Origin
Head of the Harbor, NY
Late night in Head of the Harbor on Sunday
Local time
12:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Head of the Harbor, NY to New York City, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 22m
Distance
53.1 mi
85 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 16m
★
6 AM
1h 23m
8 AM
1h 36m
10 AM
1h 27m
12 PM
1h 26m
3 PM
1h 28m
5 PM
1h 35m
8 PM
1h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Head of the Harbor, NY
Wikimedia Commons
New York City, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Head of the Harbor to New York City is a straightforward 53.1-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 22 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, requiring no overnight stays. You will primarily navigate via the Long Island Expressway, North Country Road, and the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway to reach your destination within the Northeast region. Budgeting approximately $8 for fuel covers the trip comfortably. This drive serves as an efficient connection between the coastal quiet of the North Shore and the dense urban environment of the city, making it a practical choice for commuters or day travelers.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Long Island Expressway | 37.6 mi | 51m |
| North Country Road | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| Brooklyn-Queens Expressway | 2 mi | 3m |
| Williamsburg Bridge | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| Wheeler Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Hauppauge Road | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Hauppauge Boulevard | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| LIE North Service Road | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Long Island Expressway
— 37.6 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Head of the Harbor, NY and New York City, NY.
1
Start on Bacon Road
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Bacon Road
2
Turn straight onto Hitherbrook Road
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Hitherbrook Road
3
Turn right onto NY 25A
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
North Country Road
4
Continue on NY 111
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Hauppauge Road
5
Continue on NY 111
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Hauppauge Boulevard
6
At end of road, turn right onto NY 111; CR 76
421 ft
·
8 sec
·
Townline Road
7
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 111
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Wheeler Road
8
Turn right onto LIE North Service Road
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
LIE North Service Road
Use the right lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 495 West: New York
10
Merge onto I 495
38 mi
·
51 min
·
Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Exit 17W
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn, 48th Street
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 278
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
15
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.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto Williamsburg Bridge
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Williamsburg Bridge
Use the slight left lane.
17
Continue on Delancey Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Delancey Street
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on Kenmare Street
0.2 mi
·
57 sec
·
Kenmare Street
19
At end of road, turn left onto Lafayette Street
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
Lafayette Street
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right onto Howard Street
510 ft
·
24 sec
·
Howard Street
21
Turn left onto Broadway
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Broadway
Use the straight lane.
22
Arrive at destination
Broadway
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.5 miles from Head of the Harbor, 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 155 decision points cluster between mile 46.3 and 52.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
46.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m 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
6
47.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 278 West: Brooklyn, 48th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn, 48th Street
7
47.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m 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
49.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m 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
7
52.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 19m in
|
Lafayette Street
At end of road, turn left onto Lafayette Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.74 one way
$17.48 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $9.45 | $18.90 |
| premium | $4.92 | $10.29 | $20.58 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.72 | $23.45 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.9 | 0 | $5.58 | $2.55 |
| Efficient EV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.65 | $2.12 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.2 | 0 | $7.43 | $3.40 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
New York City, NY
Late night in New York City on Sunday
Local time
12:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Patchy Fog then Mostly Sunny
E 6 to 14 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 18 at 2:37AM EDT until April 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Burlington VT
49°F
North Hills, NY
27 mi in
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
15 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 22m 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 trip is heavily highway-focused, with 74% of your total mileage spent on high-speed roads. You can expect a consistent pace for the majority of the journey, anchored by a significant 37.6-mile stretch along the Long Island Expressway. While the route begins on local roads like North Country Road, you will quickly transition into the rhythmic, high-traffic flow of major regional expressways. It is a functional drive designed for utility rather than leisure, requiring your full attention as you navigate from suburban landscapes into the complex interchanges of the city. Prepare for the transition from open road to the high-density traffic patterns characteristic of the approach to New York City.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 37.6 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 North Country Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 46.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 53.1 miles you will encounter 15 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 46.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 47.4 miles: 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.
On the drive from Head of the Harbor, NY to New York City, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Manhattan along the way.
Manhattan
49.7 mi in
|
~1h 12m
|
via Williamsburg Bridge
About the Cities
Starting in Head of the Harbor, NY
Full guide →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 53.1-mile drive is an easy same-day round trip, perfect for a quick getaway. You'll be back before you know it, needing only 1 hour and 22 minutes of driving time.
Family Friendly
While short at 53.1 miles, the 10/10 complexity rating might be a bit much for kids to handle, though the 1 hour 22 minute drive time is easily manageable.
Solo Traveler
At just 53.1 miles and 1 hour 22 minutes, this is a comfortable solo distance, but be warned: a 10/10 complexity rating means you'll need to stay focused on navigation.
EV Driver
This 53.1-mile route is short enough to complete on a single charge for most EVs, and the $8.74 fuel cost (equivalent) is minimal.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 37.6 miles on Long Island Expressway. 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 46.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 47.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 47.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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