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
Traffic on I-295
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 11 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,766 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,167
Quietest
2 AM
~199 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 48 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 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 46AToward NY 27A, CR 85: Montauk Highway, Oakdale, Great RiverUse 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 BridgeUse 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 26BToward NY 24: UBS Arena-Belmont ParkUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
437 ft·12 sec
Toward NY 24 West: Hempstead AvenueUse 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 WestUse 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 BridgeUse 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-BToward I 87: Queens, Albany, Major Deegan ExpresswayUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·28 sec
Exit 1BToward Amsterdam AvenueUse 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.
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 22
5 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
$8.74 one way
$17.47 round trip
$4.11/gal25.4 MPG avg19 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$9.48
$18.96
premium
$4.85
$10.31
$20.61
diesel
$4.80
$10.20
$20.39
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, 2026-07-13.
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.
Forecast as of Jul 9, 2026
Origin
Islip Terrace, NY
Late night
in Islip Terrace on Sunday
Local time
5:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 13 mph24% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 9 at 4:23PM EDT until July 9 at 5:30PM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 9 at 3:59PM EDT until July 9 at 5:45PM EDT by NWS Upton NY
Destination
Washington Heights, NY
Late night
in Washington Heights on Sunday
Local time
5:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
87°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 12 mph65% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 9 at 4:23PM EDT until July 9 at 5:30PM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY
Flash Flood Warning
Flash Flood Warning issued July 9 at 3:59PM EDT until July 9 at 5:45PM EDT by NWS Upton 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
6 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.
More Details
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 Effort10/10
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.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
178 ft10 ft
Total Climb
233 ft
Total Descent
75 ft
Highest Point
178 ft
~54 mi in
Elevation Range
168 ft
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.
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.
Yes — we found about 1 rest area or service plaza within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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.
