Richmond Hill, NY to Lake Ronkonkoma, NY is 43.9 miles and takes about 1h 4m via the Long Island Expressway, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Expect a straightforward drive that gets you from point A to point B efficiently. It's a relatively short distance, making it ideal for a quick commute or an easy excursion without needing an overnight stay.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Long Island Expressway
28.7 mi
38m
Grand Central Parkway
6.8 mi
9m
Northern State Parkway
2.4 mi
3m
Rosevale Avenue
0.9 mi
1m
Jackie Robinson Parkway
0.8 mi
1m
Ocean Avenue
0.7 mi
1m
South Service Road
0.7 mi
1m
Lefferts Boulevard
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Long Island Expressway
— 28.7 mi, about 38m
Traffic on I-495
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
2 PM
~4,880 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~521 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 24 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 Richmond Hill, NY and Lake Ronkonkoma, NY.
1
Start on Jamaica Avenue
113 ft·11 sec·Jamaica Avenue
2
Turn left onto Lefferts Boulevard
0.5 mi·1 min·Lefferts Boulevard
3
Turn left onto Metropolitan Avenue
0.4 mi·56 sec·Metropolitan Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward Jackie Robinson Parkway East, Eastern Long IslandUse the right lane.
5
Merge onto JR
0.8 mi·1 min·Jackie Robinson Parkway
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·57 sec
Exit 8EToward Grand Central Parkway East, Eastern Long IslandUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto GCP
6.8 mi·9 min·Grand Central Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on N
2.4 mi·3 min·Northern State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·38 sec
Exit 27SToward Shelter Rock Road South, SearingtownUse the slight right lane.
10
Turn sharp left onto Shelter Rock Road
0.1 mi·22 sec·Shelter Rock Road
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Turn right onto South Service Road
0.7 mi·1 min·South Service Road
Use the right lane.
12
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward I 495 East: Riverhead
13
Merge onto I 495
29 mi·38 min·Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 59Toward CR 93: Ocean Avenue, Ronkonkoma, OakdaleUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Turn straight onto Express Drive South
337 ft·9 sec·Express Drive South
16
Turn left onto CR 93
0.7 mi·1 min·Ocean Avenue
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
17
Continue on CR 93
0.9 mi·1 min·Rosevale Avenue
18
Continue on Gibbs Pond Road
0.3 mi·43 sec·Gibbs Pond Road
19
Turn right onto Margaret Drive
0.2 mi·56 sec·Margaret Drive
20
Arrive at destination
Margaret Drive
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 22 miles from Richmond Hill, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 41.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the ramp toward Jackie Robinson Parkway East, Eastern Long Island
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward Jackie Robinson Parkway East, Eastern Lo...
9
1.8 mi into trip|~4m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Grand Central Parkway East, Eastern Long Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 8E
Toward Grand Central Parkway East, Eastern Long...
8
11.4 mi into trip|~17m in
Take the exit toward Shelter Rock Road South, Searingtown
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 27S
Toward Shelter Rock Road South, Searingtown
8
11.6 mi into trip|~18m in|Shelter Rock Road
Turn sharp left onto Shelter Rock Road
Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
8
41.5 mi into trip|~58m in
Take the exit toward CR 93: Ocean Avenue, Ronkonkoma, Oakdale
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 59
Toward CR 93: Ocean Avenue, Ronkonkoma, Oakdale
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.13 one way
$14.27 round trip
$4.13/gal25.4 MPG avg15 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.47
$7.72
$15.44
premium
$4.87
$8.41
$16.82
diesel
$5.40
$9.34
$18.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
13.2
0
$4.61
$2.11
Efficient EV
11
0
$3.84
$1.76
EV Truck/SUV
17.6
0
$6.15
$2.81
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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 26, 2026
Origin
Richmond Hill, NY
Late night
in Richmond Hill on Sunday
Local time
5:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Rain Showers
E 12 mph97% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 26 at 12:24AM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 8:05PM EDT until April 26 at 11:00AM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY
Destination
Lake Ronkonkoma, NY
Late night
in Lake Ronkonkoma on Sunday
Local time
5:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Rain Showers
E 9 mph98% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 26 at 12:24AM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 8:05PM EDT until April 26 at 11:00AM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY
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
1h 4m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily on highways, with an 88% highway share. You'll spend most of your time on the Long Island Expressway, including a continuous stretch of 28.7 miles. The remaining portion will be on parkways like the Grand Central Parkway and Northern State Parkway. Be prepared for a high volume of exits and merging traffic as you navigate these busy parkways.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.7 mi on Long Island Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Island Expressway and Grand Central Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 43.9 miles you will encounter 14 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 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.4 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.
Between Richmond Hill, NY and Lake Ronkonkoma, NY, road signs point toward Shelter Rock Road South, Searingtown, Ronkonkoma and Oakdale.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 4m. Total distance: 43.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 4m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 28.7 miles on Long Island Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 3 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 Lake Ronkonkoma, 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 0.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11.4 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, Federal Hall National Memorial and Hamilton Grange 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 Lake Ronkonkoma, NY before heading back.
