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Trip from Freeport, NY to New York City, NY

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

46m

Distance

28.2 mi

45 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$5

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 11 min
4 AM
0h 43m ★
6 AM
0h 46m
8 AM
0h 54m
10 AM
0h 49m
12 PM
0h 48m
3 PM
0h 49m
5 PM
0h 54m
8 PM
0h 44m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

village in Nassau County, New York, United States

Freeport, NY

Wikimedia Commons

most populous city in the United States

New York City, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling from Freeport to New York City is a straightforward 28.2-mile journey that typically takes about 46 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this trip is perfect as a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. You will navigate through the Northeast region, transitioning from the suburban landscape of Long Island into the heart of the city. With an estimated fuel cost of just $4, this is an incredibly budget-friendly commute. Since there are no mandatory stops required, you have the flexibility to head straight to your destination without needing to build in extra time for breaks. It serves as a practical, efficient connection between the two points.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Sunrise Highway 8.8 mi 11m
Van Wyck Expressway 5 mi 6m
Long Island Expressway 3.4 mi 5m
Belt Parkway 2.3 mi 3m
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway 2 mi 3m
Williamsburg Bridge 1.9 mi 4m
Delancey Street 0.5 mi 1m
Broadway 0.5 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Sunrise Highway — 8.8 mi, about 11m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Freeport, NY and New York City, NY.

1

Start on this road

214 ft · 17 sec · this road
2

Turn right onto Henry Street

0.1 mi · 28 sec · Henry Street
3

Turn right onto NY 27

8.8 mi · 11 min · Sunrise Highway
Use the straight lane.
4

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 18 sec
Toward Belt Parkway West, Verrazano Bridge
5

Merge onto BP

1.8 mi · 2 min · Belt Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Keep slight left at fork onto BP

0.4 mi · 39 sec · Belt Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 19 Toward I 678 North: Van Wyck Expressway, Whitestone Bridge Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 47 sec
Toward I 678 North: Van Wyck Expressway
9

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 25 sec
10

Continue on I 678

5.0 mi · 6 min · Van Wyck Expressway
Use the slight right lane.
11

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 58 sec
Exit 12B Toward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel Use the slight right lane.
12

Merge onto I 495

3.4 mi · 5 min · Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

1.0 mi · 1 min
Exit 17W Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 10 sec
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn, 48th Street
15

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 31 sec
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
16

Merge onto I 278

2.0 mi · 3 min · Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
17

Keep slight left at fork onto Williamsburg Bridge

0.7 mi · 1 min · Williamsburg Bridge
Exit 32A Toward Williamsburg Bridge, Manhattan Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
18

Keep slight left at fork onto Williamsburg Bridge

1.2 mi · 2 min · Williamsburg Bridge
Use the slight left lane.
19

Continue on Delancey Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · Delancey Street
Use the straight lane.
20

Continue on Kenmare Street

0.2 mi · 57 sec · Kenmare Street
21

At end of road, turn left onto Lafayette Street

0.2 mi · 43 sec · Lafayette Street
Use the left lane.
22

Turn right onto Howard Street

510 ft · 24 sec · Howard Street
23

Turn left onto Broadway

0.5 mi · 1 min · Broadway
Use the straight lane.
24

Arrive at destination

Broadway

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 19

5 decision points cluster between mile 11.3 and 24.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
11.3 mi into trip | ~16m in

Take the exit toward I 678 North: Van Wyck Expressway, Whitestone Bridge

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 19 Toward I 678 North: Van Wyck Expressway, Whites...
7
17.4 mi into trip | ~24m in

Take the exit toward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 12B Toward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel
7
21.4 mi into trip | ~30m in

Take the exit toward I 278 West: Brooklyn

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 17W Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
7
22.5 mi into trip | ~32m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 278 West: Brooklyn

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
9
24.8 mi into trip | ~36m in | Williamsburg Bridge

Keep slight left at fork onto Williamsburg Bridge toward Williamsburg Bridge, Manhattan

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Exit 32A Toward Williamsburg Bridge, Manhattan

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$4.64 one way

$9.28 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 10 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.52 $5.02 $10.04
premium $4.92 $5.47 $10.93
diesel $5.61 $6.23 $12.45

