Ontario County, NY to Brookhaven, NY is 351.1 miles and takes about 7h 39m via Keystone Shortway and I 81, with a fuel budget near $58 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, taking you from the Northeast region across the state. With the majority of the drive on surface roads, expect a more paced experience than a pure interstate cruise. The recommended one-day duration means you can make good time, but plan for a full day behind the wheel.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
175.6 miles from Ontario County, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
80 mi
1h 37m
I 81
73.5 mi
1h 28m
Long Island Expressway
43.5 mi
59m
I 380
23.6 mi
25m
State Highway 96A
17.1 mi
23m
State Highway 79
15.2 mi
17m
Routes 5 and 20
11.2 mi
17m
Slaterville Road
11.1 mi
16m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 80 mi, about 1h 37m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 336 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,190 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,979
Quietest
1 AM
~446 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 103 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 Ontario County, NY and Brookhaven, NY.
1
Start on this road
138 ft·15 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto Middle Cheshire Road
1.5 mi·2 min·Middle Cheshire Road
3
Turn right onto US 20; NY 5; NY 21
1.0 mi·1 min·Western Boulevard
4
Continue on US 20; NY 5
2.0 mi·3 min·Eastern Boulevard
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on US 20; NY 5
11 mi·17 min·Routes 5 and 20
6
Continue on US 20; NY 5
0.6 mi·1 min·Canandaigua Road
7
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.4 mi·3 min·Hamilton Street
8
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.1 mi·1 min·Lake Front Drive
9
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.6 mi·2 min·Waterloo-Geneva Road
10
Turn right onto NY 96A
10 mi·14 min·State Highway 96A
11
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 96A
6.7 mi·9 min·State Highway 96A
12
Continue on NY 96A
0.2 mi·26 sec·North Street
13
Continue on NY 96
485 ft·13 sec·North Town Line Road
14
Continue on NY 96
3.0 mi·4 min·State Highway 96
15
Turn left onto Center Road
1.4 mi·1 min·Center Road
16
Turn right onto NY 89
3.4 mi·4 min·State Highway 89
17
Turn right onto CR 141
0.9 mi·1 min·County Road 141
18
Continue on CR 141A
1.5 mi·2 min·Powell Road
19
Turn left onto NY 96
4.0 mi·5 min·State Highway 96
20
Continue on NY 96
0.1 mi·11 sec·Trumansburg Road
21
Continue on NY 96
1.4 mi·2 min·West Main Street
22
Continue on NY 96
8.7 mi·12 min·Trumansburg Road
23
Continue on NY 96
1.0 mi·2 min·Cliff Street
24
Continue on NY 96
0.2 mi·22 sec·West Buffalo Street
25
Turn right onto Taughannock Boulevard
523 ft·24 sec·Taughannock Boulevard
26
Turn left onto NY 79
510 ft·11 sec·West State Street
27
Turn right onto NY 13; NY 34; NY 96; NY 79
345 ft·12 sec·South Fulton Street
Use the right lane.
28
Turn left onto NY 79
0.8 mi·2 min·West Green Street
Use the slight left lane.
29
Continue on NY 79
1.1 mi·2 min·East State Street
30
Continue on NY 79
11 mi·16 min·Slaterville Road
31
Continue on NY 79
15 mi·17 min·State Highway 79
32
Continue on NY 79
3.1 mi·3 min·Main Street
33
Turn right onto NY 26
0.6 mi·47 sec·NY 26
34
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 81 South
35
Merge onto I 81
20 mi·24 min·I 81
36
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
53 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 81
Toward I 81 South: ScrantonUse the straight lane.
37
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
0.8 mi·1 min·US 6
Exit 187Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt PoconoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
38
Continue on I 84; I 380
3.7 mi·4 min·I 84; I 380
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, MilfordUse the straight lane.
39
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
24 mi·25 min·I 380
Exit 4Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
40
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 1BToward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
41
Merge onto I 80
80 mi·1 hr 37 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
42
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.
43
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.
44
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 70A-BToward Leonia, TeaneckUse the slight right lane.
45
Turn right
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 70AToward LeoniaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
46
Turn straight onto CR 56
454 ft·9 sec·Degraw Avenue
47
Continue on CR 56
1.1 mi·2 min·Fort Lee Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
48
Continue on CR 56
469 ft·13 sec·Main Street
49
Take the ramp
472 ft·12 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge
50
Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46
0.3 mi·28 sec·Bergen Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
51
Take the exit
312 ft·4 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level
52
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.3 mi·20 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
53
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
54
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
55
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
56
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi·6 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
57
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.
