Smithtown, NY to Canton, NY is 393.6 miles and takes about 8h 12m via NY 17 and the New York State Thruway, with a fuel budget near $65 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip covers a significant portion of New York state, moving from the Long Island Expressway into the heart of the Northeast. Given the duration, most drivers will find it more comfortable to break this into two days. It's a practical route for reaching northern New York, primarily utilizing major roadways.
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
196.8 miles from Smithtown, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NY 17
117.5 mi
2h 15m
New York State Thruway
63 mi
1h 12m
Long Island Expressway
24.8 mi
33m
East Main Street
23.8 mi
27m
Bea Luck Road
19.6 mi
23m
State Highway 812
16.7 mi
20m
Indian River Road
16.1 mi
19m
NJ 17
14.7 mi
18m
Longest stretch:
NY 17
— 117.5 mi, about 2h 15m
Traffic on I-495
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 32 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,892 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~524 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 74 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 Smithtown, NY and Canton, NY.
1
Start on NY 25; NY 25A
0.6 mi·51 sec·West Main Street
2
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 25; NY 25A
179 ft·5 sec·West Main Street
3
Continue on NY 25
4.0 mi·6 min·Jericho Turnpike
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward SM South: Bay Shore
5
Merge onto SM
1.9 mi·2 min·Sunken Meadow State Parkway
6
Continue on SA
0.8 mi·49 sec·Sagtikos State Parkway
7
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Exit S1WToward I 495 West: New YorkUse the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward I 495 West: New YorkUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn straight onto LIE North Service Road
0.4 mi·33 sec·LIE North Service Road
10
Turn straight onto North Service Road
0.1 mi·14 sec·North Service Road
11
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward I 495 West: New York
12
Merge onto I 495
25 mi·33 min·Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 31N-SToward Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Bridge, Kennedy AirportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 31NToward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone BridgeUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto CI
3.1 mi·4 min·Cross Island Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 33Toward I 295 North: Throgs Neck Bridge, Bronx, New EnglandUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto I 295
1.8 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
18
Continue on I 295
0.7 mi·1 min·Throgs Neck Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295
6.6 mi·8 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
Toward Upper Level
21
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.6 mi·59 sec·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
22
Continue on I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
0.5 mi·48 sec·I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
0.6 mi·39 sec·I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; NJTP
0.1 mi·8 sec·I 95 EXPR; NJTP
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: HackensackUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 72AToward NJ 4 West: ParamusUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
27
Merge onto NJ 4
6.7 mi·9 min·NJ 4
Use the slight right lane.
28
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward GSP South, NJ 17 South, GSP North, NJ 17 North: Grand State Plaza, Newark, MahwahUse the straight lane.
29
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·36 sec
Toward NJ 17 North: MahwahUse the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Merge onto NJ 17
3.3 mi·4 min·NJ 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Continue on NJ 17
7.3 mi·9 min·NJ 17
Use the straight / right lanes.
32
Continue on NJ 17
0.7 mi·50 sec·NJ 17
33
Continue on NJ 17
3.3 mi·4 min·NJ 17
34
Continue on I 287; NY 17
0.2 mi·10 sec·I 287; NY 17
35
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 17
118 mi·2 hr 15 min·NY 17
Toward I 87 North, NY 17 North, New York State Thruway North: AlbanyUse the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
63 mi·1 hr 12 min·New York State Thruway
Toward I 90 West: Buffalo
37
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 29AToward NY 169: Little Falls, DolgevilleUse the slight right lane.
38
Continue on this road
0.4 mi·54 sec·this road
39
Continue on NY 169
1.9 mi·2 min·NY 169
40
At end of road, turn left onto NY 5; NY 167; NY 169
0.7 mi·1 min·NY 5; NY 167; NY 169
41
Turn right onto NY 167
0.3 mi·36 sec·South Ann Street
42
At end of road, turn left onto NY 169
9.7 mi·15 min·West Monroe Street
43
Continue on NY 28
3.2 mi·4 min·State Highway 28
44
Continue on NY 28
1.2 mi·1 min·Main Street
45
Continue on NY 28
2.5 mi·3 min·State Highway 28
46
Continue on NY 28
1.4 mi·2 min·South Main Street
47
Continue on NY 8; NY 28
0.7 mi·1 min·State Highway 8
48
Turn right onto NY 28
6.0 mi·8 min·State Highway 28
49
Turn right onto NY 12
11 mi·15 min·State Highway 12
50
Continue on NY 12; NY 28
9.7 mi·11 min·Erwin Parkway
51
Continue on NY 12
0.8 mi·51 sec·State Highway 12
52
Continue on NY 12
20 mi·23 min·Bea Luck Road
53
Turn right onto Ross Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Ross Road
54
Continue on East State Street
1.5 mi·3 min·East State Street
55
At end of road, turn right onto NY 812
8.4 mi·10 min·State Highway 812
56
Continue on NY 812
0.8 mi·1 min·Main Street
57
Continue on NY 812
16 mi·19 min·Indian River Road
58
At end of road, turn right onto NY 3; NY 812
2.9 mi·4 min·State Route 3
59
Continue on NY 3; NY 812
0.8 mi·1 min·Main Street
60
Continue on NY 3; NY 812
0.4 mi·59 sec·State Street
61
Continue on NY 3; NY 812
0.3 mi·38 sec·State Highway 812
62
Continue on NY 812
7.9 mi·9 min·State Highway 812
63
Continue on NY 812
2.1 mi·2 min·Balmat-Fowler Road
64
Turn left onto NY 58; NY 812
5.5 mi·6 min·State Highway 58
65
Continue on NY 58; NY 812
0.5 mi·40 sec·William Street
66
Turn right onto US 11; NY 812
24 mi·27 min·East Main Street
67
Turn right onto US 11; NY 68
0.3 mi·41 sec·Main Street
68
Arrive at destination
US 11; NY 68
Trip Plan
Since this drive is over 8 hours, planning for an overnight stop is recommended for a more relaxed experience, especially if you're aiming for two days. You'll want to start your day early to maximize daylight, particularly if you plan to drive it in one go. The longest stretch without a significant break is 117.5 miles on NY 17, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge and plan your stops accordingly. With 2 recommended stops, you have flexibility to break up the drive comfortably.
