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Trip from Islip, NY to Olean, NY

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 25, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

7h 59m

Distance

393.7 mi

634 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$64

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
7h 51m ★
6 AM
7h 59m
8 AM
8h 17m
10 AM
8h 5m
12 PM
8h 4m
3 PM
8h 6m
5 PM
8h 16m
8 PM
7h 54m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

town in Suffolk County, New York, United States

Islip, NY

Wikimedia Commons

city in Cattaraugus County, New York, United States

Olean, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Islip, NY to Olean, NY is 393.7 miles and takes about 7h 59m via I 86, Christopher Columbus Highway, and Southern Tier Expressway, with a fuel budget near $64 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within New York, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. It's a straightforward, mostly highway drive that's easy to complete in a single day if you get an early start. You'll find it to be a practical way to cover ground across the state.

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

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

196.8 miles from Islip, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 7m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 86 100 mi 1h 56m
Christopher Columbus Highway 68.2 mi 1h 20m
Southern Tier Expressway 60.6 mi 1h 10m
I 81 58.1 mi 1h 9m
I 380 27.7 mi 30m
Southern State Parkway 24.7 mi 31m
Keystone Shortway 17.3 mi 24m
Cross Bronx Expressway 6.6 mi 8m
Longest stretch: I 86 — 100 mi, about 1h 56m

Traffic on I-80

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 168 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

3 PM

~4,210 veh/hr typical · worst 4,900

Quietest

1 AM

~430 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

9.8×

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 Olean, 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

12 mi · 15 min · Keystone Shortway
40

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 46 sec
Exit 293 Toward I 380 North: Scranton
41

Continue on I 380

28 mi · 30 min · I 380
Use the straight lane.
42

Merge onto I 81

58 mi · 1 hr 9 min · I 81
Use the straight lane.
43

Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17

100 mi · 1 hr 56 min · I 86; NY 17
Toward I 86: Corning
44

Keep slight right at fork onto I 86; NY 17

61 mi · 1 hr 10 min · Southern Tier Expressway
Toward I 86 West, NY 17 West: Erie
45

Turn left onto State Highway 16

5.7 mi · 8 min · State Highway 16
46

Continue on NY 16

1.1 mi · 1 min · North Union Street
47

Enter roundabout onto NY 16

94 ft · 1 sec · North Union Street
48

Continue on NY 16

0.1 mi · 10 sec · North Union Street
49

Enter roundabout onto NY 16

98 ft · 1 sec · North Union Street
50

Continue on NY 16

0.1 mi · 12 sec · North Union Street
51

Enter roundabout onto NY 16

98 ft · 1 sec · North Union Street
52

Continue on NY 16

479 ft · 8 sec · North Union Street
53

Enter roundabout onto NY 16

101 ft · 2 sec · North Union Street
54

Continue on NY 16

0.3 mi · 23 sec · North Union Street
55

Enter roundabout onto NY 16; NY 417

226 ft · 4 sec · NY 16; NY 417
56

Arrive at destination

NY 16; NY 417

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 7h 59m drive, aim for an early morning departure from Islip to maximize daylight. With only 2 recommended stops, you can plan them strategically, perhaps one for a break around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially during the 100-mile stretch on I 86, and be aware that your estimated fuel cost is $64. Since this is a one-day trip, you have the flexibility to adjust your stop times as needed.

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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 196.8 miles from Islip, NY, or about 4h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100 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 87 miles or 1h 55m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 196.8 miles or 4h 7m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 6h 47m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Olean, 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.

+

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Islip, NY

This is one driving day of about 393.7 miles and 7h 59m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 87 miles from Islip, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 86 for about 100 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

village in New York, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Greenwood Lake, NY

197 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

Greenwood Lake, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 87 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Nanticoke, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 196.8 miles from Islip, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 86 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 100 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 38

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.

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

$63.98 one way

$127.97 round trip

$4.13/gal 25.4 MPG avg 138 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.47 $69.25 $138.51
premium $4.87 $75.42 $150.85
diesel $5.40 $83.75 $167.49

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

$64

Tolls

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$112–$137

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 137.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.

Driving Electric?

About $41 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 118.1 1 $41.34 $18.90
Efficient EV 98.4 1 $34.45 $15.75
EV Truck/SUV 157.5 1 $55.12 $25.20

Gas CO2

138 kg

EV CO2

46 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Islip, NY

Evening in Islip on Saturday

Local time

7:34 PM

EDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Olean, NY

Evening in Olean on Saturday

Local time

7:34 PM

EDT

Current temp

54°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

10 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

7h 59m 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 75% of this trip is on major highways like I 86 and the Southern Tier Expressway. You'll experience a solid stretch of 100 miles on I 86 without needing to exit. The transition to surface roads will occur as you approach your destination, offering a change of pace from continuous highway cruising. Expect a steady flow of traffic and frequent exits early in the drive.

75% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
56 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 100 mi on I 86.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 86 and Christopher Columbus Highway. 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 38 significant decision points across 393.7 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.

Between Islip, NY and Olean, NY, road signs point toward Cross Island Parkway North, Hempstead Avenue West, Grandstand, Upper Level, Njtp South: Hackensack and Hackensack.

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

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

Arriving in Olean, NY

Full guide →

Founded 1765

Olean is a city in the Southern Tier of New York and largest city in Cattaraugus County.

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 7h 59m. Total distance: 393.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 59m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 100 miles on I 86. 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 Olean, 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 2 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 8.0 hours each way, a round trip means 16.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Olean, 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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