Origin
Elmhurst, NY
Late night in Elmhurst on Sunday
Local time
3:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elmhurst, NY to Smithtown, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
59m
Distance
41.1 mi
66 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 54m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 9m
10 AM
1h 3m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 8m
8 PM
0h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elmhurst, NY
Mel Audelo
Smithtown, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Elmhurst to Smithtown covers 41.1 miles, making this a straightforward day trip that typically takes about 59 minutes. You will spend the vast majority of your journey on major thoroughfares, as the route is 94% highway-focused. With a fuel budget of approximately $7, this is an economical trip that fits easily into a single afternoon or morning. Because both locations are situated within the Northeast, you won't encounter major shifts in regional geography or climate. Whether you are commuting for work or heading out for a brief visit, the lack of required stops makes this a highly efficient drive.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Long Island Expressway | 19.3 mi | 27m |
| Northern State Parkway | 13.7 mi | 18m |
| Jericho Turnpike | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| Sunken Meadow State Parkway | 1.7 mi | 1m |
| West Main Street | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Queens Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Sagtikos State Parkway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Grand Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Long Island Expressway
— 19.3 mi, about 27m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elmhurst, NY and Smithtown, NY.
1
Start on Grand Avenue
42 ft
·
4 sec
·
Grand Avenue
2
Turn right onto Queens Boulevard
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Queens Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
3
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
58 sec
Toward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, Eastern Long Island
Use the right lane.
4
Merge onto I 495
19 mi
·
27 min
·
Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 42
Toward N East: Hauppauge
Use the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto N
14 mi
·
18 min
·
Northern State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 45
Toward SM North: Kings Park
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto SA
499 ft
·
6 sec
·
Sagtikos State Parkway
9
Continue on SM
1.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Sunken Meadow State Parkway
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit SM3E
Toward NY 25 East: Jericho Turnpike East, Smithtown
Use the slight right lane.
11
Turn slight right onto NY 25
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Jericho Turnpike
12
Continue on NY 25; NY 25A
0.6 mi
·
54 sec
·
West Main Street
Use the left lane.
13
Arrive at destination
NY 25; NY 25A
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 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 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.6 miles from Elmhurst, 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 36.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Queens Boulevard
Turn right onto Queens Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
0.5 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, Eastern Long Island
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, East...
7
20.3 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Take the exit toward N East: Hauppauge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 42
Toward N East: Hauppauge
7
34.5 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Take the exit toward SM North: Kings Park
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 45
Toward SM North: Kings Park
8
36.4 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Take the exit toward NY 25 East: Jericho Turnpike East, Smithtown
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 SM3E
Toward NY 25 East: Jericho Turnpike East, Smith...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.77 one way
$13.53 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $7.32 | $14.63 |
| premium | $4.92 | $7.97 | $15.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.07 | $18.15 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.27
Jericho Turnpike
(3.9 mi)
$0.27
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$0
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.3 | 0 | $4.32 | $1.97 |
| Efficient EV | 10.3 | 0 | $3.60 | $1.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.75 | $2.63 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Smithtown, NY
Late night in Smithtown on Sunday
Local time
3:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
86°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 3 to 10 mph
4% chance
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
27 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
59m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a fast-paced, highway-heavy experience as you navigate from Elmhurst to Smithtown. You will spend most of your time on the Long Island Expressway, Northern State Parkway, and Jericho Turnpike, which keeps traffic moving steadily. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 19.3-mile segment on the Long Island Expressway, allowing you to settle into a rhythm. Given that 94% of the trip is on highways, the drive feels utilitarian and direct rather than winding or scenic. Be prepared for a consistent, high-speed environment as you transition between these key arterial roads.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19.3 mi on Long Island Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Island Expressway and Northern State Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Queens Boulevard.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 41.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 59m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Queens Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
251 ft
23 ft
Total Climb
300 ft
Total Descent
268 ft
Highest Point
251 ft
~30.8 mi in
Elevation Range
229 ft
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 Elmhurst, NY and Smithtown, NY, road signs point toward N East: Hauppauge and Sm North: Kings Park.
N East: Hauppauge
20.3 mi in
|
~29m
Sm North: Kings Park
34.5 mi in
|
~49m
About the Cities
Arriving in Smithtown, NY
Full guide →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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 59m. Total distance: 41.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19.3 miles on Long Island Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.27 in tolls one way, starting with Jericho Turnpike. 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.
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.
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: near the start (Queens Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 20.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Smithtown, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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