Madrid, NY to Brookhaven, NY is 427.2 miles and takes about 8h 52m via New York State Thruway and Long Island Expressway, with a fuel budget near $76 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip keeps you within the Northeast region, traveling entirely within New York State. Expect a mix of highway cruising and surface road driving, making it a solid choice for a single-day adventure if you get an early start. For a more relaxed pace, consider breaking this up over two days. The route is primarily surface roads, so plan for potential traffic delays, especially as you approach Long Island.
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
213.6 miles from Madrid, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 26m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New York State Thruway
201.9 mi
3h 53m
Long Island Expressway
43.5 mi
59m
Gouverneur Street
23.8 mi
27m
State Highway 12
22.8 mi
31m
Bea Luck Road
19.6 mi
23m
State Highway 812
16.7 mi
20m
Indian River Road
16.1 mi
19m
NJ 17
14.1 mi
18m
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 201.9 mi, about 3h 53m
Traffic on I-495
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 32 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 Madrid, NY and Brookhaven, NY.
1
Start on Cross Street
67 ft·5 sec·Cross Street
2
Turn right onto NY 345
0.2 mi·23 sec·Main Street
3
Turn left onto NY 345
0.4 mi·41 sec·Bridge Street
4
Turn right onto NY 310
3.5 mi·5 min·State Highway 310
5
Continue on Canton-Madrid Road
5.1 mi·7 min·Canton-Madrid Road
6
Continue on NY 310
0.7 mi·59 sec·State Highway 310
7
Turn right onto 85
1.4 mi·2 min·State Street Road
8
At end of road, turn left onto Riverside Drive
0.1 mi·20 sec·Riverside Drive
9
Turn right onto US 11; NY 68
0.2 mi·19 sec·Main Street
10
Turn left onto US 11
24 mi·27 min·Gouverneur Street
11
Turn left onto NY 58; NY 812
0.6 mi·40 sec·William Street
12
Continue on NY 58; NY 812
5.5 mi·6 min·State Highway 58
13
Turn right onto NY 812
2.1 mi·2 min·Balmat-Fowler Road
14
Continue on NY 812
7.9 mi·9 min·State Highway 812
15
At end of road, turn right onto NY 3; NY 812
0.3 mi·33 sec·State Highway 812
16
Continue on NY 3; NY 812
0.4 mi·59 sec·State Street
17
Continue on NY 3; NY 812
0.8 mi·1 min·Main Street
18
Continue on NY 3; NY 812
2.9 mi·4 min·State Route 3
19
Turn left onto NY 812
5.7 mi·6 min·Indian River Road
20
Continue on NY 812
10 mi·12 min·Indian River Road
21
Continue on NY 812
0.8 mi·1 min·Main Street
22
Continue on NY 812
8.4 mi·10 min·State Highway 812
23
Turn left onto East State Street
1.5 mi·3 min·East State Street
24
Continue on Ross Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Ross Road
25
Turn left onto NY 12
20 mi·23 min·Bea Luck Road
26
Continue on NY 12
0.8 mi·51 sec·State Highway 12
27
Continue on NY 12
9.7 mi·11 min·Erwin Parkway
28
Continue on NY 12
22 mi·30 min·State Highway 12
29
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
30
Merge onto NY 49
0.4 mi·26 sec·State Route 49
31
Continue on I 790; NY 5
0.2 mi·13 sec·I 790; NY 5
32
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Toward Genesee Street South
33
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 90
34
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 90 East
35
Merge onto I 90
84 mi·1 hr 36 min·New York State Thruway
36
Keep slight right at fork onto New York State Thruway
118 mi·2 hr 16 min·New York State Thruway
Toward I 87 South: New York, BostonUse the slight right lane.
37
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17
0.9 mi·59 sec·NY 17
Exit 15Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New JerseyUse the slight right lane.
38
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
0.5 mi·39 sec·I 287; NJ 17
39
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17
14 mi·18 min·NJ 17
Exit 66Toward NJ 17 South: MahwahUse the slight left / straight lanes.
40
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
41
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
42
Merge onto NJ 4
0.3 mi·24 sec·NJ 4
Use the right lane.
43
Continue on NJ 4
6.4 mi·8 min·NJ 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
44
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington BridgeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
45
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.7 mi·54 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
46
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
47
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
48
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
49
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi·6 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
50
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.
51
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi·58 sec·Throgs Neck Expressway
52
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
53
Continue on I 295
3.2 mi·3 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
54
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 4E-WToward I 495: Manhattan, Eastern Long IslandUse the straight / slight right lanes.
55
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 4EToward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, Eastern Long Island
56
Merge onto I 495
43 mi·59 min·Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
57
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 65Toward CR 16: Horse Block Road, Centereach, ShirleyUse the straight / slight right lanes.
