Colton, NY to Brookhaven, NY is 388.8 miles and takes about 8h 26m via I 87/Long Island Expressway, with a fuel budget near $64 and an overnight recommendation. This drive primarily travels south through New York State, transitioning from the Northway to the busy Long Island Expressway. Given the 8.5-hour estimated drive time, splitting this trip over two days is advisable to avoid a marathon driving day. It's a highway-focused journey, so expect consistent speeds and limited opportunities for extensive sightseeing directly off the main roads.
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
194.4 miles from Colton, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 21m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 87
118.6 mi
2h 17m
Adirondack Northway
77 mi
1h 30m
Long Island Expressway
43.5 mi
59m
State Highway 28N
30.3 mi
43m
State Highway 56
23.1 mi
34m
Adirondack Trail
19.3 mi
27m
State Route 3
14.8 mi
20m
NJ 17
14.1 mi
18m
Longest stretch:
I 87
— 118.6 mi, about 2h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colton, NY and Brookhaven, NY.
1
Start on NY 56
23 mi·34 min·State Highway 56
2
At end of road, turn left onto NY 3
15 mi·20 min·State Route 3
3
Continue on NY 3
1.0 mi·2 min·Main Street
4
Continue on NY 3
1.2 mi·2 min·Demars Boulevard
5
Continue on NY 3
0.1 mi·30 sec·Lake Street
6
Turn left onto NY 3
282 ft·12 sec·Mill Street
7
Turn right onto NY 30
0.2 mi·33 sec·East Park Street
8
Turn left onto NY 30
1.9 mi·3 min·Wawbeek Avenue
9
Continue on NY 30
0.8 mi·1 min·Adirondack Trail
10
Continue on NY 30
0.5 mi·46 sec·Moody Road
11
Continue on NY 30
18 mi·25 min·Adirondack Trail
12
Continue on NY 30
0.3 mi·42 sec·Lake Street
13
Continue on NY 30
0.4 mi·58 sec·Adirondack Trail
14
At end of road, turn left onto NY 28N
0.7 mi·1 min·State Highway 28N
15
Continue on NY 28N
2.5 mi·3 min·Newcomb Road
16
Continue on NY 28N
30 mi·41 min·State Highway 28N
17
Turn slight left onto CR 30
2.8 mi·4 min·A P Morse Highway
18
Keep slight left at fork onto Donnelly Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Donnelly Road
19
Continue on CR 29
1.2 mi·1 min·County Highway 29
20
Continue on CR 19
4.8 mi·7 min·Olmstedville Road
21
Turn straight onto US 9
0.2 mi·38 sec·US 9
22
Turn left onto Valley Farm Road
0.3 mi·33 sec·Valley Farm Road
23
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
24
Merge onto I 87
77 mi·1 hr 30 min·Adirondack Northway
Use the slight right lane.
25
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.
26
Continue on I 87
0.5 mi·51 sec·I 87
Exit 1WToward I 87 South, I 90 West: New York, Buffalo
27
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.
28
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.
29
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
0.5 mi·39 sec·I 287; NJ 17
30
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.
31
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
32
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
33
Merge onto NJ 4
0.3 mi·24 sec·NJ 4
Use the right lane.
34
Continue on NJ 4
6.4 mi·8 min·NJ 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington BridgeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
36
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.7 mi·54 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
43 mi·59 min·Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
48
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 65Toward CR 16: Horse Block Road, Centereach, ShirleyUse the straight / slight right lanes.
49
Turn straight onto Express Drive South
0.2 mi·21 sec·Express Drive South
Toward I 495, CR 101: Yaphank, Riverhead
50
Turn slight right onto CR 16
4.1 mi·6 min·Horseblock Road
Use the right lane.
51
At end of road, turn right onto CR 80
0.9 mi·1 min·Montauk Highway
Use the right lane.
52
Turn left onto CR 36
0.4 mi·50 sec·South Country Road
Use the left lane.
53
Arrive at destination
CR 36
Trip Plan
Given the 8 hours and 26 minutes of estimated driving time, it's best to plan for an overnight stop to make this trip more manageable. Consider departing Colton in the morning to cover about half the distance, perhaps finding a stopping point in the general vicinity of Albany. This allows for a more relaxed second day, giving you time to navigate the Long Island Expressway at a less hurried pace. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially on the longer stretches of I 87, as services can sometimes be spaced out. Budgeting around $64 for fuel should cover your travel needs.
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 194.4 miles from Colton, NY, or about 4h 21m 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 86 miles or 2h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 194.4 miles or 4h 21m 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 194.4 miles or 4h 21m
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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brookhaven, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Colton, 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 Colton, NY
Aim for roughly 194 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Brookhaven, NY
Aim for roughly 194 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 86 miles from Colton, 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 30
5 decision points cluster between mile 182.4 and 339.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
182.4 mi into trip|~4h 7m 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
301 mi into trip|~6h 25m 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
302.4 mi into trip|~6h 27m 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
331.4 mi into trip|~7h 7m 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
339.2 mi into trip|~7h 17m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$64.00 one way
$128.00 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg136 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$69.20
$138.41
premium
$4.92
$75.36
$150.71
diesel
$5.61
$85.84
$171.68
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
$64
Tolls
$23
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$217–$327
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 136 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
116.6
1
$40.82
$18.66
Efficient EV
97.2
1
$34.02
$15.55
EV Truck/SUV
155.5
1
$54.43
$24.88
Gas CO2
136 kg
EV CO2
45 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 Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Colton, NY
Morning
in Colton on Tuesday
Local time
9:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Brookhaven, NY
Morning
in Brookhaven on Tuesday
Local time
9:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Patchy Fog
E 5 to 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 18 at 2:37AM EDT until April 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Burlington VT
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
4 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 26m 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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 323.7
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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 323.7
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...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 391.1
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 161.8
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
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 323.7
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 323.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly a highway-focused drive, with 69% of the journey utilizing major interstates. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I 87, also known as the Adirondack Northway, which offers a long, uninterrupted stretch of 118.6 miles. As you move south and approach Long Island, the landscape will shift, and you'll transition onto the Long Island Expressway, a major artery that can experience substantial traffic. Expect a consistent driving pace for much of the trip, characterized by high-speed travel on well-maintained highways.
69% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
53 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
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 87 and Adirondack Northway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 182.4 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 30 significant decision points across 388.8 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 182.4 miles (I 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 301 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 302.4 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Colton, NY and Brookhaven, NY, road signs point toward Albany, New York, Buffalo, Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee and Eastern Long Island.
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
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 194 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.
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 Brookhaven, 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 182.4 miles (I 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 301 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 302.4 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 8.4 hours each way, a round trip means 16.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Brookhaven, NY before the return drive.
