Origin
North Merrick, NY
Afternoon in North Merrick on Sunday
Local time
3:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Merrick, NY to New York City, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
49m
Distance
29.3 mi
47 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Merrick, NY
Wikimedia Commons
New York City, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 29.3-mile drive from North Merrick, NY, to New York City, NY, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 49 minutes. Given its short duration and a modest fuel cost of around $5, it's perfect for a single-day excursion, with no need for an overnight stay. The journey primarily utilizes major parkways and expressways, making it a highway-focused experience within the Northeast region. You'll be on the road for less than an hour, so planning for multiple stops isn't necessary, allowing for a quick and efficient transition from suburban Long Island into the heart of the city.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southern State Parkway | 9 mi | 12m |
| Long Island Expressway | 7.3 mi | 10m |
| Brooklyn-Queens Expressway | 2 mi | 3m |
| Williamsburg Bridge | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| Clearview Expressway | 1.4 mi | 1m |
| Cross Island Parkway | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Hempstead Avenue | 1 mi | 2m |
| 212th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
Southern State Parkway
— 9 mi, about 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Merrick, NY and New York City, NY.
1
Start on this road
182 ft
·
9 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Aster Avenue
0.1 mi
·
35 sec
·
Aster Avenue
3
At end of road, turn left onto Larkspur Avenue
259 ft
·
17 sec
·
Larkspur Avenue
4
Turn left onto Merrick Avenue North
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Merrick Avenue North
5
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
Toward SO West: New York
6
Merge onto SO
9.0 mi
·
12 min
·
Southern State Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone Bridge
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto CI
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Cross Island Parkway
9
Take the exit
317 ft
·
9 sec
Exit 26B
Toward NY 24: UBS Arena-Belmont Park
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
437 ft
·
12 sec
Toward NY 24 West: Hempstead Avenue
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward Cross Island Parkway North, Hempstead Avenue West
12
Keep slight right at fork
266 ft
·
8 sec
Toward Hempstead Avenue West
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
this road
Toward Grandstand, Hempstead Avenue West
14
Keep slight left at fork
100 ft
·
4 sec
Toward Hempstead Avenue
15
Turn right onto NY 24
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Hempstead Avenue
Use the right lane.
16
Turn left onto Jamaica Avenue
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Jamaica Avenue
17
Turn right onto NY 24
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
212th Street
18
Continue on I 295
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Clearview Expressway
Toward I 295 North: Clearview Expressway, Through Neck Bridge
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 4E-W
Toward I 495: Long Island Expressway, Manhattan, Eastern Long Island
Use the slight right lane.
20
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 4W
Toward I 495 West: Long Island Expressway West, Manhattan
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
21
Merge onto I 495
7.3 mi
·
10 min
·
Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
1.0 mi
·
1 min
Exit 17W
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn, 48th Street
24
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
25
Merge onto I 278
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
26
Keep slight left at fork onto Williamsburg Bridge
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Williamsburg Bridge
Exit 32A
Toward Williamsburg Bridge, Manhattan
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto Williamsburg Bridge
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Williamsburg Bridge
Use the slight left lane.
28
Continue on Delancey Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Delancey Street
Use the straight lane.
29
Continue on Kenmare Street
0.2 mi
·
57 sec
·
Kenmare Street
30
At end of road, turn left onto Lafayette Street
0.2 mi
·
43 sec
·
Lafayette Street
Use the left lane.
31
Turn right onto Howard Street
510 ft
·
24 sec
·
Howard Street
32
Turn left onto Broadway
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Broadway
Use the straight lane.
33
Arrive at destination
Broadway
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 275 decision points cluster between mile 11.1 and 25.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
11.1 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NY 24 West: Hempstead Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward NY 24 West: Hempstead Avenue
8
11.3 mi into trip
|
~17m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Hempstead Avenue West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Hempstead Avenue West
8
14.7 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Take the exit toward I 495: Long Island Expressway, 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 slight right lane.
Exit 4E-W
Toward I 495: Long Island Expressway, Manhattan...
10
14.9 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 495 West: Long Island Expressway West, Manhattan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 4W
Toward I 495 West: Long Island Expressway West,...
9
25.9 mi into trip
|
~39m in
|
Williamsburg Bridge
Keep slight left at fork onto Williamsburg Bridge toward Williamsburg Bridge, Manhattan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 32A
Toward Williamsburg Bridge, Manhattan
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.82 one way
$9.65 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $5.22 | $10.43 |
| premium | $4.92 | $5.68 | $11.36 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.47 | $12.94 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.08 | $1.41 |
| Efficient EV | 7.3 | 0 | $2.56 | $1.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.7 | 0 | $4.10 | $1.88 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
New York City, NY
Afternoon in New York City on Sunday
Local time
3:05 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
4 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
49m 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?
Expect a highway-focused drive for this route, with 71% of it on major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 9 miles along the Southern State Parkway. As you progress, you'll transition from the Southern State Parkway to the Long Island Expressway, and finally the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, offering a consistent, fast-paced driving experience. This route is designed for efficient travel, minimizing local road detours and maximizing time on these main arteries.
71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9 mi on Southern State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern State Parkway and Long Island Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 27 decision points packed into just 29.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 49m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 11.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 North Merrick, NY and New York City, NY, road signs point toward Cross Island Parkway North, Hempstead Avenue West, Grandstand, Manhattan and Eastern Long Island.
Cross Island Parkway North
9.4 mi in
|
~13m
Hempstead Avenue West
11.2 mi in
|
~16m
Grandstand
11.3 mi in
|
~17m
Manhattan
14.7 mi in
|
~23m
Eastern Long Island
14.7 mi in
|
~23m
About the Cities
Starting in North Merrick, NY
Full guide →Arriving 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
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 49m. Total distance: 29.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 9 miles on Southern State Parkway. 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 New York City, 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: at 11.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 11.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 14.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 New York City, 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From New York City, NY
More from North Merrick, NY
More trips to New York City, NY
Explore more options from North Merrick, NY or browse trips ending in New York City, NY.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NY road trips.