This 407.9-mile drive from Norfolk, NY to Brookhaven, NY will take approximately 8 hours and 56 minutes, making it a solid two-day trip. You'll primarily be on I-87, also known as the Adirondack Northway, before transitioning to the Long Island Expressway. With a highway share of 68%, this route is focused on efficient travel. The estimated fuel cost is around $67, and you'll make about two planned stops. Given the duration and distance, splitting this journey over two days is highly recommended to avoid a grueling single-day effort. It’s a practical Northeast to Northeast journey designed for covering ground.
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
203.9 miles from Norfolk, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 40m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 87
118.6 mi
2h 17m
Adirondack Northway
77 mi
1h 30m
Long Island Expressway
43.5 mi
59m
State Highway 56
35 mi
51m
State Highway 28N
30.3 mi
43m
Adirondack Trail
19.3 mi
27m
State Route 3
14.8 mi
20m
NJ 17
14.1 mi
18m
Longest stretch:
I 87
— 118.6 mi, about 2h 17m
Traffic on I-87
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 30 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,496 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,286
Quietest
1 AM
~113 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
22.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Norfolk, NY and Brookhaven, NY.
1
Start on Hepburn Street
148 ft·9 sec·Hepburn Street
2
Turn right onto 38A
0.4 mi·1 min·West Main Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto NY 56
4.3 mi·5 min·South Main Street
4
Continue on NY 56
3.6 mi·4 min·State Highway 56
5
Continue on NY 56
1.1 mi·3 min·Market Street
6
Turn left onto US 11
0.2 mi·39 sec·Elm Street
7
Turn right onto Park Street
248 ft·7 sec·Park Street
8
Keep slight left at fork onto Park Street
198 ft·7 sec·Park Street
9
Continue on NY 56
1.0 mi·2 min·Pierrepont Avenue
10
Continue on NY 56
31 mi·47 min·State Highway 56
11
At end of road, turn left onto NY 3
15 mi·20 min·State Route 3
12
Continue on NY 3
1.0 mi·2 min·Main Street
13
Continue on NY 3
1.2 mi·2 min·Demars Boulevard
14
Continue on NY 3
0.1 mi·30 sec·Lake Street
15
Turn left onto NY 3
282 ft·12 sec·Mill Street
16
Turn right onto NY 30
0.2 mi·33 sec·East Park Street
17
Turn left onto NY 30
1.9 mi·3 min·Wawbeek Avenue
18
Continue on NY 30
0.8 mi·1 min·Adirondack Trail
19
Continue on NY 30
0.5 mi·46 sec·Moody Road
20
Continue on NY 30
18 mi·25 min·Adirondack Trail
21
Continue on NY 30
0.3 mi·42 sec·Lake Street
22
Continue on NY 30
0.4 mi·58 sec·Adirondack Trail
23
At end of road, turn left onto NY 28N
0.7 mi·1 min·State Highway 28N
24
Continue on NY 28N
2.5 mi·3 min·Newcomb Road
25
Continue on NY 28N
30 mi·41 min·State Highway 28N
26
Turn slight left onto CR 30
2.8 mi·4 min·A P Morse Highway
27
Keep slight left at fork onto Donnelly Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Donnelly Road
28
Continue on CR 29
1.2 mi·1 min·County Highway 29
29
Continue on CR 19
4.8 mi·7 min·Olmstedville Road
30
Turn straight onto US 9
0.2 mi·38 sec·US 9
31
Turn left onto Valley Farm Road
0.3 mi·33 sec·Valley Farm Road
32
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
33
Merge onto I 87
77 mi·1 hr 30 min·Adirondack Northway
Use the slight right lane.
34
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87
0.3 mi·31 sec·I 87
Exit 1E-WToward I 87 South, I 90: Boston, Albany, New York, BuffaloUse the slight right lane.
35
Continue on I 87
0.5 mi·51 sec·I 87
Exit 1WToward I 87 South, I 90 West: New York, Buffalo
36
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87
118 mi·2 hr 16 min·I 87
Toward I 87 South: New YorkUse the straight / slight right lanes.
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 407.9-mile drive, plan to depart early to maximize daylight, especially if you're splitting it over two days. With a recommended two-day pace, aim to cover roughly half the distance on day one, perhaps stopping around the halfway point of your 8h 56m total travel time. This allows for a more relaxed pace and time to rest. Pay attention to the Long Island Expressway as you approach your destination, as traffic can be a factor. Budgeting for your $67 fuel cost and planning your two stops strategically will ensure a smooth journey.
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 203.9 miles from Norfolk, NY, or about 4h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 118.6 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 90 miles or 2h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 203.9 miles or 4h 40m 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 203.9 miles or 4h 40m
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 33m
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 Norfolk, 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 Norfolk, NY
Aim for roughly 204 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Brookhaven, NY
Aim for roughly 204 miles and 4.5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 90 miles from Norfolk, 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 I 87 for about 118.6 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 35
5 decision points cluster between mile 201.4 and 358.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
201.4 mi into trip|~4h 36m in|I 87
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87 toward I 87 South, I 90: Boston, Albany, New York, Buffalo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1E-W
Toward I 87 South, I 90: Boston, Albany, New Yo...
9
320 mi into trip|~6h 54m 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
321.4 mi into trip|~6h 56m 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
350.5 mi into trip|~7h 36m 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
358.2 mi into trip|~7h 47m 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
$65.99 one way
$131.97 round trip
$4.11/gal25.4 MPG avg143 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$71.61
$143.21
premium
$4.85
$77.85
$155.71
diesel
$4.80
$77.02
$154.04
Estimated Tolls: $22.55
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
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
$66
Tolls
$23
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$219–$329
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 142.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $43 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
122.4
1
$42.83
$19.58
Efficient EV
102
1
$35.69
$16.32
EV Truck/SUV
163.2
2
$57.11
$26.11
Gas CO2
143 kg
EV CO2
48 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
Norfolk, NY
Afternoon
in Norfolk on Sunday
Local time
1:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Clear
W 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Brookhaven, NY
Afternoon
in Brookhaven on Sunday
Local time
1:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Smoke
NW 6 mph6% 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
17 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 56m 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...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 351.6
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 407.9
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...
7 mi from route
~18 min detour
Free
near mile 351.6
In 1777, a large British invasion force met an equally large American army here at Saratoga. After two intense battles, an eight-mile retreat, and a three-day siege, British General John Burgoyne surr...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 182.8
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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 351.6
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...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 351.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this trip, with 68% of the journey on major interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 118.6 miles on I-87. While the Adirondack Northway offers open road driving, the transition to the Long Island Expressway will bring you into more developed areas, requiring attention to traffic. This route prioritizes steady progress over winding scenic byways, so be prepared for consistent highway speeds for the majority of the 8 hours and 56 minutes.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
62 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 118.6 mi on I 87.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 87 and Adirondack Northway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 201.4 miles in near I 87.
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 35 significant decision points across 407.9 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 201.4 miles (I 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 320 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 321.4 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,830 ft9 ft
Total Climb
1,779 ft
Total Descent
2,026 ft
Highest Point
1,830 ft
~87.4 mi in
Elevation Range
1,821 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Norfolk, NY and Brookhaven, NY, road signs point toward Albany, New York, Buffalo, Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee 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
The longest stretch is about 118.6 miles on I 87. 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 204 miles on day one.
Expect about $22.55 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 21 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 21 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 201.4 miles (I 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 320 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 321.4 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Hamilton Grange National Memorial, Fire Island National Seashore and General Grant National Memorial (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 17.9 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.
