Origin
Islip Terrace, NY
Late night in Islip Terrace on Sunday
Local time
12:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Islip Terrace, NY to Washington Heights, 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 15m
Distance
54 mi
87 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
6 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 9m
★
6 AM
1h 15m
8 AM
1h 27m
10 AM
1h 19m
12 PM
1h 18m
3 PM
1h 20m
5 PM
1h 26m
8 PM
1h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Islip Terrace, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Washington Heights, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Trip Overview
Traveling from Islip Terrace to Washington Heights is a straightforward 54-mile journey that typically takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Because this route is entirely within the Northeast region, you can easily complete the trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $9 on fuel for the trek, making it a budget-friendly option for your schedule. You will primarily navigate via the Southern State Parkway, Heckscher State Parkway, and the Cross Bronx Expressway. This highway-focused drive is efficient for those looking to reach their destination quickly, though it is best to prepare for the traffic patterns inherent to these major thoroughfares.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southern State Parkway | 25 mi | 31m |
| Heckscher State Parkway | 6.9 mi | 8m |
| Cross Bronx Expressway | 6 mi | 7m |
| Clearview Expressway | 5 mi | 5m |
| Throgs Neck Bridge | 2 mi | 3m |
| Sunrise Highway | 2 mi | 2m |
| Cross Island Parkway | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Montauk Highway | 1.2 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 Washington Heights, 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
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Clearview Expressway
Toward I 295 North: Clearview Expressway, Through Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Throgs Neck Bridge
21
Continue on I 295
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Throgs Neck Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295
6.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Exit 1D-C-B
Toward I 87: Queens, Albany, Major Deegan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 1B
Toward Amsterdam Avenue
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
25
Turn straight onto Washington Bridge
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Bridge
26
Continue on West 181st Street
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
West 181st Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
Turn right onto Wadsworth Avenue
237 ft
·
14 sec
·
Wadsworth Avenue
28
Turn left onto West 182nd Street
277 ft
·
23 sec
·
West 182nd Street
29
Turn left onto US 9
229 ft
·
4 sec
·
Broadway
30
Arrive at destination
US 9
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 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 225 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 53.1 — 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
52.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
Take the exit toward I 87: Queens, Albany, Major Deegan Expressway
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 1D-C-B
Toward I 87: Queens, Albany, Major Deegan Expre...
9
53.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Amsterdam Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 1B
Toward Amsterdam Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.89 one way
$17.78 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $9.61 | $19.22 |
| premium | $4.92 | $10.47 | $20.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.92 | $23.85 |
Estimated Tolls: $6.55
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$7
Total
$15
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.9 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 | 16.2 | 0 | $5.67 | $2.59 |
| Efficient EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.73 | $2.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.56 | $3.46 |
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
Washington Heights, NY
Late night in Washington Heights on Sunday
Local time
12:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Cloudy
W 5 to 13 mph
15% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:26AM EDT until April 15 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
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
16 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 15m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a fast-paced experience, as 83% of this 54-mile route consists of highway driving. You will settle into a rhythm early on, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 25 miles along the Southern State Parkway. While the drive is largely a highway-focused grind, the transition from the parkways of Long Island to the dense urban environment of the Cross Bronx Expressway marks a distinct shift in the road's personality. You should remain attentive behind the wheel, as the high percentage of highway travel means you will spend the vast majority of your time at cruising speeds before navigating the transition into Washington Heights.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 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 Heckscher State Parkway. 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 miles you will encounter 22 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 Washington Heights, NY, road signs point toward To Ny 27: Southern Parkway West, New York, Cross Island Parkway North, Hempstead Avenue West and Grandstand.
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
About the Cities
Starting in Islip Terrace, NY
Full guide →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 15m. Total distance: 54 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). 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.
Expect about $6.55 in tolls one way, starting with Throgs Neck 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.
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 Washington Heights, 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 — Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial and Fire Island National Seashore (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 Washington Heights, 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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