This 236.8-mile drive from Milford, NY to Brookhaven, NY is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can comfortably be completed in about 5 hours and 24 minutes. It's a feasible day trip, especially if you're looking to get from point A to point B efficiently within the Northeast region. The route predominantly utilizes major highways, with an estimated fuel cost of $39. You'll spend most of your time on NY 17 and the Long Island Expressway, making it a practical choice for those prioritizing speed and directness. Given its highway-centric nature, this trip is best suited for those who don't mind a consistent driving pace.
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
118.4 miles from Milford, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 46m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NY 17
70.1 mi
1h 23m
Long Island Expressway
43.5 mi
59m
NJ 17
14.1 mi
18m
State Highway 206
13.7 mi
24m
New York State Thruway
13.7 mi
15m
State Highway 28
12.9 mi
18m
Franklin-Walton Road
9 mi
12m
NJ 4
6.7 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
NY 17
— 70.1 mi, about 1h 23m
Traffic on I-495
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 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 Milford, NY and Brookhaven, NY.
1
Start on NY 166
94 ft·8 sec·East Main Street
2
Continue on NY 28
0.3 mi·30 sec·South Main Street
3
Continue on NY 28
7.4 mi·10 min·State Highway 28
4
Continue on NY 28
1.3 mi·1 min·Gersoni Road
5
Take the ramp onto NY 28
4.8 mi·5 min·NY 28
6
Take the exit onto NY 28
0.3 mi·38 sec·NY 28
Exit 15Toward NY 23, NY 28 South: Oneonta, Davenport
7
Turn left onto NY 23; NY 28
0.2 mi·38 sec·James F. Lettis Highway
8
Turn right onto NY 28
5.6 mi·7 min·State Highway 28
9
Continue on NY 357
6.4 mi·10 min·NY 357
10
Turn slight left onto CR 21
9.0 mi·12 min·Franklin-Walton Road
11
Continue on CR 21
3.6 mi·4 min·West Brook Road
12
Continue on CR 21
0.1 mi·20 sec·Franklin Road
13
Turn right onto CR 21
0.9 mi·2 min·Townsend Street
14
At end of road, turn left onto NY 10; NY 206
242 ft·8 sec·Delaware Street
15
Turn right onto NY 206
0.1 mi·18 sec·Bridge Street
Use the right lane.
16
At end of road, turn left onto NY 206
0.9 mi·1 min·Stockton Avenue
17
Continue on NY 206
9.0 mi·16 min·State Highway 206
18
Continue on NY 30; NY 206
0.3 mi·47 sec·Bridge Street
19
Continue on NY 30; NY 206
2.8 mi·4 min·State Highway 30
20
Turn right onto NY 206; CR 7
4.6 mi·8 min·Cat Hollow Road
21
Continue on NY 206; CR 7
4.7 mi·8 min·State Highway 206
22
Continue on NY 206; CR 91
1.6 mi·2 min·Rockland Road
23
Continue on NY 206; CR 179
0.3 mi·33 sec·Old Route 17
24
Turn right onto CR 124
0.2 mi·21 sec·Stewart Avenue
25
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward NY 17 East: New York CityUse the left lane.
26
Merge onto NY 17
69 mi·1 hr 22 min·NY 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·59 sec
Toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York CityUse the slight right lane.
28
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 87 Toll South: New York CityUse the slight right lane.
29
Merge onto I 87
14 mi·15 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
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.
31
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
0.5 mi·39 sec·I 287; NJ 17
32
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.
33
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
34
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
35
Merge onto NJ 4
0.3 mi·24 sec·NJ 4
Use the right lane.
36
Continue on NJ 4
6.4 mi·8 min·NJ 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington BridgeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
38
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.7 mi·54 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
40
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
42
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi·6 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
43
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.
44
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi·58 sec·Throgs Neck Expressway
45
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
46
Continue on I 295
3.2 mi·3 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
47
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 4E-WToward I 495: Manhattan, Eastern Long IslandUse the straight / slight right lanes.
