Origin
De Kalb, NY
Late night in De Kalb on Sunday
Local time
12:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from De Kalb, NY to Brookhaven, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
8h 23m
Distance
405.7 mi
653 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$67
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
8h 16m
★
6 AM
8h 23m
8 AM
8h 38m
10 AM
8h 28m
12 PM
8h 27m
3 PM
8h 29m
5 PM
8h 38m
8 PM
8h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
De Kalb, NY
Illya Goloborodko
Trip Overview
This 405.7-mile journey from De Kalb, NY to Brookhaven, NY will take approximately 8 hours and 23 minutes of driving time. Given the duration, it's best to plan for an overnight stop to make the drive more comfortable. You'll primarily be on the New York State Thruway and the Long Island Expressway, with some segments of State Highway 12. The estimated fuel cost is around $67. This route offers a turn-heavy local drive experience, so be prepared for frequent adjustments. With two recommended stops, you'll have opportunities to stretch your legs along the way.
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
202.9 miles from De Kalb, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 8m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New York State Thruway | 201.9 mi | 3h 53m |
| Long Island Expressway | 43.5 mi | 59m |
| State Highway 12 | 22.8 mi | 31m |
| Bea Luck Road | 19.6 mi | 23m |
| State Highway 812 | 19.1 mi | 23m |
| Indian River Road | 16.1 mi | 19m |
| NJ 17 | 14.1 mi | 18m |
| US 11 | 11.5 mi | 13m |
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 201.9 mi, about 3h 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between De Kalb, NY and Brookhaven, NY.
1
Start on CR 17
79 ft
·
9 sec
·
County Road 17
2
Turn left onto NY 812
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 812
3
At end of road, turn right onto US 11; NY 812
11 mi
·
13 min
·
US 11; NY 812
4
Turn left onto NY 58; NY 812
0.6 mi
·
40 sec
·
William Street
5
Continue on NY 58; NY 812
5.5 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 58
6
Turn right onto NY 812
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Balmat-Fowler Road
7
Continue on NY 812
7.9 mi
·
9 min
·
State Highway 812
8
At end of road, turn right onto NY 3; NY 812
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
State Highway 812
9
Continue on NY 3; NY 812
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
State Street
10
Continue on NY 3; NY 812
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
11
Continue on NY 3; NY 812
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
State Route 3
12
Turn left onto NY 812
5.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Indian River Road
13
Continue on NY 812
10 mi
·
12 min
·
Indian River Road
14
Continue on NY 812
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
15
Continue on NY 812
8.4 mi
·
10 min
·
State Highway 812
16
Turn left onto East State Street
1.5 mi
·
3 min
·
East State Street
17
Continue on Ross Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Ross Road
18
Turn left onto NY 12
20 mi
·
23 min
·
Bea Luck Road
19
Continue on NY 12
0.8 mi
·
51 sec
·
State Highway 12
20
Continue on NY 12
9.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Erwin Parkway
21
Continue on NY 12
22 mi
·
30 min
·
State Highway 12
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
23
Merge onto NY 49
0.4 mi
·
26 sec
·
State Route 49
24
Continue on I 790; NY 5
0.2 mi
·
13 sec
·
I 790; NY 5
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
Toward Genesee Street South
26
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 90
27
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward I 90 East
28
Merge onto I 90
84 mi
·
1 hr 36 min
·
New York State Thruway
29
Keep slight right at fork onto New York State Thruway
118 mi
·
2 hr 16 min
·
New York State Thruway
Toward I 87 South: New York, Boston
Use the slight right lane.
30
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17
0.9 mi
·
59 sec
·
NY 17
Exit 15
Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
Use the slight right lane.
31
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
0.5 mi
·
39 sec
·
I 287; NJ 17
32
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17
14 mi
·
18 min
·
NJ 17
Exit 66
Toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
33
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
34
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
35
Merge onto NJ 4
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
NJ 4
Use the right lane.
36
Continue on NJ 4
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
NJ 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
38
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.7 mi
·
54 sec
·
I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 95 EXPR
40
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Trans-Manhattan Expressway
42
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
43
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Cross Bronx Expressway
Exit 6B
Toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
44
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
·
Throgs Neck Expressway
45
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
46
Continue on I 295
3.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
47
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 4E-W
Toward I 495: Manhattan, Eastern Long Island
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
48
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 4E
Toward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, Eastern Long Island
49
Merge onto I 495
43 mi
·
59 min
·
Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
50
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 65
Toward CR 16: Horse Block Road, Centereach, Shirley
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
51
Turn straight onto Express Drive South
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Express Drive South
Toward I 495, CR 101: Yaphank, Riverhead
52
Turn slight right onto CR 16
4.1 mi
·
6 min
·
Horseblock Road
Use the right lane.
