Lake Ronkonkoma to Staten Island is 67.5 miles and takes about 1h 44m via the Long Island Expressway and Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within New York, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Expect a predominantly highway experience for most of the trip. It's a relatively short drive, making it suitable for a single-day excursion without needing an overnight stay. Plan your departure to avoid peak traffic, especially as you approach more urban areas.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
33.7 miles from Lake Ronkonkoma, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Long Island Expressway
41.1 mi
55m
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
7.8 mi
12m
Gowanus Expressway
4.7 mi
6m
Staten Island Expressway
2.9 mi
4m
Manor Road
2.1 mi
5m
Motor Parkway
1.4 mi
2m
Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge
1.4 mi
2m
Richmond Road
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Long Island Expressway
— 41.1 mi, about 55m
Traffic on I-495
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 22 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~4,880 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~521 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 24 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 Lake Ronkonkoma, NY and Staten Island, NY.
1
Start on Margaret Drive
0.2 mi·1 min·Margaret Drive
2
Turn left onto Gibbs Pond Road
0.3 mi·43 sec·Gibbs Pond Road
3
Continue on CR 93
0.6 mi·1 min·Rosevale Avenue
4
Turn right onto CR 67
1.4 mi·2 min·Motor Parkway
5
Turn left onto Old Nichols Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Old Nichols Road
Use the left lane.
6
Turn right onto Express Drive North
0.2 mi·17 sec·Express Drive North
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 495 west: New YorkUse the left lane.
8
Merge onto I 495
41 mi·55 min·Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 17WToward I 278 West: BrooklynUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·10 sec
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn, 48th Street
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·31 sec
Toward I 278 West: BrooklynUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 278
2.0 mi·3 min·Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 278
5.6 mi·9 min·Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
Toward I 278 West: Staten IslandUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 278
1.9 mi·2 min·Gowanus Expressway
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 278
0.2 mi·17 sec·Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
Toward I 278: Staten Island
16
Continue on I 278
2.2 mi·3 min·Gowanus Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 278
0.6 mi·49 sec·Gowanus Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 278
1.4 mi·2 min·Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge
19
Continue on I 278
2.9 mi·4 min·Staten Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Exit 12Toward Slosson Avenue, Todt Hill RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on Reon Avenue
397 ft·9 sec·Reon Avenue
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
22
Continue on Reon Avenue
358 ft·8 sec·Reon Avenue
23
Keep slight left at fork onto North Gannon Avenue
0.1 mi·21 sec·North Gannon Avenue
24
Turn left onto Manor Road
0.8 mi·2 min·Manor Road
25
Continue on Manor Road
1.3 mi·3 min·Manor Road
26
Turn left onto Rockland Avenue
0.5 mi·1 min·Rockland Avenue
27
Continue on Richmond Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Richmond Road
28
Turn left onto Kensico Street
0.4 mi·1 min·Kensico Street
29
At end of road, turn left onto Clarke Avenue
284 ft·13 sec·Clarke Avenue
30
Turn right onto Cotter Avenue
0.3 mi·54 sec·Cotter Avenue
31
Continue on Corona Avenue
0.2 mi·40 sec·Corona Avenue
32
Turn right onto Croft Court
147 ft·6 sec·Croft Court
33
Arrive at destination
Croft Court
Trip Plan
Since this is a single-day trip of under two hours, you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving early in the morning or later in the evening can help you avoid the heaviest traffic, particularly on the Long Island Expressway and as you get closer to Staten Island. With only 67.5 miles, you likely won't need to make many stops, but there are ample opportunities for fuel and rest along the main roads if needed. Pay close attention to signage as you merge onto the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, as it can be a busy interchange.
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 33.7 miles from Lake Ronkonkoma, NY, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.1 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 15 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 33.7 miles or 48m 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 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Staten Island, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lake Ronkonkoma, NY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lake Ronkonkoma, NY
This is one driving day of about 67.5 miles and 1h 44m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Lake Ronkonkoma, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Long Island Expressway for about 41.1 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.3 and 62.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3.3 mi into trip|~7m in
Take the ramp toward I 495 west: New York
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 495 west: New York
7
44.5 mi into trip|~1h 3m in
Take the exit toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 17W
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
7
45.6 mi into trip|~1h 5m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
7
48 mi into trip|~1h 8m in|I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 278 / Brooklyn-Queens Expressway toward I 278 West: Staten Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 278 West: Staten Island
8
62.8 mi into trip|~1h 32m in
Take the exit toward Slosson Avenue, Todt Hill Road
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 12
Toward Slosson Avenue, Todt Hill Road
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.97 one way
$21.94 round trip
$4.13/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.47
$11.87
$23.75
premium
$4.87
$12.93
$25.86
diesel
$5.40
$14.36
$28.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.3
0
$7.09
$3.24
Efficient EV
16.9
0
$5.91
$2.70
EV Truck/SUV
27
0
$9.45
$4.32
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (67% 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 24, 2026
Origin
Lake Ronkonkoma, NY
Late night
in Lake Ronkonkoma on Sunday
Local time
4:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Staten Island, NY
Late night
in Staten Island on Sunday
Local time
4:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°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
2 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 44m 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.
African Burial Ground National Monument
National Monument
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...
Located at the southern tip of Manhattan, Castle Clinton marks the place where New York City began and reflects the growth of both the city and the nation. Built to defend the harbor during the War of...
Here at Federal Hall, George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States, marking the beginning of the American constitutional republic. This historic site served as...
From 1794 to 1966, the U.S. Army presence on Governors Island played a vital role in the social, political, and economic life of New York City. The island then served as the headquarters of the U.S. C...
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...
A gift of friendship from the people of France to the United States "The Statue of Liberty Enlightening the World" is recognized as a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. It was dedicated by Pre...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is largely highway, with 86% of it being on major expressways. You'll spend a significant stretch, 41.1 miles, on the Long Island Expressway before transitioning to the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and Gowanus Expressway. Be prepared for frequent exit and entrance ramps as you navigate through more densely populated areas. The driving experience will feel very much like urban interstate travel for the majority of the distance.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.1 mi on Long Island Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Island Expressway and Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.3 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 67.5 miles you will encounter 21 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 3.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 44.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Staten Island is New York City's "Forgotten Borough" across New York Harbor from Manhattan. Staten Island may seem like it's in an entirely different world than the hustle and bustle expected in New York City. However, it still has some of the features you've come to expect from the city. This combination of city influences and its rural origins have created a unique borough that is a great place to visit.
Top landmarks
•Bayonne Bridge — arch bridge connecting Staten Island, NY with Bayonne, NJ
•Staten Island Museum — museum in Staten Island, New York
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 44m. Total distance: 67.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.1 miles on Long Island Expressway. 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 Staten 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 3.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 44.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 45.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Staten Island, NY before heading back.
