Origin
Islip, NY
Afternoon in Islip on Sunday
Local time
1:43 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Islip, 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 28m
Distance
311.7 mi
502 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$51
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 16m
★
6 AM
6h 29m
8 AM
6h 53m
10 AM
6h 37m
12 PM
6h 35m
3 PM
6h 39m
5 PM
6h 52m
8 PM
6h 21m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Islip, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Nichols, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Trip Overview
Islip, NY to Nichols, NY is 311.7 miles and takes about 6h 28m via Keystone Shortway and US 15, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York State, traversing the Northeast region. You'll find this route is mostly surface roads, making for a more leisurely pace compared to a pure interstate drive. Consider this if you prefer a less highway-centric experience and have a single day to make the journey.
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
155.8 miles from Islip, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 17m 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 |
| Southern State Parkway | 24.7 mi | 31m |
| US Highway 15 | 11.7 mi | 16m |
| Cross Bronx Expressway | 6.6 mi | 8m |
| Route 49 | 6.6 mi | 11m |
| Clearview Expressway | 5 mi | 5m |
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 Islip, NY and Nichols, NY.
1
Start on NY 27A
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
2
Continue on Montauk Highway
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Montauk Highway
3
Continue on NY 27A
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
4
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
3rd Avenue
5
Continue on CR 57
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
Rossevelt Street
6
Continue on CR 57
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Howells Road
Use the left lane.
7
Turn straight onto Sunrise Highway
163 ft
·
3 sec
·
Sunrise Highway
8
Keep slight right at fork onto CR 57
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
Howells Road
Toward Howells Road, Deer Park
Use the right lane.
9
Continue on CR 57
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Bay Shore Road
10
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Toward SO West: New York
11
Continue on this road
363 ft
·
8 sec
·
this road
12
Merge onto SO
25 mi
·
31 min
·
Southern State Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone Bridge
Use the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto CI
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Cross Island Parkway
15
Take the exit
317 ft
·
9 sec
Exit 26B
Toward NY 24: UBS Arena-Belmont Park
Use the slight right lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
437 ft
·
12 sec
Toward NY 24 West: Hempstead Avenue
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward Cross Island Parkway North, Hempstead Avenue West
18
Keep slight right at fork
266 ft
·
8 sec
Toward Hempstead Avenue West
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
this road
Toward Grandstand, Hempstead Avenue West
20
Keep slight left at fork
100 ft
·
4 sec
Toward Hempstead Avenue
21
Turn right onto NY 24
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Hempstead Avenue
Use the right lane.
22
Turn left onto Jamaica Avenue
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Jamaica Avenue
23
Turn right onto NY 24
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
212th Street
24
Continue on I 295
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Clearview Expressway
Toward I 295 North: Clearview Expressway, Through Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Throgs Neck Bridge
26
Continue on I 295
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Throgs Neck Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295
6.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; US 1
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Trans-Manhattan Expressway
Toward Upper Level
29
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
George Washington Bridge (upper level)
30
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
31
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.
32
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; NJTP
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
I 95 EXPR; NJTP
33
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
35
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 69
Toward I 80 West: Paterson, Hackensack
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Continue on I 80
68 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
·
Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
95 mi
·
1 hr 48 min
·
Keystone Shortway
40
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 210A-B
Toward US 15: Lewisburg, Williamsport
Use the slight right lane.
41
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 210B
Toward US 15 North: Williamsport
42
Merge onto US 15
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Westbranch Highway
43
Continue on US 15
12 mi
·
16 min
·
US Highway 15
Use the straight lane.
44
Continue on US 15
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Montgomery Pike
Use the straight / right lanes.
45
Continue on US 15
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Hastings Street
46
Continue on US 15
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
Market Street
Use the left lane.
47
Take the exit onto US 15
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
US 15
Use the left lane.
48
Merge onto I 180; US 15; US 220
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Susquehanna Beltway
49
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.
50
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 196
Toward PA 49: Elkland, Lawrenceville
Use the slight right lane.
51
Turn left onto PA 49
6.6 mi
·
11 min
·
Route 49
Use the straight lane.
52
Turn right onto Lakeview Drive
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Lakeview Drive
53
Turn left onto Marsh Road
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Marsh Road
54
Continue on County Route 86
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
County Route 86
55
Turn sharp left onto Mack Road
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Mack Road
56
Arrive at destination
Mack Road
Trip Plan
With a driving time of around 6 hours and 28 minutes, this trip is manageable in a single day. To avoid rush hour leaving Islip, aim for an early morning departure. The route includes one recommended stop, and with a 100.3-mile highway stretch, you can plan your breaks accordingly. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition to surface roads, as services might be less frequent than on major interstates. Your estimated fuel cost is around $51.
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 155.8 miles from Islip, NY, or about 3h 17m 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 69 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 155.8 miles or 3h 17m 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 17m
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 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 311.7 miles and 6h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 miles from Islip, 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
156 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 69 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 155.8 miles from Islip, 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 365 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.
9
3.6 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
CR 57 / Howells Road
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
Use the right lane.
Toward Howells Road, Deer Park
8
31.1 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NY 24 West: Hempstead Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward NY 24 West: Hempstead Avenue
8
31.2 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Hempstead Avenue West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Hempstead Avenue West
8
50 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m 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
50.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.66 one way
$101.31 round trip
$4.13/gal
25.4 MPG avg
109 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.47 | $54.83 | $109.66 |
| premium | $4.87 | $59.71 | $119.43 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $66.30 | $132.61 |
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
$51
Tolls
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$98–$123
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 109.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 93.5 | 1 | $32.73 | $14.96 |
| Efficient EV | 77.9 | 0 | $27.27 | $12.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 124.7 | 1 | $43.64 | $19.95 |
Gas CO2
109 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (67% 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
1:43 PM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
42°F
Montague, NJ
156 mi in
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
4 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 28m 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?
This drive covers 311.7 miles, with 39% on highways. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 100.3 miles on the Keystone Shortway. After that highway portion, you'll transition to primarily surface roads. Expect a significant amount of driving on non-highway routes for the majority of your trip.
Only 39% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
56 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
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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.
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 36 significant decision points across 311.7 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.
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 Islip, NY and Nichols, NY, road signs point toward Cross Island Parkway North, Hempstead Avenue West, Grandstand, Upper Level, Njtp South: Hackensack and Hackensack - among others.
Cross Island Parkway North
29.4 mi in
|
~40m
Hempstead Avenue West
31.1 mi in
|
~43m
Grandstand
31.3 mi in
|
~43m
Upper Level
47.5 mi in
|
~1h 6m
|
via I 95; US 1
Njtp South: Hackensack
50 mi in
|
~1h 10m
Hackensack
52.6 mi in
|
~1h 14m
Williamsport
221.9 mi in
|
~4h 33m
About the Cities
Starting in Islip, NY
Full guide →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
- • Bayport Aerodrome — airport in Suffolk County, New York, United States
- • Connetquot River State Park Preserve — state park in New York
- • Modesty — oyster-dredging sloop built in Long Island
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 28m. Total distance: 311.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 28m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads 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 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.5 hours each way, a round trip means 13.0 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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