Kent, NY to Smithtown, NY is 398 miles and takes about 8h 31m via I 81, Keystone Shortway, and New York State Thruway, with a fuel budget near $65 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, traversing New York State. While the duration suggests it can be done in a single day, the distance and multiple highway segments make an overnight stop a more relaxed option. Planning for two days will allow you to break up the 8.5 hours of driving and enjoy the scenery without feeling rushed. Consider this route if you're looking for a straightforward path connecting these two points in New York.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
199 miles from Kent, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
98.8 mi
1h 57m
Keystone Shortway
80 mi
1h 37m
New York State Thruway
30 mi
34m
I 380
23.6 mi
25m
Western Expressway
20.1 mi
26m
Long Island Expressway
14.2 mi
19m
Northern State Parkway
13.7 mi
18m
Ridge Road
11.3 mi
16m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 98.8 mi, about 1h 57m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 168 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,210 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,900
Quietest
1 AM
~430 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Kent, NY and Smithtown, NY.
1
Start on Ford Street
52 ft·4 sec·Ford Street
2
Turn right onto CR 6
0.9 mi·2 min·Kent Road
3
Turn right onto NY 18
2.8 mi·4 min·Roosevelt Highway
4
Turn right onto CR 32
2.0 mi·2 min·Peter Smith Road
5
Turn left onto NY 104
11 mi·16 min·Ridge Road
6
Turn right onto NY 260
1.9 mi·3 min·Sweden-Walker Road
7
Turn left onto NY 31
2.5 mi·3 min·Brockport-Spencerport Road
Use the left lane.
8
Continue on NY 531
7.5 mi·8 min·NY 531
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 490 East: Rochester
10
Merge onto I 490
20 mi·26 min·Western Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·42 sec
Toward I 90 East: Albany
12
Merge onto I 90
30 mi·34 min·New York State Thruway
13
Take the exit
0.5 mi·58 sec
Exit 41Toward NY 414: Waterloo, ClydeUse the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight right at fork
327 ft·7 sec
15
Continue on NY 414
0.3 mi·35 sec·State Route 414
16
Turn left onto NY 318
4.1 mi·7 min·NY 318
Use the left lane.
17
At end of road, turn left onto US 20; NY 5
1.9 mi·2 min·Auburn Road
18
Continue on US 20; NY 5
9.6 mi·11 min·Clark Street Road
Use the straight lane.
19
Turn right onto State Street
226 ft·12 sec·State Street
20
Turn left onto Dill Street
0.1 mi·21 sec·Dill Street
21
Continue on Loop Road
458 ft·16 sec·Loop Road
22
Turn left onto Genesee Street
5.5 mi·9 min·Genesee Street
23
Continue on US 20
2.2 mi·4 min·West Genesee Street Road
24
Turn right onto NY 41
0.5 mi·45 sec·East Lake Street
25
Continue on NY 41
9.4 mi·13 min·East Lake Road
26
Continue on NY 41
4.8 mi·7 min·State Route 41
27
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi·49 sec·East Lake Road
28
Continue on NY 41
9.8 mi·13 min·State Highway 41
29
Turn right onto NY 281
1.2 mi·2 min·North West Street
30
Take the ramp
0.7 mi·1 min
Use the left lane.
31
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 81 South: Binghamton
32
Merge onto I 81
45 mi·54 min·I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
53 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 81
Toward I 81 South: ScrantonUse the straight lane.
34
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
0.8 mi·1 min·US 6
Exit 187Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt PoconoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
35
Continue on I 84; I 380
3.7 mi·4 min·I 84; I 380
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, MilfordUse the straight lane.
36
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
24 mi·25 min·I 380
Exit 4Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
37
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 1BToward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
38
Merge onto I 80
80 mi·1 hr 37 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
39
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·5 min·Christopher Columbus Highway
Toward I 95: George Washington Bridge Lower LevelUse the slight right lane.
40
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·23 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
41
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 70A-BToward Leonia, TeaneckUse the slight right lane.
42
Turn right
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 70AToward LeoniaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
43
Turn straight onto CR 56
454 ft·9 sec·Degraw Avenue
44
Continue on CR 56
1.1 mi·2 min·Fort Lee Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
45
Continue on CR 56
469 ft·13 sec·Main Street
46
Take the ramp
472 ft·12 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge
47
Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46
0.3 mi·28 sec·Bergen Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
48
Take the exit
312 ft·4 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level
49
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.3 mi·20 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
50
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
51
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
52
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
53
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi·6 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
54
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
2.0 mi·2 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Exit 6BToward I 295 South: Throgs Neck BridgeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
55
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi·58 sec·Throgs Neck Expressway
56
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
57
Continue on I 295
3.2 mi·3 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
58
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 4E-WToward I 495: Manhattan, Eastern Long IslandUse the straight / slight right lanes.
59
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 4EToward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, Eastern Long Island
60
Merge onto I 495
14 mi·19 min·Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
61
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Exit 42Toward N East: HauppaugeUse the slight right lane.
62
Merge onto N
14 mi·18 min·Northern State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
63
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 45Toward SM North: Kings ParkUse the right lane.
64
Merge onto SA
499 ft·6 sec·Sagtikos State Parkway
65
Continue on SM
1.7 mi·1 min·Sunken Meadow State Parkway
66
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit SM3EToward NY 25 East: Jericho Turnpike East, SmithtownUse the slight right lane.
