
17
At end of road, turn left onto PA 66
2.9 mi·4 min·PA 66
18
Turn right onto PA 948
15 mi·22 min·PA 948
19
Turn left onto PA 948
1.0 mi·2 min·West Main Street
20
Continue on US 219; PA 948
11 mi·16 min·Boot Jack Road
21
Turn left onto PA 153
3.7 mi·6 min·Penfield Road
22
Continue on PA 153
5.0 mi·8 min·Hoovertown Road
23
Continue on PA 153
8.1 mi·14 min·State Park Road
24
Turn left
0.3 mi·40 sec
25
Merge onto I 80
263 mi·4 hr 57 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
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.
27
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.
28
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 70A-BToward Leonia, TeaneckUse the slight right lane.
29
Turn right
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 70AToward LeoniaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Turn straight onto CR 56
454 ft·9 sec·Degraw Avenue
31
Continue on CR 56
1.1 mi·2 min·Fort Lee Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
32
Continue on CR 56
469 ft·13 sec·Main Street
33
Take the ramp
472 ft·12 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge
34
Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46
0.3 mi·28 sec·Bergen Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Take the exit
312 ft·4 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level
36
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.3 mi·20 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
38
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
40
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi·6 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41
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.
42
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi·58 sec·Throgs Neck Expressway
43
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
44
Continue on I 295
3.2 mi·3 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
45
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 4E-WToward I 495: Manhattan, Eastern Long IslandUse the straight / slight right lanes.
46
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 4EToward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, Eastern Long Island
47
Merge onto I 495
14 mi·19 min·Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
48
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Exit 42Toward N East: HauppaugeUse the slight right lane.
49
Merge onto N
14 mi·18 min·Northern State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
50
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 45Toward SM North: Kings ParkUse the right lane.
51
Merge onto SA
499 ft·6 sec·Sagtikos State Parkway
52
Continue on SM
1.7 mi·1 min·Sunken Meadow State Parkway
53
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit SM3EToward NY 25 East: Jericho Turnpike East, SmithtownUse the slight right lane.
54
Turn slight right onto NY 25
3.9 mi·5 min·Jericho Turnpike
55
Continue on NY 25; NY 25A
0.6 mi·54 sec·West Main Street
Use the left lane.
56
Arrive at destination
NY 25; NY 25A
Trip Plan
This route is easily manageable in one long day, but splitting it over two days with two stops would be more comfortable. Departing early in the morning will give you the best chance to reach Smithtown before dark. Keep an eye on your fuel; while the estimated cost is $67, prices can fluctuate, so filling up in larger towns is a good strategy. Since a significant portion of this drive is on surface roads, be prepared for varying speed limits and potential delays in populated areas.
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 206.4 miles from Busti, NY, or about 4h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 262.7 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 91 miles or 2h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 206.4 miles or 4h 31m 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 206.4 miles or 4h 31m
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 7h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Smithtown, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Busti, 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 Busti, NY
Aim for roughly 206 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Smithtown, NY
Aim for roughly 206 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 91 miles from Busti, 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 262.7 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 360 and 377.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
360 mi into trip|~7h 25m 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
360.2 mi into trip|~7h 25m 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
369.7 mi into trip|~7h 40m 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
377.4 mi into trip|~7h 50m 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
377.6 mi into trip|~7h 50m 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...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$66.78 one way
$133.56 round trip
$4.11/gal25.4 MPG avg144 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$72.47
$144.94
premium
$4.85
$78.79
$157.58
diesel
$4.80
$77.94
$155.89
Estimated Tolls: $22.82
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
Jericho Turnpike
(3.9 mi)$0.27
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: 144.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $43 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
123.8
1
$43.34
$19.81
Efficient EV
103.2
1
$36.12
$16.51
EV Truck/SUV
165.1
2
$57.79
$26.42
Gas CO2
144 kg
EV CO2
48 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Busti, NY
Late night
in Busti on Sunday
Local time
4:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Smoke
NW 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Smithtown, NY
Late night
in Smithtown on Sunday
Local time
4:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Smoke
NW 5 to 8 mph6% chanceLive forecast
84°F
Barton, NY
206 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.
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
11 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
8h 40m 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.
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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 370.1
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 370.1
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 370.1
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 370.1
Here at Federal Hall, George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States, marking the beginning of the American constitutional republic. This historic site served as...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
Free
near mile 370.1
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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 370.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 80% of your time on surface roads, with 20% on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 262.7 miles on the Keystone Shortway. After that, expect to transition to surface roads for the remainder of your trip. This means you'll encounter more towns and potentially denser traffic as you get closer to your destination.
Only 20% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
56 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 262.7 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 360 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 33 significant decision points across 412.8 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 360 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 360.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 369.7 miles (I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,920 ft48 ft
Total Climb
2,540 ft
Total Descent
3,852 ft
Highest Point
1,920 ft
~88.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,873 ft
Notable High Points
1,739 ft at ~265.4 miles+1,178 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Busti, NY and Smithtown, NY, road signs point toward New York City, Leonia, Teaneck, George Washington Bridge Upper Level, Eastern Long Island and N East: Hauppauge.
Smithtown is a town of 117,000 people (2016) in Suffolk County, on Long Island, in New York. Smithtown is comprised of the villages and hamlets of Commack (in part, with the Town of Huntington), Fort Salonga (in part, with the Town of Huntington), Hauppauge (in part, with the Town of Islip), Head of the Harbor, Kings Park, Lake Ronkonkoma (in part with the Town of Brookhaven and Town of Islip), Nesconset, Nissequogue, Smithtown, St. James, & Village of the Branch.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 262.7 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 206 miles on day one.
Expect about $22.82 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Smithtown, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 360 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 360.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 369.7 miles (I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial and Stonewall National Monument (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.7 hours each way, a round trip means 17.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Smithtown, NY before the return drive.
