Islip, NY to Shelter Island, NY is 62.5 miles and takes about 1h 47m via Sunrise Highway and Middle Road, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, making it a convenient option for exploring the Northeast region. The route is primarily on surface roads, offering a more local feel than a pure highway drive. With only one day recommended, it's perfect for a quick getaway or a scenic detour.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
31.3 miles from Islip, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Sunrise Highway
30.9 mi
42m
Middle Road
11.8 mi
17m
Sound Avenue
5.4 mi
8m
Cross River Drive
4.8 mi
6m
North Ferry Road
1.6 mi
3m
Quogue Riverhead Road
1.5 mi
2m
North Ferry
1 mi
15m
Main Road
0.9 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Sunrise Highway
— 30.9 mi, about 42m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Islip, NY and Shelter Island, NY.
1
Start on NY 27A
0.2 mi·21 sec·Main Street
2
Turn left onto NY 111
0.8 mi·1 min·Islip Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Turn right
114 ft·4 sec
Toward NY 27 East
4
Turn straight onto Bittermint Street
0.1 mi·28 sec·Bittermint Street
5
Turn left onto Ferndale Boulevard
154 ft·6 sec·Ferndale Boulevard
6
Turn right onto Sunrise Highway
0.3 mi·34 sec·Sunrise Highway
7
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward NY 27 East
8
Merge onto NY 27
31 mi·41 min·Sunrise Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Exit 63 NToward CR 31 North: Riverhead
10
Continue on CR 31
0.8 mi·1 min·Old Riverhead Road
11
Enter roundabout onto CR 104
161 ft·2 sec·Quogue Riverhead Road
12
Continue on CR 104
1.5 mi·2 min·Quogue Riverhead Road
13
Turn straight onto CR 105
4.8 mi·6 min·Cross River Drive
Toward Northville, Orient PointUse the right lane.
14
Turn right onto CR 43
0.5 mi·1 min·Northville Turnpike
Use the right lane.
15
Turn right onto Sound Avenue
5.4 mi·8 min·Sound Avenue
16
Continue on CR 48; Truck NY 25
12 mi·17 min·Middle Road
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto Chapel Lane
0.4 mi·1 min·Chapel Lane
Use the right lane.
18
Turn left onto NY 25
0.9 mi·1 min·Main Road
19
Continue on NY 25
0.5 mi·1 min·Front Street
20
Turn right onto NY 114
484 ft·13 sec·Third Street
21
Turn right onto NY 114
0.2 mi·15 sec·Shelter Island North Ferry
22
Continue on NY 114
174 ft·2 sec·Shelter Island North Ferry
23
Continue on NY 114
1.0 mi·15 min·North Ferry
24
Continue on NY 114
0.1 mi·21 sec·Summerfield Place
25
Turn right onto NY 114
0.3 mi·50 sec·Grand Avenue
26
Turn left onto NY 114
513 ft·17 sec·Chase Avenue
27
Continue on NY 114
1.1 mi·2 min·North Ferry Road
28
Continue on NY 114
0.5 mi·1 min·North Ferry Road
29
Enter roundabout onto North Ferry Road
83 ft·4 sec·North Ferry Road
Toward Route 114 SOUTH, South Ferry, Sag Harbor
30
Continue on North Ferry Road
37 ft·1 sec·North Ferry Road
Toward Route 114 SOUTH, South Ferry, Sag Harbor
31
Arrive at destination
North Ferry Road
Toward Route 114 SOUTH, South Ferry, Sag Harbor
Trip Plan
Consider leaving Islip in the morning to make the most of your 1h 47m drive to Shelter Island. Since this is a relatively short trip of 62.5 miles with no planned stops, you have flexibility in your departure time. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $10, and it's always wise to top off before heading out. The longest continuous stretch is about 30.9 miles on Sunrise Highway, so plan your driver changes or brief breaks accordingly if needed.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 31.3 miles from Islip, NY, or about 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 30.9 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 14 miles or 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 31.3 miles or 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Shelter Island, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Islip, NY
This is one driving day of about 62.5 miles and 1h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Islip, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Sunrise Highway for about 30.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 62.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.2 mi into trip|~0m in|NY 111 / Islip Avenue
Turn left onto NY 111 / Islip Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|Ferndale Boulevard
Turn left onto Ferndale Boulevard
Navigation decision point
5
1.6 mi into trip|~3m in|NY 27 / Sunrise Highway
Merge onto NY 27 / Sunrise Highway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
57.3 mi into trip|~1h 23m in|Chapel Lane
Turn right onto Chapel Lane
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
62.5 mi into trip|~1h 47m in|North Ferry Road
Enter roundabout onto North Ferry Road toward Route 114 SOUTH, South Ferry, Sag Harbor
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Route 114 SOUTH, South Ferry, Sag Harbor
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.29 one way
$20.58 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg22 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$11.12
$22.25
premium
$4.92
$12.11
$24.23
diesel
$5.61
$13.80
$27.60
Estimated Tolls: $0.04
Northville Turnpike
(0.5 mi)$0.04
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
$10
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
18.8
0
$6.56
$3.00
Efficient EV
15.6
0
$5.47
$2.50
EV Truck/SUV
25
0
$8.75
$4.00
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Islip, NY
Afternoon
in Islip on Sunday
Local time
1:32 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Shelter Island, NY
Afternoon
in Shelter Island on Sunday
Local time
1:32 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 47m on the road
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Fire Island National Seashore
National Seashore
Immerse yourself in an enchanting collage of coastal life and history. Rhythmic waves, high dunes, ancient maritime forests, historic landmarks and glimpses of wildlife, Fire Island has been a special...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 10.8
Park Closure: Pet Restrictions, Beach Driving Closures in Effect March 15 through Labor Day
Caution: Avian Influenza (HPAI) Suspected in Dead Birds in Seashore Areas
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly surface roads, with a 100% highway share meaning you won't encounter limited-access highways. You'll cover a longest stretch of 30.9 miles on Sunrise Highway before transitioning to other local roads like Middle Road and Sound Avenue. Expect to navigate through more populated areas and potentially deal with traffic signals and intersections for a significant portion of the trip.
Only 1% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 30.9 mi on Sunrise Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 20 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near NY 111 / Islip Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 62.5 miles you will encounter 20 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (NY 111 / Islip Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles (Ferndale Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (NY 27 / Sunrise Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Shelter Island, NY, road signs point toward Cr 31 North: Riverhead, Northville and Orient Point.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 47m. Total distance: 62.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 30.9 miles on Sunrise Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.04 in tolls one way, starting with Northville Turnpike. 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.
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 Shelter Island, NY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.2 miles (NY 111 / Islip Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.1 miles (Ferndale Boulevard): Navigation decision point; at 1.6 miles (NY 27 / Sunrise Highway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Fire Island National Seashore. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Shelter Island, NY before heading back.
