Origin
New York City, NY
Morning in New York City on Sunday
Local time
6:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from New York City, NY to Ronkonkoma, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 17m
Distance
51.8 mi
83 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 11m
★
6 AM
1h 17m
8 AM
1h 29m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 20m
3 PM
1h 22m
5 PM
1h 29m
8 PM
1h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
New York City, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Ronkonkoma, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
New York City, NY to Ronkonkoma, NY is 51.8 miles and takes about 1h 17m via the Long Island Expressway, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, primarily highway drive within the Northeast region, specifically within New York State. Given its short distance and highway focus, it’s an ideal trip for a single day, especially if you want to get out of the city and onto Long Island without a long commitment. Factor in potential city traffic, especially when departing Manhattan.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Long Island Expressway | 43.6 mi | 1h |
| Brooklyn-Queens Expressway | 4.4 mi | 7m |
| Brooklyn Bridge | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Ronkonkoma Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Prospect Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Chambers Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Centre Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Jay Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Long Island Expressway
— 43.6 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New York City, NY and Ronkonkoma, NY.
1
Start on Broadway
79 ft
·
10 sec
·
Broadway
2
Turn left onto Chambers Street
0.1 mi
·
36 sec
·
Chambers Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
3
Turn right onto Centre Street
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
Centre Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
4
Continue on Brooklyn Bridge
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Brooklyn Bridge
5
Take the exit
343 ft
·
9 sec
Toward I 278: Brooklyn Queens Expressway, Cadman Plaza West
Use the right lane.
6
Turn right
254 ft
·
9 sec
Toward I 278: Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
7
Turn right onto Cadman Plaza West
31 ft
·
1 sec
·
Cadman Plaza West
8
Turn slight right
223 ft
·
8 sec
Toward Brooklyn-Queens Expressway East
9
Turn slight right onto Prospect Street
0.2 mi
·
52 sec
·
Prospect Street
Use the right lane.
10
Turn right onto Jay Street
276 ft
·
17 sec
·
Jay Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
At end of road, turn left onto Sands Street
56 ft
·
2 sec
·
Sands Street
Use the left lane.
12
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Toward I 278 East: Triborough Bridge, Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 278
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 278
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Exit 35A-B
Toward I 495: Midtown Tunnel, Eastern Long Island, 48th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
this road
Exit 35
Toward I 495: Midtown Tunnel, Eastern Long Island, 48 Street
17
Keep slight right at fork
308 ft
·
8 sec
Exit 35B
Toward I 495 East: Eastern Long Island, Riverhead, 48th Street
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 35E
Toward I 495 East: Eastern Long Island, Riverhead
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 495 East: Eastern Long Island
20
Merge onto I 495
44 mi
·
1 hr
·
Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 60
Toward Ronkonkoma Avenue, Lake Ronkonkoma, Sayville
Use the slight right lane.
22
Turn straight onto Express Drive South
226 ft
·
12 sec
·
Express Drive South
23
Turn left onto Ronkonkoma Avenue
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Ronkonkoma Avenue
Use the left lane.
24
Arrive at destination
Ronkonkoma Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
26 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 25.9 miles from New York City, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 205 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 51.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Chambers Street
Turn left onto Chambers Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
6.3 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Take the exit toward I 495: Midtown Tunnel, Eastern Long Island, 48th Street
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 35A-B
Toward I 495: Midtown Tunnel, Eastern Long Isla...
10
6.5 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 495 East: Eastern Long Island, Riverhead, 48th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 35B
Toward I 495 East: Eastern Long Island, Riverhe...
9
6.6 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 East: Eastern Long Island, Riverhead
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 35E
Toward I 495 East: Eastern Long Island, Riverhe...
8
51.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
Take the exit toward Ronkonkoma Avenue, Lake Ronkonkoma, Sayville
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 60
Toward Ronkonkoma Avenue, Lake Ronkonkoma, Sayv...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.53 one way
$17.05 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
18 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $9.22 | $18.44 |
| premium | $4.92 | $10.04 | $20.08 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.44 | $22.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 15.5 | 0 | $5.44 | $2.49 |
| Efficient EV | 13 | 0 | $4.53 | $2.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 20.7 | 0 | $7.25 | $3.32 |
Gas CO2
18 kg
EV CO2
6 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.
Destination
Ronkonkoma, NY
Morning in Ronkonkoma on Sunday
Local time
6:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
North Hills, NY
26 mi in
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
1h 17m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is overwhelmingly highway-focused, with 93% of the journey on high-speed roads. You'll start on the Brooklyn Bridge and Brooklyn-Queens Expressway before merging onto the Long Island Expressway, which will be your main thoroughfare for the longest stretch of 43.6 miles. Expect consistent highway speeds and relatively few opportunities for scenic detours, as the profile is squarely in the 'highway-focused drive' category. The experience is about efficient travel rather than roadside exploration.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43.6 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 early in the drive near Chambers Street.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 51.8 miles you will encounter 20 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: near the start (Chambers Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between New York City, NY and Ronkonkoma, NY, road signs point toward Eastern Long Island and Riverhead.
Eastern Long Island
6.3 mi in
|
~13m
Riverhead
6.5 mi in
|
~13m
About the Cities
Starting in New York City, NY
Full guide →“The City That Never Sleeps” · Founded 1624
New York (known as "The Big Apple", "NYC," and often called "New York City") is a global center for media, entertainment, art, fashion, research, finance, and trade. The bustling, cosmopolitan heart of the 4th largest metropolis in the world and by far the most populous city in the United States, New York has long been a key entry point and a defining city for the nation. From the Statue of Liberty in the harbor to the Empire State Building towering over the Manhattan skyline, from the tunnels of the subway to the riches of Wall Street, from the bright signs of Times Square to the naturalistic beauty of Central Park, and from Yankee Stadium in the Bronx to Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York's landmarks are quintessential American landmarks. The city's neighborhoods and streets are so iconic they have become ingrained into the American consciousness.
Top landmarks
- • Statue of Liberty — American icon in New York, United States
- • National September 11 Memorial & Museum — memorial & museum in New York City commemorating the September 11, 2001 attacks
- • Plaza Hotel — hotel in Midtown Manhattan, New York City
Arriving in Ronkonkoma, NY
Full guide →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.
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 1h 17m. Total distance: 51.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 43.6 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 Ronkonkoma, 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: near the start (Chambers Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — African Burial Ground National Monument, Castle Clinton National Monument and Federal Hall National Memorial (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ronkonkoma, NY before heading back.
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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