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Trip from Lenox, NY to Islip, NY

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

6h 15m

Distance

284.3 mi

458 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$47

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min
4 AM
6h 3m ★
6 AM
6h 16m
8 AM
6h 41m
10 AM
6h 24m
12 PM
6h 22m
3 PM
6h 26m
5 PM
6h 40m
8 PM
6h 8m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Lenox, NY, NY

Lenox, NY

Renan Tagliaferro

town in Suffolk County, New York, United States

Islip, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 310.7-mile drive from Lenox, NY to Islip, NY will take you approximately 5 hours and 6 minutes to complete. With a fuel cost estimated at $51, this trip is well within reach for a single day, making it an excellent day trip option. You'll primarily navigate local roads, including Clockville Road and Creek Road, with no highway driving, suggesting a more leisurely pace. The route is characterized by frequent turns, so be prepared for a dynamic driving experience. This journey stays within the Northeast region, connecting two points in New York.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

142.1 miles from Lenox, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 7m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
NY 17 106 mi 2h 12m
State Highway 8 36.8 mi 41m
Southern State Parkway 24.7 mi 31m
NJ 17 14.1 mi 18m
New York State Thruway 13.7 mi 15m
State Highway 12 10.2 mi 15m
Rexford Street 8.3 mi 9m
State Route 46 7 mi 10m
Longest stretch: NY 17 — 106 mi, about 2h 12m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lenox, NY and Islip, NY.

1

Start on CR 54

0.2 mi · 36 sec · South Court Street
2

Turn sharp left onto CR 92

0.4 mi · 58 sec · Clockville Road
3

Turn right onto CR 29

0.2 mi · 38 sec · Creek Road
4

Turn left onto CR 100

3.3 mi · 7 min · Mount Hope Avenue
5

At end of road, turn right onto NY 46

5.6 mi · 8 min · State Route 46
6

Continue on NY 46

1.0 mi · 1 min · Main Street
7

Continue on NY 46

5.8 mi · 7 min · Bear Path Road
8

Turn right onto NY 46

120 ft · 8 sec · NY 46
9

Continue on US 20; NY 46

0.2 mi · 24 sec · US 20; NY 46
10

Continue on NY 46

1.4 mi · 1 min · State Route 46
11

Continue on NY 12B

2.0 mi · 2 min · State Route 12B
12

Continue on NY 12B

1.1 mi · 1 min · Utica Street
13

Turn slight right onto NY 12B

1.1 mi · 1 min · Broad Street
14

Continue on NY 12B

4.6 mi · 6 min · State Route 12B
15

Continue on NY 12B

1.4 mi · 2 min · North Main Street
16

Continue on NY 12B

3.7 mi · 5 min · State Highway 12B
17

Continue on NY 12B

1.4 mi · 2 min · North Main Street
18

Continue on NY 12

10 mi · 15 min · State Highway 12
19

Continue on NY 12

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Broad Street
20

Turn left onto NY 23

8.3 mi · 9 min · Rexford Street
21

Turn right onto NY 8

18 mi · 20 min · State Highway 8
22

Continue on NY 8

0.4 mi · 29 sec · Airport Road
23

Continue on NY 8

19 mi · 21 min · State Highway 8
24

Continue on NY 8; NY 10

0.3 mi · 18 sec · Oak Street
25

Continue on NY 8; NY 10

0.4 mi · 44 sec · State Highway 10
26

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Toward NY 17 East
27

Merge onto NY 17

105 mi · 2 hr 11 min · NY 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28

Keep slight left at fork

0.7 mi · 59 sec
Toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York City Use the slight right lane.
29

Keep slight right at fork

0.9 mi · 1 min
Toward I 87 Toll South: New York City Use the slight right lane.
30

Merge onto I 87

14 mi · 15 min · New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31

Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17

0.9 mi · 59 sec · NY 17
Exit 15 Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey Use the slight right lane.
32

Continue on I 287; NJ 17

0.5 mi · 39 sec · I 287; NJ 17
33

Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17

14 mi · 18 min · NJ 17
Exit 66 Toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah Use the slight left / straight lanes.
34

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 19 sec
Toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
35

