Origin
Islip, NY
Evening in Islip on Sunday
Local time
5:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 26, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h
Distance
137.4 mi
221 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Islip, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Kerhonkson, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Islip, NY to Kerhonkson, NY is 137 miles and takes about 3 hours via NY 17, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York State, moving from the Northeast region towards its more mountainous interior. With 87% of the drive on highways, expect a straightforward trip focused on covering ground efficiently. It's a solid choice for a single-day excursion if you're looking to get to the Catskills area without a lot of fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
68.7 miles from Islip, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 35m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NY 17 | 42 mi | 48m |
| Southern State Parkway | 24.7 mi | 31m |
| United States Highway 209 | 16.5 mi | 18m |
| NJ 17 | 14.7 mi | 18m |
| NJ 4 | 6.7 mi | 9m |
| Cross Bronx Expressway | 6.6 mi | 8m |
| Clearview Expressway | 5 mi | 5m |
| Throgs Neck Bridge | 2 mi | 3m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 13 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~4,026 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~1,234 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
3.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 21 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Islip, NY and Kerhonkson, NY.
Start on NY 27A
Continue on Montauk Highway
Continue on NY 27A
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue
Continue on CR 57
Continue on CR 57
Turn straight onto Sunrise Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto CR 57
Continue on CR 57
Take the ramp
Continue on this road
Merge onto SO
Take the exit
Merge onto CI
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Continue on this road
Keep slight left at fork
Turn right onto NY 24
Turn left onto Jamaica Avenue
Turn right onto NY 24
Continue on I 295
Continue on I 295
Continue on I 295
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; US 1
Continue on I 95; US 1
Continue on I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; NJTP
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto NJ 4
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto NJ 17
Continue on NJ 17
Continue on NJ 17
Continue on NJ 17
Continue on I 287; NY 17
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 17
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on NY 17
Take the exit
Turn left onto CR 171
Continue on Sullivan Street
Turn right onto US 209
Continue on US 209
Continue on US 209
Continue on US 209
Turn right
Turn right
Arrive at destination
Given the 3-hour duration, this is a comfortable same-day trip. Aim to depart Islip in the morning to maximize your daylight hours in Kerhonkson. The $22 fuel cost suggests a single fill-up might be sufficient, but check your tank level before leaving. With only one recommended stop, you have the flexibility to push through or take a brief break as needed. Keep an eye on your GPS as you transition off NY 17 for the final approach to your destination.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 30 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.7 miles or 1h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kerhonkson, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Islip, 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 Islip, NY
This is one driving day of about 137.4 miles and 3h.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
69 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.
A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 68.7 miles from Islip, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.6 and 50.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight right at fork onto CR 57 / Howells Road toward Howells Road, Deer Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward NY 24 West: Hempstead Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward Hempstead Avenue West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 4 West: Paramus
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$22.33 one way
$44.66 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.47 | $24.17 | $48.34 |
| premium | $4.87 | $26.32 | $52.64 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $29.23 | $58.45 |
Estimated Tolls: $22.55
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
$22
Tolls
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 41.2 | 0 | $14.43 | $6.60 |
| Efficient EV | 34.4 | 0 | $12.02 | $5.50 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 55 | 0 | $19.24 | $8.79 |
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (67% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Islip on Sunday
Local time
5:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Kerhonkson on Sunday
Local time
5:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This route is primarily highway driving, with 87% of the 137 miles on faster roads. You'll spend most of your time on NY 17, experiencing a longest stretch of 42 miles without needing to exit. Expect to transition to surface roads for the final portion of the drive as you approach Kerhonkson, likely noticing a change in speed and traffic density.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NY 17 and Southern State Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.6 miles in near CR 57 / Howells Road.
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 33 significant decision points across 137.4 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 3.6 miles (CR 57 / Howells Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Islip, NY and Kerhonkson, NY, road signs point toward Cross Island Parkway North, Hempstead Avenue West, Grandstand, Upper Level, Njtp South: Hackensack and Gsp South - among others.
Cross Island Parkway North
Hempstead Avenue West
Grandstand
Upper Level
Njtp South: Hackensack
Gsp South
Gsp North
Newark
Mahwah
New York State Thruway North: Albany
Wurtsboro
Highview
Founded 1683
Islip (pronounced "ICE-lip") is a town on Long Island in the state of New York. Located within Suffolk County, the Town of Islip includes the villages of Brightwaters, Islandia, Ocean Beach and Saltaire. It also includes numerous hamlets including Bay Shore and Sayville which are ferry terminals for Fire Island. Other prominent communities are Bayport, Brentwood, Central Islip, Hauppauge, Islip village (the town seat), and Ronkonkoma.
Top landmarks
Kerhonkson is a small hamlet which, along with Accord, makes up the Town of Rochester in Ulster County, part of the Catskills region in New York State. Kerhonkson is located near the convergence of routes US 44, NY 55, and US 209.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h. Total distance: 137.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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