Origin
Centereach, NY
Late night in Centereach on Sunday
Local time
12:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Centereach, NY to Elmhurst, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 5m
Distance
45 mi
72 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 1m
★
6 AM
1h 6m
8 AM
1h 16m
10 AM
1h 10m
12 PM
1h 9m
3 PM
1h 10m
5 PM
1h 16m
8 PM
1h 3m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Centereach, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Elmhurst, NY
Mel Audelo
Trip Overview
Centereach to Elmhurst is 45 miles and takes about 1 hour 5 minutes via the Long Island Expressway, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, connecting two points in the Northeast region. It's a straightforward drive, primarily on a major highway, making it a convenient option for a quick transit. You'll likely find it's a practical choice for moving between locations on Long Island, with minimal fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Long Island Expressway | 35.1 mi | 47m |
| Smithtown Bypass | 3.8 mi | 6m |
| Middle Country Road | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Wheeler Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| LIE North Service Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Queens Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Hauppauge Boulevard | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Townline Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Long Island Expressway
— 35.1 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Centereach, NY and Elmhurst, NY.
1
Start on NY 25
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
Middle Country Road
Use the left lane.
2
Turn left onto NY 347
3.8 mi
·
6 min
·
Smithtown Bypass
3
Take the exit
380 ft
·
16 sec
Toward Route 111, Islip, Smithtown
Use the right lane.
4
Turn left onto NY 111
0.5 mi
·
46 sec
·
Hauppauge Boulevard
5
At end of road, turn right onto NY 111; CR 76
421 ft
·
8 sec
·
Townline Road
6
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 111
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Wheeler Road
7
Turn right onto LIE North Service Road
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
LIE North Service Road
Use the right lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 495 West: New York
9
Merge onto I 495
35 mi
·
47 min
·
Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 19
Toward NY 25: Woodhaven Boulevard, Rockaways, 69th Street, Grand Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
47 sec
Toward NY 25: Queens Boulevard
Use the slight right lane.
12
Turn right onto Queens Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Queens Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
13
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
137 ft
·
8 sec
·
Grand Avenue
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
Grand Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
23 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.5 miles from Centereach, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 5.9 and 45 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
5.9 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward Route 111, Islip, Smithtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward Route 111, Islip, Smithtown
5
8 mi into trip
|
~13m in
|
LIE North Service Road
Turn right onto LIE North Service Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
43.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward NY 25: Woodhaven Boulevard, Rockaways, 69th Street, Grand Avenue
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 19
Toward NY 25: Woodhaven Boulevard, Rockaways, 6...
7
44.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 3m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NY 25: Queens Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NY 25: Queens Boulevard
6
45 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
|
Grand Avenue
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.41 one way
$14.81 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $8.01 | $16.02 |
| premium | $4.92 | $8.72 | $17.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.94 | $19.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.73 | $2.16 |
| Efficient EV | 11.3 | 0 | $3.94 | $1.80 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18 | 0 | $6.30 | $2.88 |
Gas CO2
16 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (69% 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
Elmhurst, NY
Late night in Elmhurst on Sunday
Local time
12:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
15 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
1h 5m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 78% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll spend a good portion of your time on the Long Island Expressway, including a continuous stretch of 35.1 miles. While the Smithtown Bypass and Middle Country Road offer some variation, the overall character is one of efficient travel. Expect a steady pace, characteristic of a modern expressway, as you make your way towards your destination.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.1 mi on Long Island Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Island Expressway and Smithtown Bypass. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 45 miles you will encounter 12 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 5.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8 miles (LIE North Service Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 43.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Centereach, NY and Elmhurst, NY, road signs point toward Islip and Smithtown.
Islip
5.9 mi in
|
~9m
Smithtown
5.9 mi in
|
~9m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 5m. Total distance: 45 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35.1 miles on Long Island Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Elmhurst, NY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8 miles (LIE North Service Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 43.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Stonewall National Monument, African Burial Ground National Monument and Federal Hall National Memorial (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Elmhurst, NY before heading back.
How this page is built
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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