Patterson to Sheepshead Bay is 78.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 49 minutes via I 684 and Hutchinson River Parkway, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. Given the short distance and highway-heavy profile, this route is best suited for a single-day trip. You'll spend almost all your time on major parkways and interstates, making it a straightforward drive.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
39.1 miles from Patterson, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 684
27.4 mi
32m
Hutchinson River Parkway
15.9 mi
23m
Belt Parkway
9.5 mi
14m
State Highway 22
9.1 mi
14m
Van Wyck Expressway
7.1 mi
9m
Whitestone Expressway
2.3 mi
3m
Bronx-Whitestone Bridge
1.3 mi
2m
Hutchinson River Expressway
1.2 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 684
— 27.4 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Patterson, NY and Sheepshead Bay, NY.
1
Start on NY 311
0.8 mi·1 min·State Highway 311
2
At end of road, turn right onto NY 22
9.1 mi·14 min·State Highway 22
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Continue on I 684
27 mi·32 min·I 684
4
Keep slight left at fork
1.5 mi·2 min
Exit 1Toward Hutchinson River Parkway, New York CityUse the straight lane.
5
Merge onto Hutchinson River Parkway
7.7 mi·10 min·Hutchinson River Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto Hutchinson River Parkway
8.2 mi·12 min·Hutchinson River Parkway
Toward Whitestone BridgeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Continue on I 678
1.2 mi·1 min·Hutchinson River Expressway
8
Continue on I 678
1.3 mi·2 min·Bronx-Whitestone Bridge
9
Continue on I 678
2.3 mi·3 min·Whitestone Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 678
7.1 mi·9 min·Van Wyck Expressway
Toward I 678 South: Kennedy AirportUse the slight left lane.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·21 sec
Exit 1WToward Belt Parkway West
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 1WToward Belt Parkway West, Verrazano BridgeUse the slight right lane.
13
Merge onto BP
9.5 mi·14 min·Belt Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 9Toward Knapp Street, Sheepshead BayUse the slight right lane.
15
Continue on Shore Parkway
0.8 mi·1 min·Shore Parkway
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
16
Turn right onto Bedford Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·Bedford Avenue
17
Turn right onto Avenue Y
111 ft·4 sec·Avenue Y
18
Arrive at destination
Avenue Y
Trip Plan
For this relatively short 1 hour and 49-minute drive, you have a lot of flexibility. Leaving mid-morning, perhaps around 9:30 AM, should help you avoid the worst of rush hour traffic in both directions. Since it's a single-day trip with a low fuel cost of about $13, you don't need to worry about extensive overnight stops. Consider making a quick stop for coffee or a snack around the halfway point, possibly after completing the 27.4-mile stretch on I 684, to break up the drive.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 39.1 miles from Patterson, NY, or about 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 27.4 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 17 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 39.1 miles or 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sheepshead Bay, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Patterson, NY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Patterson, NY
This is one driving day of about 78.2 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Patterson, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 684 for about 27.4 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 37.4 and 76.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
37.4 mi into trip|~47m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Hutchinson River Parkway, New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Exit 1
Toward Hutchinson River Parkway, New York City
7
46.5 mi into trip|~1h in|Hutchinson River Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto Hutchinson River Parkway toward Whitestone Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Whitestone Bridge
7
59.5 mi into trip|~1h 20m in|I 678 / Van Wyck Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 678 / Van Wyck Expressway toward I 678 South: Kennedy Airport
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 678 South: Kennedy Airport
9
66.8 mi into trip|~1h 30m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Belt Parkway West, Verrazano Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1W
Toward Belt Parkway West, Verrazano Bridge
8
76.8 mi into trip|~1h 45m in
Take the exit toward Knapp Street, Sheepshead Bay
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 9
Toward Knapp Street, Sheepshead Bay
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.71 one way
$25.42 round trip
$4.13/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.47
$13.76
$27.51
premium
$4.87
$14.98
$29.96
diesel
$5.40
$16.63
$33.27
Estimated Tolls: $6.55
Whitestone 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
$13
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 27.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
23.5
0
$8.21
$3.75
Efficient EV
19.6
0
$6.84
$3.13
EV Truck/SUV
31.3
0
$10.95
$5.00
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 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.
Forecast as of Apr 25, 2026
Origin
Patterson, NY
Late night
in Patterson on Sunday
Local time
3:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Rain Showers
E 5 mph97% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 1:03PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Destination
Sheepshead Bay, NY
Late night
in Sheepshead Bay on Sunday
Local time
3:49 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Rain Showers
E 14 mph98% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 1:03PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
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
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
1h 49m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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.
Gateway National Recreation Area
National Recreation Area
Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City, the park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 75.5
Park Closure: Dead Horse Bay (Brooklyn) Remains Closed to the Public
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...
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...
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...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 72.8
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...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 72.8
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...
8 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 72.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 95% of the 78.2 miles on major roads like I 684 and the Hutchinson River Parkway. You'll experience a 27.4-mile stretch on I 684 before transitioning to other parkways. Expect a consistent cruising experience with frequent exits and merges as you approach the New York City metropolitan area.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.4 mi on I 684.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 684 and Hutchinson River Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 37.4 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 78.2 miles you will encounter 11 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: at 37.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.5 miles (Hutchinson River Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 59.5 miles (I 678 / Van Wyck Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Patterson, NY and Sheepshead Bay, NY, road signs point toward New York City and Belt Parkway West.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 78.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27.4 miles on I 684. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $6.55 in tolls one way, starting with Whitestone 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 5 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 Sheepshead Bay, 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 37.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.5 miles (Hutchinson River Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 59.5 miles (I 678 / Van Wyck Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Gateway National Recreation Area, Hamilton Grange National Memorial and General Grant 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 Sheepshead Bay, NY before heading back.
