Origin
Islip Terrace, NY
Night in Islip Terrace on Saturday
Local time
10:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Islip Terrace, NY to Manhattan, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 22m
Distance
54.8 mi
88 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 16m
★
6 AM
1h 22m
8 AM
1h 35m
10 AM
1h 26m
12 PM
1h 25m
3 PM
1h 27m
5 PM
1h 34m
8 PM
1h 18m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Islip Terrace, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Manhattan, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Driving from Islip Terrace to Manhattan covers 54.8 miles and typically takes about 1 hour and 22 minutes. This highway-focused route is designed as a straightforward day trip, making an overnight stay unnecessary. You can expect to spend approximately $9 on fuel for the journey. Since both locations are situated within the Northeast region of New York, the transition is seamless as you move from suburban Long Island into the city. It is a practical, efficient connection that serves as a standard transit path for those heading into the heart of the city.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southern State Parkway | 25 mi | 31m |
| Long Island Expressway | 8.4 mi | 11m |
| Heckscher State Parkway | 6.9 mi | 8m |
| Sunrise Highway | 2 mi | 2m |
| Clearview Expressway | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Cross Island Parkway | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Montauk Highway | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Hempstead Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Southern State Parkway
— 25 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Islip Terrace, NY and Manhattan, NY.
1
Start on NY 27
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Sunrise Highway
2
Take the exit
442 ft
·
18 sec
Exit 46A
Toward NY 27A, CR 85: Montauk Highway, Oakdale, Great River
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
3
Turn right onto NY 27A
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Montauk Highway
Use the right lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward To NY 27: Southern Parkway west, New York
5
Merge onto H
6.9 mi
·
8 min
·
Heckscher State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on SO
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
Southern State Parkway
7
Keep slight left at fork onto SO
25 mi
·
31 min
·
Southern State Parkway
Use the slight left lane.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone Bridge
Use the slight right lane.
9
Merge onto CI
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Cross Island Parkway
10
Take the exit
317 ft
·
9 sec
Exit 26B
Toward NY 24: UBS Arena-Belmont Park
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
437 ft
·
12 sec
Toward NY 24 West: Hempstead Avenue
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward Cross Island Parkway North, Hempstead Avenue West
13
Keep slight right at fork
266 ft
·
8 sec
Toward Hempstead Avenue West
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
this road
Toward Grandstand, Hempstead Avenue West
15
Keep slight left at fork
100 ft
·
4 sec
Toward Hempstead Avenue
16
Turn right onto NY 24
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Hempstead Avenue
Use the right lane.
17
Turn left onto Jamaica Avenue
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Jamaica Avenue
18
Turn right onto NY 24
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
212th Street
19
Continue on I 295
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Clearview Expressway
Toward I 295 North: Clearview Expressway, Through Neck Bridge
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 4E-W
Toward I 495: Long Island Expressway, Manhattan, Eastern Long Island
Use the slight right lane.
21
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 4W
Toward I 495 West: Long Island Expressway West, Manhattan
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
22
Merge onto I 495
8.4 mi
·
11 min
·
Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 16
Toward Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, Hunters Point Avenue, Greenpoint Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Turn straight onto Laurel Hill Boulevard
80 ft
·
2 sec
·
Laurel Hill Boulevard
25
Keep slight right at fork onto Hunters Point Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Hunters Point Avenue
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
26
Turn right onto Van Dam Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Van Dam Street
27
Continue on Van Dam Street
113 ft
·
8 sec
·
Van Dam Street
28
Turn left onto NY 25
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
Queens Boulevard
29
Continue on NY 25
0.7 mi
·
57 sec
·
Queensboro Plaza
30
Continue on NY 25
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge Lower Level
31
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 25
317 ft
·
11 sec
·
NY 25
Toward 60th Street West
Use the slight right lane.
32
Turn left onto East 60th Street
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
East 60th Street
33
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
3rd Avenue
Use the right lane.
34
Turn left onto East 72nd Street
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
East 72nd Street
Use the left lane.
35
Turn right onto Madison Avenue
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Madison Avenue
36
Turn left onto East 85th Street
507 ft
·
12 sec
·
East 85th Street
37
Continue on 86th Street Transverse
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
86th Street Transverse
Toward West Side
38
Arrive at destination
86th Street Transverse
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.4 miles from Islip Terrace, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 285 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 40.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
2 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the exit toward NY 27A, CR 85: Montauk Highway, Oakdale, Great River
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.
Exit 46A
Toward NY 27A, CR 85: Montauk Highway, Oakdale,...
8
37 mi into trip
|
~49m 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
37.2 mi into trip
|
~49m 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
40.6 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Take the exit toward I 495: Long Island Expressway, Manhattan, Eastern Long Island
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 4E-W
Toward I 495: Long Island Expressway, Manhattan...
10
40.8 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 495 West: Long Island Expressway West, Manhattan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 4W
Toward I 495 West: Long Island Expressway West,...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.02 one way
$18.04 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $9.75 | $19.51 |
| premium | $4.92 | $10.62 | $21.24 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.10 | $24.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.4 | 0 | $5.75 | $2.63 |
| Efficient EV | 13.7 | 0 | $4.79 | $2.19 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.9 | 0 | $7.67 | $3.51 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Manhattan, NY
Night in Manhattan on Saturday
Local time
10:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
5 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
1h 22m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a commute dominated by major arterial roads, as this drive is 78% highway-focused. You will navigate a combination of the Southern State Parkway, the Long Island Expressway, and the Heckscher State Parkway throughout the trip. The longest uninterrupted segment occurs on the Southern State Parkway, which spans 25 miles. Because the route relies heavily on these high-speed parkways, the experience is less about scenic winding roads and more about managing the flow of heavy commuter traffic. You should be prepared for a consistent, fast-paced drive until you reach the dense urban environment of Manhattan.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
38 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 25 mi on Southern State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern State Parkway and Long Island Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54.8 miles you will encounter 28 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 2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.2 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 Terrace, NY and Manhattan, NY, road signs point toward To Ny 27: Southern Parkway West, New York, Cross Island Parkway North, Hempstead Avenue West, Grandstand and Eastern Long Island.
To Ny 27: Southern Parkway West
3.3 mi in
|
~5m
New York
3.3 mi in
|
~5m
Cross Island Parkway North
35.4 mi in
|
~46m
Hempstead Avenue West
37.1 mi in
|
~49m
Grandstand
37.3 mi in
|
~49m
Eastern Long Island
40.6 mi in
|
~55m
About the Cities
Starting in Islip Terrace, NY
Full guide →Arriving in Manhattan, NY
Full guide →Founded 1624
Wall Street. Madison Avenue. 34th Street. Broadway. Times Square. Manhattan is so well known that even the names of its streets have become iconic and understood the world over. This long, thin island is only one of New York City's five boroughs, but it's Manhattan that has the concrete canyons and the inimitable skyline; Manhattan that has the world's brightest theater district; Manhattan that has Central Park, Rockefeller Center, the Empire State Building, and the Met; and Manhattan that includes iconic neighborhoods like Harlem, the Upper East Side, Times Square, and Greenwich Village. The rest of New York City has much to see and do, but it's Manhattan that represents the city—and sometimes the entire United States—to the world. You could spend a month on this tiny island and still not see all there is to see.
Top landmarks
- • Empire State Building — skyscraper located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, USA
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 1h 22m. Total distance: 54.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 22m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 25 miles on Southern State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 Manhattan, 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 2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 37.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — General Grant National Memorial, Hamilton Grange National Memorial and Stonewall National Monument (6 total within detour distance). 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 Manhattan, NY before heading back.
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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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