Clarence, NY to Smithtown, NY is 409.6 miles and takes about 8h 37m via I 81 and New York State Thruway, with a fuel budget near $67 and best split over two days. This trip covers ground across the Northeast, moving from one part of New York to another. While it involves some interstate driving, much of the route sticks to surface roads. Plan for a comfortable pace, especially if you decide to break it up over two days as recommended.
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
204.8 miles from Clarence, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
98.8 mi
1h 57m
New York State Thruway
80.7 mi
1h 33m
Keystone Shortway
80 mi
1h 37m
I 380
23.6 mi
25m
Long Island Expressway
14.2 mi
19m
Northern State Parkway
13.7 mi
18m
East Lake Road
9.9 mi
14m
State Highway 41
9.8 mi
13m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 98.8 mi, about 1h 57m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 168 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,210 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,900
Quietest
1 AM
~430 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.8×
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 Clarence, NY and Smithtown, NY.
1
Start on Boyd Drive
21 ft·3 sec·Boyd Drive
2
Turn right onto CR 155
0.3 mi·37 sec·Ransom Road
3
Turn right onto NY 5
2.2 mi·3 min·Main Street
4
Continue on NY 5
7.6 mi·10 min·Main Road
5
Turn left onto NY 77
0.7 mi·1 min·Alleghany Road
6
Take the exit
369 ft·9 sec
7
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·15 sec·this road
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward I 90 East: AlbanyUse the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto I 90
81 mi·1 hr 33 min·New York State Thruway
10
Take the exit
0.5 mi·58 sec
Exit 41Toward NY 414: Waterloo, ClydeUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight right at fork
327 ft·7 sec
12
Continue on NY 414
0.3 mi·35 sec·State Route 414
13
Turn left onto NY 318
4.1 mi·7 min·NY 318
Use the left lane.
14
At end of road, turn left onto US 20; NY 5
1.9 mi·2 min·Auburn Road
15
Continue on US 20; NY 5
9.6 mi·11 min·Clark Street Road
Use the straight lane.
16
Turn right onto State Street
226 ft·12 sec·State Street
17
Turn left onto Dill Street
0.1 mi·21 sec·Dill Street
18
Continue on Loop Road
458 ft·16 sec·Loop Road
19
Turn left onto Genesee Street
5.5 mi·9 min·Genesee Street
20
Continue on US 20
2.2 mi·4 min·West Genesee Street Road
21
Turn right onto NY 41
0.5 mi·45 sec·East Lake Street
22
Continue on NY 41
9.4 mi·13 min·East Lake Road
23
Continue on NY 41
4.8 mi·7 min·State Route 41
24
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi·49 sec·East Lake Road
25
Continue on NY 41
9.8 mi·13 min·State Highway 41
26
Turn right onto NY 281
1.2 mi·2 min·North West Street
27
Take the ramp
0.7 mi·1 min
Use the left lane.
28
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 81 South: Binghamton
29
Merge onto I 81
45 mi·54 min·I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
53 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 81
Toward I 81 South: ScrantonUse the straight lane.
31
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
0.8 mi·1 min·US 6
Exit 187Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt PoconoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
32
Continue on I 84; I 380
3.7 mi·4 min·I 84; I 380
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, MilfordUse the straight lane.
33
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
24 mi·25 min·I 380
Exit 4Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
34
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 1BToward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
35
Merge onto I 80
80 mi·1 hr 37 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
36
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.
37
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.
38
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 70A-BToward Leonia, TeaneckUse the slight right lane.
39
Turn right
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 70AToward LeoniaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
40
Turn straight onto CR 56
454 ft·9 sec·Degraw Avenue
41
Continue on CR 56
1.1 mi·2 min·Fort Lee Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
42
Continue on CR 56
469 ft·13 sec·Main Street
43
Take the ramp
472 ft·12 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge
44
Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46
0.3 mi·28 sec·Bergen Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
45
Take the exit
312 ft·4 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level
46
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.3 mi·20 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
47
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
48
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
49
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
50
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi·6 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
51
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.
52
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi·58 sec·Throgs Neck Expressway
53
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
54
Continue on I 295
3.2 mi·3 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
55
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 4E-WToward I 495: Manhattan, Eastern Long IslandUse the straight / slight right lanes.
56
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 4EToward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, Eastern Long Island
57
Merge onto I 495
14 mi·19 min·Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
58
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Exit 42Toward N East: HauppaugeUse the slight right lane.