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$5

Estimated CO2 emission: 9.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 8.5 0 $2.96 $1.35
Efficient EV 7.1 0 $2.47 $1.13
EV Truck/SUV 11.3 0 $3.95 $1.80

Gas CO2

10 kg

EV CO2

3 kg (70% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026

Origin

Freeport, NY

Morning in Freeport on Tuesday

Local time

6:37 AM

EDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

New York City, NY

Morning in New York City on Tuesday

Local time

6:37 AM

EDT

Current temp

35°F

Mostly Clear

N 9 to 21 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Freeze Warning

Freeze Warning issued April 20 at 1:57PM EDT until April 21 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Upton NY

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 20 at 8:03AM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY

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

20 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

46m 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?

This route offers a mixed driving experience, balancing local roads with major thoroughfares. You will spend roughly 45% of your trip on highways, specifically utilizing the Van Wyck Expressway and the Long Island Expressway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is an 8.8-mile segment along the Sunrise Highway. Expect the road's personality to shift as you move from the open stretches of Long Island into the denser, more congested environment of the city. While the drive is relatively short, it requires your full attention as you transition between these different roadway types.

45% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 8.8 mi on Sunrise Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.3 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a short but busy drive. With 19 decision points packed into just 28.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 46m.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 11.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

84 ft 9 ft

Total Climb

123 ft

Total Descent

109 ft

Highest Point

84 ft

~20.1 mi in

Elevation Range

75 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Freeport, NY and New York City, NY, road signs point toward Belt Parkway West and Manhattan.

Belt Parkway West

8.9 mi in | ~12m

Manhattan

24.8 mi in | ~36m | via Williamsburg Bridge

About the Cities

Starting in Freeport, NY

Full guide →

Founded 1892

Hempstead is the most populous town in America, with a whopping 700,000 residents, located on the South Shore of Nassau County, New York. The town is highly urbanized and fragmented, containing 22 semi-autonomous villages within its boundaries, and forty other neighborhoods. Garden City, encompassing the "Nassau Hub" region, has its own article. The other prominent communities in Hempstead include Floral Park, Hempstead Village, Valley Stream, Rockville Centre, Freeport, Merrick, and the Five Towns area.

Arriving in New York City, NY

Full guide →

“The City That Never Sleeps” · Founded 1624

New York (known as "The Big Apple", "NYC," and often called "New York City") is a global center for media, entertainment, art, fashion, research, finance, and trade. The bustling, cosmopolitan heart of the 4th largest metropolis in the world and by far the most populous city in the United States, New York has long been a key entry point and a defining city for the nation. From the Statue of Liberty in the harbor to the Empire State Building towering over the Manhattan skyline, from the tunnels of the subway to the riches of Wall Street, from the bright signs of Times Square to the naturalistic beauty of Central Park, and from Yankee Stadium in the Bronx to Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York's landmarks are quintessential American landmarks. The city's neighborhoods and streets are so iconic they have become ingrained into the American consciousness.

Top landmarks

  • Statue of Liberty — American icon in New York, United States
  • National September 11 Memorial & Museum — memorial & museum in New York City commemorating the September 11, 2001 attacks
  • Plaza Hotel — hotel in Midtown Manhattan, New York City

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

This is a perfect same-day round trip, easily doable in under an hour and covering just 28.2 miles. You'll be in and out of NYC with plenty of time to spare.

Family Friendly

While the 28.2-mile drive is short enough for kids, the 10/10 complexity rating for navigation into NYC might be stressful for families, especially if you're not used to heavy city traffic.

Solo Traveler

At only 28.2 miles and 46 minutes, this is a very quick drive, but the 10/10 complexity rating means you'll need to be sharp navigating into NYC. It's not a long haul, but the traffic can be engaging.

EV Driver

At 28.2 miles, this route is well within the range of most EVs, so you likely won't need to worry about charging on this short trip into NYC.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (45%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 8.8 miles on Sunrise Highway. 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 New York City, 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 11.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 17.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 21.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — African Burial Ground National Monument, Castle Clinton 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 New York City, 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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