Origin
Huntington, NY
Afternoon in Huntington on Sunday
Local time
3:43 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Huntington, NY to Nichols, NY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 26, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 13m
Distance
296.1 mi
477 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$48
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 1m
★
6 AM
6h 14m
8 AM
6h 39m
10 AM
6h 22m
12 PM
6h 20m
3 PM
6h 24m
5 PM
6h 38m
8 PM
6h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Huntington, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Nichols, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Trip Overview
Huntington to Nichols is 296.1 miles and takes about 6h 13m via Keystone Shortway, Christopher Columbus Highway, and US 15, with a fuel budget near $48 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York State, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. Expect a mix of highway driving and surface roads, making it a practical choice for a single-day excursion. Given the duration, you can comfortably complete this drive without an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
148.1 miles from Huntington, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 11m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 100.3 mi | 1h 56m |
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 68.2 mi | 1h 20m |
| US 15 | 61 mi | 1h 7m |
| Northern Boulevard | 17.4 mi | 28m |
| US Highway 15 | 11.7 mi | 16m |
| Cross Bronx Expressway | 6.6 mi | 8m |
| Route 49 | 6.6 mi | 11m |
| Westbranch Highway | 2.6 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 100.3 mi, about 1h 56m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 182 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,541 veh/hr typical · worst 4,187
Quietest
1 AM
~380 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Huntington, NY and Nichols, NY.
1
Start on NY 110
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
New York Avenue
2
Turn left onto NY 25A
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Main Street
Use the left lane.
3
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 25A
267 ft
·
6 sec
·
Main Street
4
Continue on Lawrence Hill Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Lawrence Hill Road
5
Continue on Lawrence Hill Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Lawrence Hill Road
6
At end of road, turn left onto NY 25A
17 mi
·
28 min
·
Northern Boulevard
Use the left lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone Bridge
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto CI
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Cross Island Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 33
Toward I 295 North: Throgs Neck Bridge, Bronx, New England
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 295
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Throgs Neck Bridge
11
Continue on I 295
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Throgs Neck Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295
6.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; US 1
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Trans-Manhattan Expressway
Toward Upper Level
14
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
George Washington Bridge (upper level)
15
Continue on I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
0.6 mi
·
39 sec
·
I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; NJTP
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
I 95 EXPR; NJTP
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
20
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 69
Toward I 80 West: Paterson, Hackensack
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on I 80
68 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
·
Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
95 mi
·
1 hr 48 min
·
Keystone Shortway
25
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 210A-B
Toward US 15: Lewisburg, Williamsport
Use the slight right lane.
26
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 210B
Toward US 15 North: Williamsport
27
Merge onto US 15
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Westbranch Highway
28
Continue on US 15
12 mi
·
16 min
·
US Highway 15
Use the straight lane.
29
Continue on US 15
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Montgomery Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
30
Continue on US 15
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Hastings Street
31
Continue on US 15
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
Market Street
Use the left lane.
32
Take the exit onto US 15
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
US 15
Use the left lane.
33
Merge onto I 180; US 15; US 220
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Susquehanna Beltway
34
Keep slight right at fork onto US 15
61 mi
·
1 hr 7 min
·
US 15
Exit 29
Toward US 15 North: Mansfield
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 196
Toward PA 49: Elkland, Lawrenceville
Use the slight right lane.
36
Turn left onto PA 49
6.6 mi
·
11 min
·
Route 49
Use the straight lane.
37
Turn right onto Lakeview Drive
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Lakeview Drive
38
Turn left onto Marsh Road
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Marsh Road
39
Continue on County Route 86
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
County Route 86
40
Turn sharp left onto Mack Road
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Mack Road
41
Arrive at destination
Mack Road
Trip Plan
For this 6h 13m drive, aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for a relaxed pace. Since it's a single-day trip with only one recommended stop, you have flexibility. The fuel cost is estimated at $48, so ensure your tank is full before you leave Huntington. Pay attention to the transition from highway to surface roads around the 100-mile mark on the Keystone Shortway, as this is where driving conditions will change noticeably. Having a full tank before starting the longest stretch is a good idea.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 148.1 miles from Huntington, NY, or about 3h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100.3 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 65 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 148.1 miles or 3h 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Nichols, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Huntington, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Huntington, NY
This is one driving day of about 296.1 miles and 6h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 65 miles from Huntington, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Keystone Shortway for about 100.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
148 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 65 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 148.1 miles from Huntington, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 100.3 miles.
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 285 decision points cluster between mile 22.3 and 206.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
22.3 mi into trip
|
~37m 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,...
8
34.5 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
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.
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
8
34.7 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
8
37.1 mi into trip
|
~59m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West: Paterson, Hackensack
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 69
Toward I 80 West: Paterson, Hackensack
8
206.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 17m in
Take the exit toward US 15: Lewisburg, Williamsport
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 210A-B
Toward US 15: Lewisburg, Williamsport
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$48.12 one way
$96.24 round trip
$4.13/gal
25.4 MPG avg
104 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.47 | $52.09 | $104.17 |
| premium | $4.87 | $56.73 | $113.45 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $62.99 | $125.97 |
Estimated Tolls: $22.83
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
New Jersey Turnpike
(2 mi)
$0.28
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
$48
Tolls
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$96–$121
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 103.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 88.8 | 1 | $31.09 | $14.21 |
| Efficient EV | 74 | 0 | $25.91 | $11.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 118.4 | 1 | $41.45 | $18.95 |
Gas CO2
104 kg
EV CO2
35 kg (66% 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
Nichols, NY
Afternoon in Nichols on Sunday
Local time
3:43 PM
EDT
Current temp
40°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.
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
8 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
6h 13m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
About 32% of this drive is on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 100.3 miles along the Keystone Shortway. After the highway portions conclude, you'll transition to surface roads for the remainder of the trip, which is a common profile for routes of this length. Expect a shift from potentially faster highway speeds to more varied traffic conditions on the surface roads.
32% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
41 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 100.3 mi on Keystone Shortway.
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 22.3 miles in.
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 28 significant decision points across 296.1 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 22.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Huntington, NY and Nichols, NY, road signs point toward Cross Island Parkway North, Bronx, New England, Upper Level, Njtp South: Hackensack and Hackensack - among others.
Cross Island Parkway North
19.8 mi in
|
~33m
Bronx
22.3 mi in
|
~37m
New England
22.3 mi in
|
~37m
Upper Level
32 mi in
|
~51m
|
via I 95; US 1
Njtp South: Hackensack
34.5 mi in
|
~55m
Hackensack
37.1 mi in
|
~59m
Williamsport
206.4 mi in
|
~4h 17m
About the Cities
Starting in Huntington, NY
Full guide →Founded 1653
Huntington is a town in Suffolk County on Long Island, New York. It is on the North Shore (or Gold Coast) of the island, famous for its lavish estates along the Long Island Sound and its affluent residential communities. The town is large with a population of over 200,000, and many neighborhoods in town having their own distinct identities. Four villages in the town even have their own level of autonomy, with one of them, Northport, having its own article.
Top landmarks
- • Oheka Castle — mansion in Huntington, New York, USA
- • Vanderbilt Museum — museum in Suffolk county, N.Y.
- • Eatons Neck Light — lighthouse in New York, United States
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 6h 13m. Total distance: 296.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 13m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 100.3 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $22.83 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 Nichols, 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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 22.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Nichols, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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