59
Merge onto N
14 mi·18 min·Northern State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
60
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 45Toward SM North: Kings ParkUse the right lane.
61
Merge onto SA
499 ft·6 sec·Sagtikos State Parkway
62
Continue on SM
1.7 mi·1 min·Sunken Meadow State Parkway
63
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit SM3EToward NY 25 East: Jericho Turnpike East, SmithtownUse the slight right lane.
64
Turn slight right onto NY 25
3.9 mi·5 min·Jericho Turnpike
65
Continue on NY 25; NY 25A
0.6 mi·54 sec·West Main Street
Use the left lane.
66
Arrive at destination
NY 25; NY 25A
Trip Plan
With an estimated duration of 8 hours and 37 minutes, this route is best tackled over two days. Aim to start your first day in Clarence, NY, giving you ample time to reach your first overnight stop. You have two recommended stops along the way, which should help break up the 409.6 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel; the estimated cost is around $67. Given the 47% highway share, be prepared for the shift from interstate to surface roads, which can add time to your travel, especially if you're unfamiliar with the area.
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 204.8 miles from Clarence, NY, or about 4h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.8 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 90 miles or 1h 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 204.8 miles or 4h 22m 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 204.8 miles or 4h 22m
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 14m
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 Clarence, 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 Clarence, NY
Aim for roughly 205 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Smithtown, NY
Aim for roughly 205 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 90 miles from Clarence, 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 81 for about 98.8 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 43
5 decision points cluster between mile 10.9 and 357 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
10.9 mi into trip|~16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 90 East: Albany
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 90 East: Albany
8
91.9 mi into trip|~1h 50m in
Take the exit toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
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 41
Toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
9
242.2 mi into trip|~5h 6m in|US 6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6 toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 187
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbo...
8
356.7 mi into trip|~7h 22m 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
357 mi into trip|~7h 22m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$66.57 one way
$133.14 round trip
$4.13/gal25.4 MPG avg143 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.47
$72.05
$144.10
premium
$4.87
$78.47
$156.94
diesel
$5.40
$87.13
$174.26
Estimated Tolls: $26.86
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
New York State Thruway
(80.7 mi)$4.04
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
$27
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$223–$333
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 143.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $43 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
122.9
1
$43.01
$19.66
Efficient EV
102.4
1
$35.84
$16.38
EV Truck/SUV
163.8
2
$57.34
$26.21
Gas CO2
143 kg
EV CO2
48 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 Apr 26, 2026
Origin
Clarence, NY
Afternoon
in Clarence on Sunday
Local time
1:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Areas Of Fog
E 6 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 26 at 5:08AM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 26 at 12:24AM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Destination
Smithtown, NY
Afternoon
in Smithtown on Sunday
Local time
1:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Rain Showers
E 6 mph98% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 26 at 5:08AM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 26 at 12:24AM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
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
1 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 37m 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.
Harriet Tubman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Harriet Tubman was guided by a deep faith and devotion to family, freedom, and community. After emancipating herself and members of her family, she moved them from Ontario, Canada to Fleming and Aubur...
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
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 367.2
Women’s Rights National Historical Park tells the story of the first Women’s Rights Convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York on July 19-20, 1848. It is a story of struggles for civil rights, human r...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 98.9
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
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 367.2
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 367.2
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 367.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About 47% of this drive is on highways, meaning you'll spend roughly 192 miles on interstates. The longest continuous stretch on a major highway is 98.8 miles on I 81. After that, expect the profile to shift to mostly surface roads for the remainder of your trip. This transition means you'll likely notice a change in speed and scenery as you move from faster-paced interstate cruising to navigating local roads.
Only 47% 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: 98.8 mi on I 81.
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 10.9 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 43 significant decision points across 409.6 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 10.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 91.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 242.2 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Between Clarence, NY and Smithtown, NY, road signs point toward Clyde, Mt Pocono, Milford, New York City, Leonia and Teaneck - among others.
A second-ring suburb of Buffalo, New York, affluent Clarence is a haven for antique shopping. Main Street in Clarence Hollow, the town's adorable, quaint business district, is where you'll find many of the antique stores that draw visitors to Clarence from all over the region—as well as a wide range of other charming shops, restaurants, and other attractions.
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 98.8 miles on I 81. 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 205 miles on day one.
Expect about $26.86 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 41 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 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. There are 41 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 10.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 91.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 242.2 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, Hamilton Grange National Memorial and Women's Rights 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 8.6 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.
