Escaping Manhattan for the tip of Long Island is a classic 116.8-mile journey that typically takes about 3 hours and 2 minutes to complete. Because this trip stays entirely within the Northeast region, you won't encounter major geographic shifts, but the transition from the dense urban grid to the coast is distinct. Expect to spend approximately $18 on fuel for the trek. While you could technically manage this as a long day trip, the drive is best enjoyed if you have at least one full day to explore. It serves as a practical getaway for those looking to trade city streets for a change of pace without crossing state lines.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
58.4 miles from Manhattan, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Long Island Expressway
61.8 mi
1h 25m
Montauk Highway
16.9 mi
31m
Sunrise Highway
13.2 mi
15m
County Road 39
5.5 mi
11m
Captain Daniel Roe Highway
4.6 mi
7m
Montauk Point State Parkway
4.6 mi
6m
NY 25
2 mi
3m
Main Street
1.7 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Long Island Expressway
— 61.8 mi, about 1h 25m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Manhattan, NY and Montauk, NY.
1
Start on 86th Street Transverse
0.4 mi·1 min·86th Street Transverse
2
Turn right onto 5th Avenue
0.6 mi·2 min·5th Avenue
3
Turn left onto East 72nd Street
0.5 mi·1 min·East 72nd Street
4
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue
0.6 mi·2 min·2nd Avenue
Use the straight lane.
5
Take the ramp onto NY 25
1.4 mi·2 min·NY 25
Toward Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, Lower RoadwayUse the left lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 25
0.6 mi·51 sec·NY 25
Toward NY 25A, NY 25
7
Turn right onto Van Dam Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Van Dam Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Turn left onto Borden Avenue
0.2 mi·30 sec·Borden Avenue
9
Take the ramp onto Borden Avenue
0.6 mi·1 min·Borden Avenue
Toward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, Eastern Long Island, Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
10
Merge onto I 495
62 mi·1 hr 25 min·Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 70Toward CR 111: Manorville, EastportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto CR 111
4.6 mi·7 min·Captain Daniel Roe Highway
Use the right lane.
13
Take the exit
0.6 mi·49 sec
Toward NY 27 East: Montauk
14
Merge onto NY 27
13 mi·15 min·Sunrise Highway
15
Continue on NY 27; CR 39
5.5 mi·11 min·County Road 39
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
16
Turn left onto Montauk Highway
10 mi·20 min·Montauk Highway
Use the left / straight lanes.
17
Continue on NY 27
0.5 mi·1 min·Woods Lane
18
At end of road, turn left onto NY 27
0.9 mi·2 min·Main Street
Use the left lane.
19
Continue on NY 27
1.2 mi·2 min·Pantigo Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Continue on NY 27
1.1 mi·2 min·Montauk Highway
21
Continue on NY 27
0.8 mi·1 min·Main Street
22
Continue on NY 27
5.5 mi·8 min·Montauk Highway
23
Continue on NY 27
4.6 mi·6 min·Montauk Point State Parkway
24
Continue on NY 27
0.2 mi·26 sec·Montauk Highway
25
Turn left onto Second House Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Second House Road
Use the left lane.
26
Arrive at destination
Second House Road
Trip Plan
Pacing is key for this 3-hour trip, so plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the local driving. Since you are dealing with city-heavy roads, try to time your departure to avoid peak commuter traffic, which can quickly turn your 3-hour estimate into a much longer day. Keep your $18 fuel budget in mind, and ensure your tank is topped off before leaving Manhattan to avoid the higher costs or congestion often found near the city exits. Because this is a relatively short route, your greatest advantage is flexibility; take your time navigating the turns and prioritize safety over speed as you make your way toward Montauk.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 58.4 miles from Manhattan, NY, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 61.8 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 26 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.4 miles or 1h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 23m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Montauk, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Manhattan, 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 Manhattan, NY
This is one driving day of about 116.8 miles and 3h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Manhattan, 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 Long Island Expressway for about 61.8 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 102.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
1.5 mi into trip|~4m in|2nd Avenue
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
2.1 mi into trip|~7m in|NY 25
Take the ramp onto NY 25 toward Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, Lower Roadway
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, Lower Roadway
6
3.5 mi into trip|~9m in|NY 25
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 25 toward NY 25A, NY 25
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NY 25A, NY 25
8
67.2 mi into trip|~1h 39m in
Take the exit toward CR 111: Manorville, Eastport
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 70
Toward CR 111: Manorville, Eastport
6
102.1 mi into trip|~2h 36m in|NY 27 / Main Street
At end of road, turn left onto NY 27 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.23 one way
$38.45 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$20.79
$41.58
premium
$4.92
$22.64
$45.28
diesel
$5.61
$25.79
$51.58
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35
0
$12.26
$5.61
Efficient EV
29.2
0
$10.22
$4.67
EV Truck/SUV
46.7
0
$16.35
$7.48
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Manhattan, NY
Late night
in Manhattan on Sunday
Local time
12:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Mostly Sunny
SE 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 18 at 1:15PM EDT until April 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Burlington VT
Destination
Montauk, NY
Late night
in Montauk on Sunday
Local time
12:23 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Patchy Fog
E 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 18 at 1:15PM EDT until April 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Burlington VT
42°F
Northampton, NY
58 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.
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
16 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
3h 2m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will navigate through city infrastructure, starting on 5th Avenue and moving through East 72nd Street and 2nd Avenue. Because the longest stretch on 5th Avenue is 0 miles, your hands will stay busy navigating constant turns and local traffic patterns. This isn't a route where you can put the car in cruise control; instead, it demands your full attention as you transition off the island. Prepare for a technical drive that prioritizes local navigation over highway miles.
59% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 61.8 mi on Long Island Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in near 2nd Avenue.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 116.8 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 1.5 miles (2nd Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles (NY 25): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.5 miles (NY 25): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Manhattan, NY and Montauk, NY, road signs point toward Cr 111: Manorville and Eastport.
Wall Street. Madison Avenue. 34th Street. Broadway. Times Square. Manhattan is so well known that even the names of its streets have become iconic and understood the world over. This long, thin island is only one of New York City's five boroughs, but it's Manhattan that has the concrete canyons and the inimitable skyline; Manhattan that has the world's brightest theater district; Manhattan that has Central Park, Rockefeller Center, the Empire State Building, and the Met; and Manhattan that includes iconic neighborhoods like Harlem, the Upper East Side, Times Square, and Greenwich Village.
The rest of New York City has much to see and do, but it's Manhattan that represents the city—and sometimes the entire United States—to the world. You could spend a month on this tiny island and still not see all there is to see.
Top landmarks
•Empire State Building — skyscraper located in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, USA
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 2m. Total distance: 116.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 61.8 miles on Long Island Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 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 Montauk, 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. There are 6 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles (2nd Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.1 miles (NY 25): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.5 miles (NY 25): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — General Grant National Memorial, Hamilton Grange National Memorial and African Burial Ground National Monument (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Montauk, NY, but most travelers stay overnight.