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
36

Merge onto NJ 4

0.3 mi · 24 sec · NJ 4
Use the right lane.
37

Continue on NJ 4

6.4 mi · 8 min · NJ 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 18 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge Use the straight / slight left lanes.
39

Merge onto I 95 EXPR

0.7 mi · 54 sec · I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
40

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR

0.8 mi · 1 min · I 95 EXPR
41

Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9

0.6 mi · 1 min · George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
42

Continue on I 95; US 1

0.7 mi · 1 min · Trans-Manhattan Expressway
43

Continue on I 95; US 1

4.7 mi · 6 min · Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
44

Keep slight right at fork onto I 295

2.0 mi · 2 min · Cross Bronx Expressway
Exit 6B Toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge Use the straight / slight left lanes.
45

Merge onto I 295

0.6 mi · 58 sec · Throgs Neck Expressway
46

Continue on I 295

2.0 mi · 3 min · Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
47

Continue on I 295

5.0 mi · 5 min · Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
48

Continue on NY 24

0.7 mi · 1 min · Hollis Court Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
49

At end of road, turn left onto NY 24

0.2 mi · 35 sec · Jamaica Avenue
Use the left lane.
50

Turn right onto Hempstead Avenue

0.9 mi · 2 min · Hempstead Avenue
51

Turn right onto 225th Street

228 ft · 9 sec · 225th Street
Use the right lane.
52

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Toward Cross Island Parkway South, Verrazano Bridge
53

Merge onto CI

1.3 mi · 1 min · Cross Island Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
54

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 25A Toward Southern State Parkway East, Eastern Long Island Use the slight left / straight lanes.
55

Merge onto SO

25 mi · 31 min · Southern State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
56

Keep slight left at fork onto SO

0.2 mi · 16 sec · Southern State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
57

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Exit 41S Toward Bay Shore Road South, Bay Shore Use the slight right lane.
58

Turn straight onto CR 57

0.5 mi · 1 min · Bay Shore Road
59

Continue on CR 57

0.3 mi · 43 sec · Howells Road
60

Turn straight onto CR 57

341 ft · 6 sec · Sunrise Highway
61

Keep slight right at fork onto CR 57

0.6 mi · 1 min · Howells Road
Toward Howells Road South Use the right lane.
62

Continue on CR 57

0.2 mi · 24 sec · Roosevelt Street
63

Continue on CR 57

0.7 mi · 1 min · 3rd Avenue
64

At end of road, turn left onto NY 27A

1.1 mi · 1 min · East Main Street
65

Continue on Montauk Highway

0.2 mi · 17 sec · Montauk Highway
66

Continue on NY 27A

0.8 mi · 1 min · Main Street
67

Arrive at destination

NY 27A

Trip Plan

Given the 5-hour duration and the turn-heavy nature of this 310.7-mile route, starting your journey in the morning is advisable to allow ample time for navigation and any unplanned stops. With only one recommended stop and no long highway stretches, you have flexibility in pacing yourself. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you'll be on local roads for the entire trip. For this route, paying close attention to your GPS or map for the frequent turns is crucial to avoid getting off track. The estimated fuel cost of $51 should be factored into your budget.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 142.1 miles from Lenox, NY, or about 3h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 106 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 63 miles or 1h 31m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 142.1 miles or 3h 7m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 3m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Islip, NY than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Lenox, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Lenox, NY

This is one driving day of about 284.3 miles and 6h 15m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Lenox, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on NY 17 for about 106 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

town in Orange County, New York, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

New Windsor, NY

142 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

Sidney, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 63 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

New Windsor, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 142.1 miles from Lenox, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before NY 17 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 106 miles.