48
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 4EToward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, Eastern Long Island
49
Merge onto I 495
43 mi·59 min·Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
50
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 65Toward CR 16: Horse Block Road, Centereach, ShirleyUse the straight / slight right lanes.
51
Turn straight onto Express Drive South
0.2 mi·21 sec·Express Drive South
Toward I 495, CR 101: Yaphank, Riverhead
52
Turn slight right onto CR 16
4.1 mi·6 min·Horseblock Road
Use the right lane.
53
At end of road, turn right onto CR 80
0.9 mi·1 min·Montauk Highway
Use the right lane.
54
Turn left onto CR 36
0.4 mi·50 sec·South Country Road
Use the left lane.
55
Arrive at destination
CR 36
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour, 24-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Milford, NY, to maximize daylight and potentially avoid the heaviest traffic, especially as you approach Long Island. With one recommended stop, you can easily manage breaks along the way. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the longest stretch without a major road change is over 70 miles. Planning your fuel stops in advance will prevent any unnecessary delays on this highway-focused trip. Remember that flexibility is key on shorter, direct routes like this, allowing you to adjust as needed.
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 118.4 miles from Milford, NY, or about 2h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.1 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 52 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 118.4 miles or 2h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 25m
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 Milford, 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 Milford, NY
This is one driving day of about 236.8 miles and 5h 24m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 miles from Milford, 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 70.1 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 33
5 decision points cluster between mile 64.3 and 179.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
64.3 mi into trip|~1h 41m in
Take the ramp toward NY 17 East: New York City
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward NY 17 East: New York City
8
133.7 mi into trip|~3h 4m 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
148.9 mi into trip|~3h 23m 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
150.3 mi into trip|~3h 25m 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
179.4 mi into trip|~4h 5m 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
$38.31 one way
$76.62 round trip
$4.11/gal25.4 MPG avg83 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$41.57
$83.14
premium
$4.85
$45.20
$90.39
diesel
$4.80
$44.71
$89.42
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
$38
Tolls
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$87–$112
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 82.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
71
0
$24.86
$11.37
Efficient EV
59.2
0
$20.72
$9.47
EV Truck/SUV
94.7
1
$33.15
$15.16
Gas CO2
83 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 18, 2026
Origin
Milford, NY
Afternoon
in Milford on Sunday
Local time
1:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Smoke
SW 10 mph81% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 9:59AM EDT until July 18 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 9:59AM EDT until July 19 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY
Destination
Brookhaven, NY
Afternoon
in Brookhaven on Sunday
Local time
1:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Areas Of Smoke
S 14 to 18 mph92% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 9:59AM EDT until July 18 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 9:59AM EDT until July 19 at 4:00AM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY
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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
5h 24m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 171.5
Caution: Lower Crypt Access Subject to Safe Conditions
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
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 171.5
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 236.8
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
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 171.5
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 171.5
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
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 171.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-intensive experience, with 80% of this 236.8-mile route comprising high-speed roads. The drive begins on NY 17, offering a substantial 70.1-mile stretch without needing to divert, setting a tone for efficient travel. You'll then transition to the Long Island Expressway, continuing this pattern of consistent highway driving. This profile means you'll encounter a steady flow of traffic and minimal complex intersections, allowing for a predictable pace. The character remains largely consistent, emphasizing forward momentum over varied scenery.
80% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
55 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.1 mi on NY 17.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NY 17 and Long Island Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 64.3 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 33 significant decision points across 236.8 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 64.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 133.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 148.9 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,635 ft9 ft
Total Climb
894 ft
Total Descent
2,090 ft
Highest Point
1,635 ft
~16.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,626 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Milford, NY and Brookhaven, NY, road signs point toward Davenport, Nyst: Albany, New York City, Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee and New York - among others.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 24m. Total distance: 236.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 70.1 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.
Yes — we found about 10 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 10 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 64.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 133.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 148.9 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — General Grant National Memorial, Hamilton Grange 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 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.8 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.
