Nichols, NY to Oyster Bay, NY is 291.6 miles and takes about 6h 5m via Keystone Shortway and Appalachian Thruway, with a fuel budget near $47 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, beginning and ending in New York. You'll primarily be on surface roads, so expect a more local feel rather than interstate speed. With just one recommended stop and a manageable duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day drive if you're looking to get there efficiently.
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
145.8 miles from Nichols, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
163 mi
3h 10m
Appalachian Thruway
62.5 mi
1h 9m
Northern Boulevard
14.5 mi
24m
US Highway 15
11.7 mi
16m
Cross Bronx Expressway
6.6 mi
8m
Route 49
6.5 mi
11m
Christopher Columbus Highway
5.5 mi
5m
Westbranch Highway
2.9 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 163 mi, about 3h 10m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 364 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,523 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,258
Quietest
1 AM
~393 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 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 Nichols, NY and Oyster Bay, NY.
1
Start on Mack Road
0.2 mi·46 sec·Mack Road
2
Turn sharp right onto County Route 86
1.0 mi·2 min·County Route 86
3
Continue on Marsh Road
1.6 mi·3 min·Marsh Road
4
Turn right onto Lakeview Drive
0.2 mi·21 sec·Lakeview Drive
5
Turn left onto PA 49
6.5 mi·11 min·Route 49
6
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward US 15 South: Mansfield
7
Merge onto I 99; US 15
63 mi·1 hr 9 min·Appalachian Thruway
8
Take the exit onto US 15
0.2 mi·23 sec·US 15
Exit 27AToward US 15 South: LewisburgUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 15
159 ft·5 sec·US 15
Use the right lane.
10
Merge onto US 15
0.9 mi·2 min·Market Street
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn slight left onto US 15
1.3 mi·2 min·Montgomery Pike
12
Continue on US 15
12 mi·16 min·US Highway 15
Use the straight lane.
13
Continue on US 15
2.9 mi·3 min·Westbranch Highway
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·58 sec
Toward I 80 East: BloomsburgUse the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·58 sec
16
Merge onto I 80
163 mi·3 hr 10 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·5 min·Christopher Columbus Highway
Toward I 95: George Washington Bridge Lower LevelUse the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·23 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 70A-BToward Leonia, TeaneckUse the slight right lane.
20
Turn right
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 70AToward LeoniaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Turn straight onto CR 56
454 ft·9 sec·Degraw Avenue
22
Continue on CR 56
1.1 mi·2 min·Fort Lee Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Continue on CR 56
469 ft·13 sec·Main Street
24
Take the ramp
472 ft·12 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge
25
Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46
0.3 mi·28 sec·Bergen Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
312 ft·4 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level
27
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.3 mi·20 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
29
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
31
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi·6 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
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.
33
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi·58 sec·Throgs Neck Expressway
34
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·2 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 5Toward NY 25A: Northern BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Continue on Clearview Expressway
457 ft·17 sec·Clearview Expressway
38
Turn left onto NY 25A
15 mi·24 min·Northern Boulevard
Use the left lane.
39
Turn left onto NY 106
0.3 mi·29 sec·Jericho Oyster Bay Road
40
Turn straight onto NY 106
0.5 mi·46 sec·Oyster Bay Road
41
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 106
260 ft·4 sec·Oyster Bay Road
42
Continue on NY 106
0.9 mi·1 min·Pine Hollow Road
Use the left lane.
43
Continue on NY 106
105 ft·5 sec·South Street
44
Turn right onto Berry Hill Road
112 ft·9 sec·Berry Hill Road
45
Continue on Berry Hill Road
64 ft·2 sec·Berry Hill Road
46
Arrive at destination
Berry Hill Road
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour drive time, departing Nichols, NY in the morning will allow you ample time to reach Oyster Bay, NY before evening. Plan for one stop to break up the 291.6 miles, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $47, and it's always wise to top off when you see a good price, especially on surface roads where stations might be less frequent. The longest continuous stretch on the Keystone Shortway is 163 miles, so ensure you're fueled up before you begin that segment.
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 145.8 miles from Nichols, NY, or about 3h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 163 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 64 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 145.8 miles or 3h 1m 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 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oyster Bay, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Nichols, 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 Nichols, NY
This is one driving day of about 291.6 miles and 6h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Nichols, 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 Keystone Shortway for about 163 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 27
5 decision points cluster between mile 72.5 and 268.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
72.5 mi into trip|~1h 29m in|US 15
Take the exit onto US 15 toward US 15 South: Lewisburg
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 27A
Toward US 15 South: Lewisburg
7
72.6 mi into trip|~1h 30m in|US 15
Keep slight right at fork onto US 15
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
8
258.7 mi into trip|~5h 13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, Ne...
9
259 mi into trip|~5h 13m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Leonia, Teaneck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 70A-B
Toward Leonia, Teaneck
8
268.4 mi into trip|~5h 27m 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
$51.04 one way
$102.08 round trip
$4.45/gal25.4 MPG avg102 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$55.31
$110.62
premium
$5.23
$60.04
$120.08
diesel
$6.28
$72.05
$144.10
Estimated Tolls: $26.93
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
Appalachian Thruway
(62.5 mi)$4.38
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
$51
Tolls
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$103–$128
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
87.5
1
$30.62
$14.00
Efficient EV
72.9
0
$25.52
$11.66
EV Truck/SUV
116.6
1
$40.82
$18.66
Gas CO2
102 kg
EV CO2
34 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Nichols, NY
Morning
in Nichols on Saturday
Local time
6:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Sunny
NW 0 to 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Oyster Bay, NY
Morning
in Oyster Bay on Saturday
Local time
6:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Sunny
NE 6 to 9 mph0% 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.
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
6h 5m 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.
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 261.4
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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 261.4
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 261.4
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 261.4
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 261.4
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 261.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly surface roads, with only 11% of the drive on highways. The longest stretch you'll encounter without a major change in road type is 163 miles on the Keystone Shortway. As you transition from highway to surface roads, be prepared for more frequent intersections and potentially slower speeds as you pass through local communities. The profile suggests a consistent pace on local roads, rather than long, high-speed highway segments.
Only 11% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
46 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 163 mi on Keystone Shortway.
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 72.5 miles in near US 15.
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 27 significant decision points across 291.6 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 72.5 miles (US 15): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 72.6 miles (US 15): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 258.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,862 ft17 ft
Total Climb
2,101 ft
Total Descent
3,506 ft
Highest Point
1,862 ft
~166.6 mi in
Elevation Range
1,845 ft
Notable High Points
1,836 ft at ~41.7 miles+666 ft prominence
1,862 ft at ~166.6 miles+664 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Nichols, NY and Oyster Bay, NY, road signs point toward New York City, Leonia, Teaneck and George Washington Bridge Upper Level.
Oyster Bay is one of three towns in Nassau County, on Long Island, New York.
The town of Oyster Bay comprises a large portion of eastern Nassau County and includes a slew of villages and other communities. This article covers North Oyster Bay – the area closest to Oyster Bay itself (in other words, everything that is north of the Long Island Expressway). See South Oyster Bay for the southern half of the town (in other words, the area south of the expressway). See the article for Glen Cove for communities in the northwest part of the town that are closest to that city.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 5m. Total distance: 291.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 5m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 163 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $26.93 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 25 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 Oyster Bay, 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 25 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 72.5 miles (US 15): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 72.6 miles (US 15): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 258.7 miles: 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 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 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Oyster Bay, NY before the return drive.
