Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 30m
Distance
365.3 mi
588 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$60
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
Sackets Harbor, NY
Dom Bucci
This 365.3-mile drive from Islip, NY, to Sackets Harbor, NY, is a solid day trip, typically taking around 7 hours and 30 minutes to complete. The route primarily utilizes major highways, with 71% of the journey on roads like I-81 and the Christopher Columbus Highway. You can expect to spend about $60 on fuel for this trip. With two planned stops, it's designed for efficient travel, making it feasible to reach your destination within a single day. This highway-focused journey will get you efficiently from the Northeast region of New York to its northern reaches.
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
182.6 miles from Islip, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 50m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 81 | 188.9 mi | 3h 42m |
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 68.2 mi | 1h 20m |
| 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 |
| Clearview Expressway | 5 mi | 5m |
| South Harbor Road | 3.7 mi | 6m |
Step-by-step road directions between Islip, NY and Sackets Harbor, 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 left at fork
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
Take the exit
Continue on I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Take the exit
Continue on I 380
Merge onto I 81
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
Continue on I-81
Continue on I 81
Take the exit
Turn left onto NY 177
Continue on South Harbor Road
Continue on CR 145
Continue on CR 75
Continue on CR 75
Turn right onto CR 75
Arrive at destination
To make the most of this 7-hour, 30-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Islip to maximize daylight and minimize traffic. With 365.3 miles to cover, breaking it up with two stops is a good strategy; plan your first stop around the halfway mark and your second closer to Sackets Harbor. The longest stretch on I-81 is nearly 190 miles, so ensure you're fueled up before you begin that segment. Given the $60 fuel cost, checking prices at your planned stops can help you manage expenses.
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.
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 80 miles or 1h 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 182.6 miles or 3h 50m 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 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sackets Harbor, 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.
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 365.3 miles and 7h 30m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
183 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 182.6 miles from Islip, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 81 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 188.9 miles.
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 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
Regular Gas
$60.13 one way
$120.26 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $65.02 | $130.04 |
| premium | $4.92 | $70.80 | $141.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $80.65 | $161.31 |
Estimated Tolls: $22.83
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
$60
Tolls
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$108–$133
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 127.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 109.6 | 1 | $38.36 | $17.53 |
| Efficient EV | 91.3 | 1 | $31.96 | $14.61 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 146.1 | 1 | $51.14 | $23.38 |
Gas CO2
128 kg
EV CO2
43 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Islip on Sunday
Local time
12:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
78°F
Mostly Sunny
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 15 at 11:57PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Destination
Late night in Sackets Harbor on Sunday
Local time
12:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
49°F
Ramapo, NY
183 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
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
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Expect a highway-focused drive for the most part, with 71% of the route on interstates and major highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 188.9 miles on I-81, offering a consistent pace for a significant portion of your travel. While the majority of the drive is on these faster roads, you'll still experience the typical transitions as you move between different highway segments. This character means you'll be covering ground quickly, with less emphasis on winding backroads and more on direct travel.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 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.
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 365.3 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 Sackets Harbor, 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
Hempstead Avenue West
Grandstand
Upper Level
Njtp South: Hackensack
Hackensack
Albany
Syracuse
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 30m. Total distance: 365.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 30m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
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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