58
Turn straight onto Express Drive South
0.2 mi·21 sec·Express Drive South
Toward I 495, CR 101: Yaphank, Riverhead
59
Turn slight right onto CR 16
4.1 mi·6 min·Horseblock Road
Use the right lane.
60
At end of road, turn right onto CR 80
0.9 mi·1 min·Montauk Highway
Use the right lane.
61
Turn left onto CR 36
0.4 mi·50 sec·South Country Road
Use the left lane.
62
Arrive at destination
CR 36
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 427.2-mile drive, an early morning departure from Madrid is highly recommended to maximize daylight and minimize potential traffic. With a total duration of nearly 9 hours, it's feasible as a single day trip, but splitting it over two days is also a great option for a more leisurely experience. You'll have 2 designated stops to break up the drive, which can be strategically placed. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $76, and plan your refueling stops accordingly, especially given the significant portion of the drive on surface roads where services might be more spaced out.
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 213.6 miles from Madrid, NY, or about 4h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 201.9 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 94 miles or 2h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 213.6 miles or 4h 26m 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 213.6 miles or 4h 26m
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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brookhaven, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Madrid, 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 Madrid, NY
Aim for roughly 214 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Brookhaven, NY
Aim for roughly 214 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 94 miles from Madrid, 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 New York State Thruway for about 201.9 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 38
5 decision points cluster between mile 221.2 and 377.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
221.2 mi into trip|~4h 35m in|New York State Thruway
Keep slight right at fork onto New York State Thruway toward I 87 South: New York, Boston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 87 South: New York, Boston
9
339.4 mi into trip|~6h 51m 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
340.8 mi into trip|~6h 53m 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
369.8 mi into trip|~7h 33m 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
8
377.6 mi into trip|~7h 43m in
Take the exit toward I 495: Manhattan, Eastern Long Island
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 4E-W
Toward I 495: Manhattan, Eastern Long Island
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$69.11 one way
$138.22 round trip
$4.11/gal25.4 MPG avg150 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$75.00
$149.99
premium
$4.85
$81.54
$163.08
diesel
$4.80
$80.66
$161.33
Estimated Tolls: $32.64
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
New York State Thruway
(201.9 mi)$10.09
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
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
$69
Tolls
$33
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$232–$342
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 149.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $45 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
128.2
1
$44.86
$20.51
Efficient EV
106.8
1
$37.38
$17.09
EV Truck/SUV
170.9
2
$59.81
$27.34
Gas CO2
149 kg
EV CO2
50 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
Madrid, NY
Morning
in Madrid on Monday
Local time
10:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Mostly Clear
NW 2 to 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Brookhaven, NY
Morning
in Brookhaven on Monday
Local time
10:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Smoke
NW 3 to 8 mph9% chanceLive 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.
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
18 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 52m 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.
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 368.3
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...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 368.3
Immerse yourself in an enchanting collage of coastal life and history. Rhythmic waves, high dunes, ancient maritime forests, historic landmarks and glimpses of wildlife, Fire Island has been a special...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 427.2
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 368.3
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 368.3
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...
11 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 368.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 33% highway, with the longest continuous stretch on the New York State Thruway covering 201.9 miles. You'll transition from highway to mostly surface roads, so be prepared for more frequent intersections and potentially slower speeds. The share of surface roads means you'll likely encounter more local traffic and a different driving rhythm compared to pure interstate travel. Plan for a significant portion of your drive to be on more conventional roads after leaving the Thruway.
Only 33% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
62 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 201.9 mi on New York State Thruway.
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 221.2 miles in near New York State Thruway.
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 38 significant decision points across 427.2 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 221.2 miles (New York State Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 339.4 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 340.8 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,054 ft9 ft
Total Climb
1,518 ft
Total Descent
1,832 ft
Highest Point
1,054 ft
~61 mi in
Elevation Range
1,045 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Madrid, NY and Brookhaven, NY, road signs point toward Genesee Street South, Boston, Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York and Eastern Long Island.
Brookhaven is the largest town in Suffolk County, part of Long Island, New York. With 485,000 residents (2020). It includes a patchwork of villages and other communities, and is the only town on the island to touch both the Long Island Sound and Atlantic Ocean. The villages of Belle Terre, Bellport, Lake Grove, Mastic Beach, Old Field, Patchogue, Poquott, Port Jefferson, and Shoreham are semi-autonomous, and provide their own services in addition to those provided by the town. Other prominent communities include Mount Sinai, Stony Brook, and Fire Island, a long and car-free resort island off the south coast of the town.
Top landmarks
•Wardenclyffe Tower — early experimental wireless transmission station designed and built by Nikola Te...
•West Meadow Beach Historic District — historic district in the United States
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 201.9 miles on New York State Thruway. 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 214 miles on day one.
Expect about $32.64 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 28 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 Brookhaven, 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 28 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 221.2 miles (New York State Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 339.4 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 340.8 miles (NJ 17): 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.9 hours each way, a round trip means 17.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Brookhaven, NY before the return drive.
