Traveling from Hampton Bays to The Bronx covers approximately 80.2 miles, typically taking about 1 hour and 42 minutes depending on local traffic. Since this is a relatively short trek across the Northeast, it serves perfectly as a straightforward day trip that doesn't require an overnight stay. You should budget about $13 for fuel to complete the journey. Navigating this route involves primarily local roads like West Montauk Highway, Riverhead-Hampton Bays Road, and NY 27 West rather than major interstates. It is a practical connection between the East End of Long Island and the city, making it a manageable drive for those looking to reach the borough efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.9 miles from Hampton Bays, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Long Island Expressway
41.4 mi
55m
Sunrise Highway
20.6 mi
26m
Horseblock Road
3.9 mi
5m
Cross Bronx Expressway
3.2 mi
4m
Cross Island Parkway
3.1 mi
4m
Throgs Neck Bridge
1.8 mi
3m
Ponquogue Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
Throgs Neck Expressway
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Long Island Expressway
— 41.4 mi, about 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hampton Bays, NY and The Bronx, NY.
1
Start on Ponquogue Avenue
0.7 mi·1 min·Ponquogue Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Turn left onto CR 80
0.6 mi·1 min·West Montauk Highway
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right onto NY 24
0.4 mi·40 sec·Riverhead-Hampton Bays Road
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·1 min
Toward NY 27 West: New York
5
Merge onto NY 27
21 mi·26 min·Sunrise Highway
6
Take the exit
0.1 mi·23 sec
Exit 57NToward CR 16 West: Yaphank, Horseblock RoadUse the right lane.
7
Turn left onto CR 56
0.2 mi·21 sec·Victory Avenue
8
Turn right onto CR 16
3.9 mi·5 min·Horseblock Road
Use the left lane.
9
Turn left onto Express Drive North
0.2 mi·14 sec·Express Drive North
Use the left lane.
10
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward I 495 WEST: New York
11
Merge onto I 495
41 mi·55 min·Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 31N-SToward Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Bridge, Kennedy AirportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 31NToward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone BridgeUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto CI
3.1 mi·4 min·Cross Island Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 33Toward I 295 North: Throgs Neck Bridge, Bronx, New EnglandUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 295
1.8 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
17
Continue on I 295
0.7 mi·1 min·Throgs Neck Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295
3.2 mi·4 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 4BToward Rosedale AvenueUse the slight right lane.
20
Turn right onto Rosedale Avenue
0.2 mi·41 sec·Rosedale Avenue
21
Turn right onto Bronx River Avenue
283 ft·11 sec·Bronx River Avenue
22
Turn straight onto East Tremont Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·East Tremont Avenue
23
Turn left onto White Plains Road
0.5 mi·1 min·White Plains Road
Use the left lane.
24
Turn right onto Cruger Avenue
0.1 mi·32 sec·Cruger Avenue
25
Arrive at destination
Cruger Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the local nature of these roads, flexibility is your greatest advantage when planning your departure time. Aim to hit the road outside of peak traffic hours to avoid the inevitable congestion that comes with heavy local usage. Since the total duration is under two hours, you likely won't need to plan for formal rest stops, but keeping your fuel tank topped off before you leave will keep your $13 estimate accurate. Pay close attention to signage on West Montauk Highway, as the lack of highway signage means you should rely on your navigation tools to track your turns. Treat this as a steady, focused drive where staying alert at every intersection is the key to a smooth arrival in The Bronx.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 39.9 miles from Hampton Bays, NY, or about 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.4 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 18 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.9 miles or 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near The Bronx, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hampton Bays, NY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hampton Bays, NY
This is one driving day of about 79.7 miles and 1h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Hampton Bays, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Long Island Expressway for about 41.4 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 22.6 and 78.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
22.6 mi into trip|~31m in
Take the exit toward CR 16 West: Yaphank, Horseblock Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 57N
Toward CR 16 West: Yaphank, Horseblock Road
8
68.5 mi into trip|~1h 34m in
Take the exit toward Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Bridge, Kennedy Airport
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 31N-S
Toward Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Bridge,...
10
68.8 mi into trip|~1h 34m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 31N
Toward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone B...
8
72.1 mi into trip|~1h 39m in
Take the exit toward I 295 North: Throgs Neck Bridge, Bronx, New England
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 33
Toward I 295 North: Throgs Neck Bridge, Bronx,...
7
78.4 mi into trip|~1h 49m in
Take the exit toward Rosedale Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 4B
Toward Rosedale Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.12 one way
$26.24 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$14.19
$28.37
premium
$4.92
$15.45
$30.89
diesel
$5.61
$17.60
$35.19
Estimated Tolls: $6.55
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
$13
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.9
0
$8.37
$3.83
Efficient EV
19.9
0
$6.97
$3.19
EV Truck/SUV
31.9
0
$11.16
$5.10
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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 13, 2026
Origin
Hampton Bays, NY
Night
in Hampton Bays on Saturday
Local time
10:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
The Bronx, NY
Night
in The Bronx on Saturday
Local time
10:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Mostly Cloudy
SW 14 to 20 mph9% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:26AM EDT until April 15 at 8:00AM 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.
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
31 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
1h 54m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Hamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
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
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 79.7
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...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 79.7
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...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
Free
near mile 24.7
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...
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...
Here at Federal Hall, George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States, marking the beginning of the American constitutional republic. This historic site served as...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise, as this route features zero percent highway travel. Because the roads are exclusively local, there are no long, uninterrupted stretches of highway to zone out on; you will need to stay focused on the changing environment. Navigating West Montauk Highway and the surrounding local roads demands constant attention to turns and intersections. This drive requires a more active, hands-on approach to steering compared to a typical highway sprint. You will find that the rhythm of the trip is defined by these constant transitions through local communities rather than high-speed cruising.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.4 mi on Long Island Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Island Expressway and Sunrise Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 22.6 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 79.7 miles you will encounter 21 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 22.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
185 ft0 ft
Total Climb
322 ft
Total Descent
302 ft
Highest Point
185 ft
~5.7 mi in
Elevation Range
185 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hampton Bays, NY and The Bronx, NY, road signs point toward Cr 16 West: Yaphank, Kennedy Airport, Cross Island Parkway North, Bronx and New England.
The Bronx is one of the five boroughs of New York. Known for Yankee Stadium, the home field of the New York Yankees baseball team, it has been a borough of New York City since 1898. The vast Bronx Zoo houses hundreds of species of animals. Nearby, the sprawling New York Botanical Garden features a landmark greenhouse with rainforest and cactus displays. By the Hudson River, Wave Hill is a landscaped public garden with wooded paths and a cultural center.
Top landmarks
•New York Botanical Garden — botanical garden in the Bronx, New York City
•Woodlawn Cemetery — cemetery in the Bronx, New York City
•Hall of Fame for Great Americans — architectural structure
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 54m. Total distance: 79.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.4 miles on Long Island Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $6.55 in tolls one way, starting with Throgs Neck 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.
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 The Bronx, 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 22.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial and Fire Island National Seashore (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 The Bronx, NY before heading back.