58
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi·58 sec·Throgs Neck Expressway
59
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
60
Continue on I 295
3.2 mi·3 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
61
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 4E-WToward I 495: Manhattan, Eastern Long IslandUse the straight / slight right lanes.
62
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 4EToward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, Eastern Long Island
63
Merge onto I 495
43 mi·59 min·Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
64
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 65Toward CR 16: Horse Block Road, Centereach, ShirleyUse the straight / slight right lanes.
65
Turn straight onto Express Drive South
0.2 mi·21 sec·Express Drive South
Toward I 495, CR 101: Yaphank, Riverhead
66
Turn slight right onto CR 16
4.1 mi·6 min·Horseblock Road
Use the right lane.
67
At end of road, turn right onto CR 80
0.9 mi·1 min·Montauk Highway
Use the right lane.
68
Turn left onto CR 36
0.4 mi·50 sec·South Country Road
Use the left lane.
69
Arrive at destination
CR 36
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7.5-hour drive, aim for an early morning departure from Ontario County to maximize daylight. With only two recommended stops, you can strategically plan them around the 80-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway for a break. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially before transitioning to the longer surface road sections, as gas availability can vary. Given it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but starting early ensures a less rushed arrival in Brookhaven.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 175.6 miles from Ontario County, NY, or about 3h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80 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 77 miles or 1h 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 175.6 miles or 3h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 16m
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 Ontario County, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Ontario County, NY
This is one driving day of about 351.1 miles and 7h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 77 miles from Ontario County, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Keystone Shortway for about 80 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 40
5 decision points cluster between mile 169.4 and 301.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
169.4 mi into trip|~3h 49m in|US 6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6 toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 187
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbo...
8
284 mi into trip|~6h 5m 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
284.3 mi into trip|~6h 5m 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
293.7 mi into trip|~6h 19m 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
301.5 mi into trip|~6h 30m 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
$61.46 one way
$122.91 round trip
$4.45/gal25.4 MPG avg123 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$66.60
$133.20
premium
$5.23
$72.29
$144.59
diesel
$6.28
$86.75
$173.50
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
$61
Tolls
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$109–$134
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 122.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
105.3
1
$36.87
$16.85
Efficient EV
87.8
1
$30.72
$14.04
EV Truck/SUV
140.4
1
$49.15
$22.47
Gas CO2
123 kg
EV CO2
41 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
Ontario County, NY
Late night
in Ontario County on Friday
Local time
5:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Sunny
W 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Brookhaven, NY
Late night
in Brookhaven on Friday
Local time
5:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Clear
NE 5 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
22 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
7h 39m 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.
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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 290.6
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 290.6
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 351.1
Women’s Rights National Historical Park tells the story of the first Women’s Rights Convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York on July 19-20, 1848. It is a story of struggles for civil rights, human r...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 24.2
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 290.6
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...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 290.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 57% highway, with the longest stretch of highway driving covering 80 miles on the Keystone Shortway. You'll transition from highway cruising to mostly surface roads, which will likely involve more local traffic and frequent speed changes. Expect to encounter a variety of driving conditions as you navigate these surface roads, especially as you approach your destination.
Only 57% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
69 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80 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 169.4 miles in near US 6.
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 40 significant decision points across 351.1 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 169.4 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 284 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 284.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,768 ft9 ft
Total Climb
1,800 ft
Total Descent
2,765 ft
Highest Point
1,768 ft
~175.6 mi in
Elevation Range
1,760 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ontario County, NY and Brookhaven, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford, New York City, Leonia, Teaneck and George Washington Bridge Upper Level - among others.
Wine and water define the Finger Lakes, a region of New York state south of Lake Ontario. Eleven elegantly elongated bodies of water arrayed across 80 mi (130 km) of rolling countryside have produced one of the top wine regions in the country, the East Coast answer to California's Napa Valley.
While the wineries that dot the slopes above the Finger Lakes—over a hundred of them—are a major draw, visitors also enjoy the region's many waterways, from the Finger Lakes themselves and Lake Ontario, to the mighty Genesee River and the historic Erie Canal. In the fall, leaf-peepers turn out in force, and wintertime sees skiers heading to the area's slopes.
After a day enjoying the sights and tastes of the Finger Lakes, head to Rochester, the state's third-largest city, for urban amenities and nightlife, or enjoy the college-town atmosphere of Ithaca overlooking Cayuga's waters.
Top landmarks
•North Main Street Historic District — listed on the NRHP in Ontario County
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 7h 39m. Total distance: 351.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 39m 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 80 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 28 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 28 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 169.4 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 284 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 284.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant 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 7.7 hours each way, a round trip means 15.3 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.