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 33

5 decision points cluster between mile 195.8 and 279.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
195.8 mi into trip | ~4h 14m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York City

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York City
9
211.1 mi into trip | ~4h 33m in | NY 17

Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17 toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 15 Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
8
212.5 mi into trip | ~4h 34m in | NJ 17

Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17 toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Exit 66 Toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
8
241.5 mi into trip | ~5h 15m 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
9
279.7 mi into trip | ~6h 6m in

Take the exit toward Bay Shore Road South, Bay Shore

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 41S Toward Bay Shore Road South, Bay Shore

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$46.80 one way

$93.60 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 100 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.52 $50.60 $101.21
premium $4.92 $55.10 $110.21
diesel $5.61 $62.77 $125.54

Estimated Tolls: $23.23

George Washington Bridge $16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge $6.55
New York State Thruway (13.7 mi) $0.68

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

$47

Tolls

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$95–$120

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 99.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 85.3 1 $29.85 $13.65
Efficient EV 71.1 0 $24.88 $11.37
EV Truck/SUV 113.7 1 $39.80 $18.20

Gas CO2

99 kg

EV CO2

33 kg (67% 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 Apr 20, 2026

Origin

Lenox, NY

Late night in Lenox on Tuesday

Local time

4:06 AM

EDT

Current temp

45°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Islip, NY

Late night in Islip on Tuesday

Local time

4:06 AM

EDT

Current temp

44°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

1 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

6h 15m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

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.

Hamilton Grange National Memorial

Hamilton Grange National Memorial

National Memorial

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...

2 mi from route ~6 min detour Free near mile 235.3
View on nps.gov
General Grant National Memorial

General Grant National Memorial

National Memorial

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...

3 mi from route ~7 min detour Free near mile 235.3
View on nps.gov
Stonewall National Monument

Stonewall National Monument

National Monument

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...

9 mi from route ~21 min detour Free near mile 235.3
View on nps.gov
African Burial Ground National Monument

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...

10 mi from route ~25 min detour Free near mile 235.3
View on nps.gov
Federal Hall National Memorial

Federal Hall National Memorial

National Memorial

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...

10 mi from route ~26 min detour Free near mile 235.3
View on nps.gov
Castle Clinton National Monument

Castle Clinton National Monument

National Monument

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...

11 mi from route ~27 min detour Free near mile 235.3
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy local drive for this entire 310.7-mile journey, as indicated by the 0% highway share. You won't encounter long stretches of uninterrupted driving; instead, anticipate a route that requires constant attention to navigation and road changes. The profile of this drive is defined by its local character, utilizing roads like Mount Hope Avenue, which means you'll likely be passing through various communities and diverse landscapes. The absence of a longest uninterrupted stretch further emphasizes the stop-and-go, turn-by-turn nature of this specific route, making it feel more like exploring than a direct commute.

82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
67 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 106 mi on NY 17.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NY 17 and State Highway 8. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 195.8 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 33 significant decision points across 284.3 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 195.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 211.1 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 212.5 miles (NJ 17): 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.

Between Lenox, NY and Islip, NY, road signs point toward Nyst: Albany, New York City, Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York and Cross Island Parkway South - among others.

Nyst: Albany

195.8 mi in | ~4h 14m

New York City

195.8 mi in | ~4h 14m

Gsp South: Paterson

226.5 mi in | ~4h 53m

Fort Lee

226.5 mi in | ~4h 53m

New York

226.5 mi in | ~4h 53m

Cross Island Parkway South

253 mi in | ~5h 31m

Southern State Parkway East

254.5 mi in | ~5h 33m

Eastern Long Island

254.5 mi in | ~5h 33m

About the Cities

Starting in Lenox, NY

Full guide →

Arriving in Islip, NY

Full guide →

Founded 1683

Islip (pronounced "ICE-lip") is a town on Long Island in the state of New York. Located within Suffolk County, the Town of Islip includes the villages of Brightwaters, Islandia, Ocean Beach and Saltaire. It also includes numerous hamlets including Bay Shore and Sayville which are ferry terminals for Fire Island. Other prominent communities are Bayport, Brentwood, Central Islip, Hauppauge, Islip village (the town seat), and Ronkonkoma.

Top landmarks

  • Bayport Aerodrome — airport in Suffolk County, New York, United States
  • Connetquot River State Park Preserve — state park in New York
  • Modesty — oyster-dredging sloop built in Long Island

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 6h 15m. Total distance: 284.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 15m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 106 miles on NY 17. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $23.23 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.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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 Islip, 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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 195.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 211.1 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 212.5 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial and Stonewall National Monument (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 6.3 hours each way, a round trip means 12.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Islip, NY before the return drive.

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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