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 196.8 miles from Smithtown, NY, or about 4h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 117.5 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 87 miles or 1h 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 196.8 miles or 4h 4m 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 196.8 miles or 4h 4m
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
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Canton, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Smithtown, 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 Smithtown, NY
Aim for roughly 197 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Canton, NY
Aim for roughly 197 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 87 miles from Smithtown, 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 NY 17 for about 117.5 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 36
5 decision points cluster between mile 7.6 and 49.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
7.6 mi into trip|~10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 West: New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 495 West: New York
8
33.3 mi into trip|~46m in
Take the exit toward Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Bridge, Kennedy Airport
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 31N-S
Toward Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Bridge,...
10
33.5 mi into trip|~46m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 31N
Toward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone B...
8
36.9 mi into trip|~51m in
Take the exit toward I 295 North: Throgs Neck Bridge, Bronx, New England
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 33
Toward I 295 North: Throgs Neck Bridge, Bronx,...
9
49.3 mi into trip|~1h 10m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 4 West: Paramus
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 72A
Toward NJ 4 West: Paramus
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$68.90 one way
$137.79 round trip
$4.45/gal25.4 MPG avg138 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$74.66
$149.32
premium
$5.23
$81.04
$162.09
diesel
$6.28
$97.25
$194.51
Estimated Tolls: $25.98
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
New York State Thruway
(63 mi)$3.15
Jericho Turnpike
(4 mi)$0.28
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
$69
Tolls
$26
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$225–$335
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 137.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
118.1
1
$41.33
$18.89
Efficient EV
98.4
1
$34.44
$15.74
EV Truck/SUV
157.4
1
$55.10
$25.19
Gas CO2
138 kg
EV CO2
46 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
Smithtown, NY
Night
in Smithtown on Thursday
Local time
9:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Clear
NE 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Canton, NY
Night
in Canton on Thursday
Local time
9:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Clear
S 8 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.
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
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
8h 12m 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 40.7
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 40.7
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 40.7
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 40.7
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...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 40.7
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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 40.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is mostly highway driving, with 62% of the 393.6 miles on major roads like NY 17 and the New York State Thruway. You'll encounter the longest continuous stretch of 117.5 miles on NY 17, so be prepared for extended periods of higher speeds. The route transitions from the Long Island Expressway to the Thruway, meaning you'll experience a good amount of exit and entry activity, especially in the earlier sections.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
68 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 117.5 mi on NY 17.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NY 17 and New York State Thruway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.6 miles in.
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 36 significant decision points across 393.6 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 7.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
938 ft54 ft
Total Climb
1,462 ft
Total Descent
1,139 ft
Highest Point
938 ft
~337.3 mi in
Elevation Range
883 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Smithtown, NY and Canton, NY, road signs point toward Kennedy Airport, Cross Island Parkway North, Bronx, New England, Upper Level and Njtp South: Hackensack - among others.
Smithtown is a town of 117,000 people (2016) in Suffolk County, on Long Island, in New York. Smithtown is comprised of the villages and hamlets of Commack (in part, with the Town of Huntington), Fort Salonga (in part, with the Town of Huntington), Hauppauge (in part, with the Town of Islip), Head of the Harbor, Kings Park, Lake Ronkonkoma (in part with the Town of Brookhaven and Town of Islip), Nesconset, Nissequogue, Smithtown, St. James, & Village of the Branch.
Canton (pop 7,200 in 2020, founded 1801) is the county seat of St. Lawrence County in northern New York. This tiny village is home to the State University of New York at Canton and to St. Lawrence University.
The longest stretch is about 117.5 miles on NY 17. 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 197 miles on day one.
Expect about $25.98 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 27 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 Canton, 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 27 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 7.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 33.5 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 Stonewall National Monument (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.2 hours each way, a round trip means 16.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Canton, NY before the return drive.