53
At end of road, turn right onto CR 80
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Montauk Highway
Use the right lane.
54
Turn left onto CR 36
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
·
South Country Road
Use the left lane.
55
Arrive at destination
CR 36
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 8-hour, 23-minute drive, consider departing early in the morning to maximize daylight. With 405.7 miles to cover and a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, pacing yourself is key. Plan for your two recommended stops strategically, perhaps breaking up the longest 201.9-mile stretch on the New York State Thruway. The estimated $67 fuel cost is a good budget point, but always keep an eye on your gauge, especially before entering less populated areas. Given the nature of the route, be prepared for increased traffic and more complex navigation as you approach Brookhaven.
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 202.9 miles from De Kalb, NY, or about 4h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 201.9 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 89 miles or 1h 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 202.9 miles or 4h 8m 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 202.9 miles or 4h 8m
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
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 De Kalb, 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 De Kalb, NY
Aim for roughly 203 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Brookhaven, NY
Aim for roughly 203 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 89 miles from De Kalb, 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 New York State Thruway for about 201.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
203 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Poughkeepsie, NYOvernight Options
Night 1
203 mi · about 4.2h in
A practical overnight split lands near Poughkeepsie, NY after about 203 miles or 4.2 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 89 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 202.9 miles from De Kalb, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before New York State Thruway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 201.9 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 203 miles or 4.2 hours on the road.
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 335 decision points cluster between mile 199.7 and 356.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
199.7 mi into trip
|
~4h 5m in
|
New York State Thruway
Keep slight right at fork onto New York State Thruway toward I 87 South: New York, Boston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 87 South: New York, Boston
9
317.8 mi into trip
|
~6h 21m 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
319.2 mi into trip
|
~6h 23m 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
348.3 mi into trip
|
~7h 3m 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
356.1 mi into trip
|
~7h 13m 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
$66.78 one way
$133.56 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
142 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $72.21 | $144.42 |
| premium | $4.92 | $78.63 | $157.26 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $89.57 | $179.15 |
Estimated Tolls: $32.64
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
New York State Thruway
(201.9 mi)
$10.09
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
$67
Tolls
$33
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$229–$339
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 141.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $43 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 121.7 | 1 | $42.60 | $19.47 |
| Efficient EV | 101.4 | 1 | $35.50 | $16.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 162.3 | 2 | $56.80 | $25.96 |
Gas CO2
142 kg
EV CO2
47 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.
Destination
Brookhaven, NY
Late night in Brookhaven on Sunday
Local time
12:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live 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
6 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 23m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a varied driving experience on this route, with 37% of it being highway driving. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 201.9 miles on the New York State Thruway, offering a chance to settle into a rhythm. However, the overall profile is described as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' suggesting that much of your journey will involve navigating local roads with more frequent turns and potentially varied speed limits. This means you'll likely experience a mix of faster highway sections and more intricate local road navigation as you progress towards Long Island.
Only 37% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
55 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 201.9 mi on New York State Thruway.
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 199.7 miles in near New York State Thruway.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 405.7 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 199.7 miles (New York State Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 317.8 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 319.2 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between De Kalb, NY and Brookhaven, NY, road signs point toward Genesee Street South, Boston, Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York and Eastern Long Island.
Genesee Street South
114.8 mi in
|
~2h 26m
Boston
199.7 mi in
|
~4h 5m
|
via New York State Thruway
Gsp South: Paterson
333.3 mi in
|
~6h 42m
Fort Lee
333.3 mi in
|
~6h 42m
New York
333.3 mi in
|
~6h 42m
Eastern Long Island
356.1 mi in
|
~7h 13m
About the Cities
Arriving in Brookhaven, NY
Full guide →Founded 1655
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
- • Stony Brook Grist Mill — watermill
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Solo Traveler
8h 23m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 201.9 miles on New York State Thruway. 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 203 miles on day one.
Expect about $32.64 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 199.7 miles (New York State Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 317.8 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 319.2 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.4 hours each way, a round trip means 16.8 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.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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