Driving from Southampton to New York City covers approximately 91.2 miles, typically taking about 2 hours and 13 minutes behind the wheel. Because this trip is relatively short, you can easily complete it in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You will navigate a mix of local roads and major arteries, including County Road 39, Sunrise Highway, and the Long Island Expressway. Budgeting around $15 for fuel should keep you covered for the journey. This route serves as a straightforward connection between the East End of Long Island and the heart of the city, making it a manageable trip for travelers looking to transition from the coast to the urban landscape.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.6 miles from Southampton, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Long Island Expressway
50.6 mi
1h 8m
Sunrise Highway
24.2 mi
31m
County Road 39
4 mi
8m
Horseblock Road
3.9 mi
5m
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
2 mi
3m
Williamsburg Bridge
1.9 mi
4m
North Sea Road
0.7 mi
1m
Delancey Street
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Long Island Expressway
— 50.6 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Southampton, NY and New York City, NY.
1
Start on Main Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Main Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Continue on North Sea Road
0.7 mi·1 min·North Sea Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
3
Turn left onto NY 27; CR 39
4.0 mi·8 min·County Road 39
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on NY 27
24 mi·31 min·Sunrise Highway
5
Take the exit
0.1 mi·23 sec
Exit 57NToward CR 16 West: Yaphank, Horseblock RoadUse the right lane.
6
Turn left onto CR 56
0.2 mi·21 sec·Victory Avenue
7
Turn right onto CR 16
3.9 mi·5 min·Horseblock Road
Use the left lane.
8
Turn left onto Express Drive North
0.2 mi·14 sec·Express Drive North
Use the left lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·21 sec
Toward I 495 WEST: New York
10
Merge onto I 495
51 mi·1 hr 8 min·Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 17WToward I 278 West: BrooklynUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·10 sec
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn, 48th Street
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·31 sec
Toward I 278 West: BrooklynUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 278
2.0 mi·3 min·Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
15
Keep slight left at fork onto Williamsburg Bridge
0.7 mi·1 min·Williamsburg Bridge
Exit 32AToward Williamsburg Bridge, ManhattanUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto Williamsburg Bridge
1.2 mi·2 min·Williamsburg Bridge
Use the slight left lane.
17
Continue on Delancey Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Delancey Street
Use the straight lane.
18
Continue on Kenmare Street
0.2 mi·57 sec·Kenmare Street
19
At end of road, turn left onto Lafayette Street
0.2 mi·43 sec·Lafayette Street
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right onto Howard Street
510 ft·24 sec·Howard Street
21
Turn left onto Broadway
0.5 mi·1 min·Broadway
Use the straight lane.
22
Arrive at destination
Broadway
Trip Plan
Since this is a one-day trip, you have the flexibility to plan your departure around your personal schedule. Keep in mind that the Long Island Expressway is the backbone of your 2-hour and 13-minute drive, so monitoring real-time traffic reports before you leave is essential for a smooth arrival. Because there are no mandatory stops scheduled, you can easily complete the entire 91.2-mile distance without needing to pull over for anything other than personal preference. Prioritize checking your fuel levels before hitting the expressway, as the $15 estimated cost is based on steady travel conditions. Being prepared for the high-traffic nature of the expressway will make your transition into New York City much more relaxed.
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 45.6 miles from Southampton, NY, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.6 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 20 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.6 miles or 1h 5m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New York City, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Southampton, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Southampton, NY
This is one driving day of about 91.2 miles and 2h 13m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Southampton, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Long Island Expressway for about 50.6 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 29.2 and 90.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
29.2 mi into trip|~42m in
Take the exit toward CR 16 West: Yaphank, Horseblock Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 57N
Toward CR 16 West: Yaphank, Horseblock Road
7
84.4 mi into trip|~1h 58m in
Take the exit toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 17W
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
7
85.5 mi into trip|~1h 59m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 278 West: Brooklyn
9
87.8 mi into trip|~2h 3m 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
7
90.4 mi into trip|~2h 10m in|Lafayette Street
At end of road, turn left onto Lafayette Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.01 one way
$30.02 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$16.23
$32.47
premium
$4.92
$17.68
$35.35
diesel
$5.61
$20.14
$40.27
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.4
0
$9.58
$4.38
Efficient EV
22.8
0
$7.98
$3.65
EV Truck/SUV
36.5
0
$12.77
$5.84
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Southampton, NY
Morning
in Southampton on Sunday
Local time
8:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
New York City, NY
Morning
in New York City on Sunday
Local time
8:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live 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
8 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
2h 13m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a varied experience on this 91.2-mile journey, as you transition between local infrastructure and high-speed transit. Roughly 58% of your time will be spent on highways, providing a consistent pace for the majority of the trip. The most significant portion of the drive involves a 50.6-mile stretch along the Long Island Expressway, which serves as the primary artery for your travel. You will notice the character of the road shift as you move from the quieter regional roads near Southampton into the more congested, high-volume flow of the expressway. It is a functional, mixed-drive experience that balances local navigation with long-distance highway cruising.
58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 50.6 mi on Long Island Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 29.2 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 16 significant decision points across 91.2 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 29.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 84.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 85.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
217 ft27 ft
Total Climb
273 ft
Total Descent
265 ft
Highest Point
217 ft
~58.6 mi in
Elevation Range
190 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Southampton, NY to New York City, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Cr 16 West: Yaphank along the way.
Southampton is a town in Suffolk County, New York. It is the western half of The Hamptons. The village of Westhampton Beach in Southampton has its own article.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 13m. Total distance: 91.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 50.6 miles on Long Island Expressway. 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.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 29.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 84.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 85.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at New York City, NY before heading back.