67
Turn slight right onto NY 25
3.9 mi·5 min·Jericho Turnpike
68
Continue on NY 25; NY 25A
0.6 mi·54 sec·West Main Street
Use the left lane.
69
Arrive at destination
NY 25; NY 25A
Trip Plan
Given the 8.5-hour drive time, splitting this trip over two days is highly recommended to avoid fatigue. Aim to depart early in the morning on your first day to maximize daylight hours for driving. With two recommended days, you can comfortably plan for one overnight stop. Pay attention to your fuel levels, especially before heading into longer stretches like the 98.8 miles on I 81, as services can be spaced out. The transition from highway to surface roads will require adjusting your speed and awareness of local traffic patterns.
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 drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 199 miles from Kent, NY, or about 4h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.8 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 88 miles or 1h 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 199 miles or 4h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 199 miles or 4h 22m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Smithtown, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kent, 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.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Kent, NY
Aim for roughly 199 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Smithtown, NY
Aim for roughly 199 miles and 4.3 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 88 miles from Kent, NY.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 98.8 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 47
5 decision points cluster between mile 80.3 and 354.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
80.3 mi into trip|~1h 44m in
Take the exit toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
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 41
Toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
9
230.6 mi into trip|~5h in|US 6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6 toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 187
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbo...
8
345.2 mi into trip|~7h 16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, Ne...
9
345.5 mi into trip|~7h 16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Leonia, Teaneck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 70A-B
Toward Leonia, Teaneck
8
354.9 mi into trip|~7h 31m in|I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 6B
Toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$64.39 one way
$128.77 round trip
$4.11/gal25.4 MPG avg139 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$69.87
$139.74
premium
$4.85
$75.96
$151.93
diesel
$4.80
$75.15
$150.30
Estimated Tolls: $24.32
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
New York State Thruway
(30 mi)$1.50
Jericho Turnpike
(3.9 mi)$0.27
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
$64
Tolls
$24
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$219–$329
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 139.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
119.4
1
$41.79
$19.10
Efficient EV
99.5
1
$34.83
$15.92
EV Truck/SUV
159.2
1
$55.72
$25.47
Gas CO2
139 kg
EV CO2
47 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Kent, NY
Late night
in Kent on Sunday
Local time
4:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Smoke
NE 1 to 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Smithtown, NY
Late night
in Smithtown on Sunday
Local time
4:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Smoke
NW 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
84°F
Barton, NY
199 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
8h 31m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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.
Harriet Tubman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Harriet Tubman was guided by a deep faith and devotion to family, freedom, and community. After emancipating herself and members of her family, she moved them from Ontario, Canada to Fleming and Aubur...
Women’s Rights National Historical Park tells the story of the first Women’s Rights Convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York on July 19-20, 1848. It is a story of struggles for civil rights, human r...
The final resting place of President Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, Julia, is the largest mausoleum in North America. It testifies to a people’s gratitude for the man who ended the bloodiest conflict...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 343.1
Merchant’s clerk, Revolutionary War soldier, first Secretary Treasury of the United States: Alexander Hamilton’s life is memorialized at The Grange, the home he built on a country estate in uptown Man...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 343.1
Before the 1960s, almost everything about living authentically as a lesbian, a bisexual person or a gay man was illegal. The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969 is a milestone in the quest for civil r...
10 mi from route
~24 min detour
Free
near mile 343.1
The African Burial Ground stands as the oldest and largest known excavated burial site in North America for both free and enslaved Africans. It offers a profound testament to the enduring legacy of Af...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 343.1
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 on main highways, with 55% of the total distance covered by the Interstate system. You'll experience the longest continuous stretch of highway driving on I 81 for 98.8 miles. After the highways, the profile shifts to mostly surface roads, indicating a change in driving pace and environment. Be prepared for a transition from faster-paced highway cruising to more local road conditions.
Only 55% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
69 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98.8 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 80.3 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 47 significant decision points across 398 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 80.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 230.6 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 345.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
1,821 ft48 ft
Total Climb
3,162 ft
Total Descent
3,448 ft
Highest Point
1,821 ft
~255.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,773 ft
Notable High Points
1,531 ft at ~199 miles+594 ft prominence
1,821 ft at ~255.9 miles+884 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Kent, NY and Smithtown, NY, road signs point toward Clyde, Mt Pocono, Milford, New York City, Leonia and Teaneck - among others.
Smithtown is a town of 117,000 people (2016) in Suffolk County, on Long Island, in New York. Smithtown is comprised of the villages and hamlets of Commack (in part, with the Town of Huntington), Fort Salonga (in part, with the Town of Huntington), Hauppauge (in part, with the Town of Islip), Head of the Harbor, Kings Park, Lake Ronkonkoma (in part with the Town of Brookhaven and Town of Islip), Nesconset, Nissequogue, Smithtown, St. James, & Village of the Branch.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 98.8 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 199 miles on day one.
Expect about $24.32 in tolls one way, starting with George Washington 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 32 rest areas or service plazas 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 Smithtown, NY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. There are 32 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 80.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 230.6 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 345.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, Women's Rights National Historical Park and General Grant National Memorial (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.5 hours each way, a round trip means 17.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Smithtown, NY before the return drive.
