Spring Valley, NY to Brookhaven, NY is 83.3 miles and takes about 1h 59m via Long Island Expressway, with a fuel budget near $14 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. It's a straightforward drive that mostly uses major highways, making it a convenient option if you're looking for a quick trip without much complexity. Given the short duration, it's perfectly suited for a same-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination and return without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
41.7 miles from Spring Valley, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Long Island Expressway
43.5 mi
59m
Sprain Brook Parkway
12.8 mi
17m
Horseblock Road
4.1 mi
6m
Clearview Expressway
3.2 mi
3m
NY 9A
2.8 mi
4m
North Columbus Avenue
2.3 mi
3m
Throgs Neck Expressway
2.2 mi
3m
New England Thruway
2.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Long Island Expressway
— 43.5 mi, about 59m
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 Spring Valley, NY and Brookhaven, NY.
1
Start on NY 9A
2.8 mi·4 min·NY 9A
2
Take the exit
0.5 mi·59 sec
Toward New York City
3
Merge onto Taconic State Parkway
1.9 mi·2 min·Taconic State Parkway
4
Keep slight left at fork onto Sprain Brook Parkway
13 mi·17 min·Sprain Brook Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on Bronx River Parkway
0.4 mi·44 sec·Bronx River Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
Exit 11EToward Cross County Parkway East, Mount VernonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto Cross County Parkway (local lanes)
0.7 mi·1 min·Cross County Parkway (local lanes)
Use the straight / right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Exit 8Toward NY 22: North Columbus Avenue, Mount VernonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Turn straight onto Parkway South
380 ft·15 sec·Parkway South
Toward NY 22
10
Turn right onto NY 22
2.3 mi·3 min·North Columbus Avenue
11
Continue on NY 22
0.2 mi·17 sec·South 3rd Avenue
12
Continue on NY 22
0.3 mi·1 min·Provost Avenue
13
Continue on Conner Street
0.2 mi·21 sec·Conner Street
14
Turn right onto New England Thruway
0.5 mi·59 sec·New England Thruway
15
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·14 sec
Toward I 95 South
16
Merge onto I 95
1.5 mi·2 min·New England Thruway
17
Continue on I 95
1.3 mi·2 min·Bruckner Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 695
2.2 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Expressway
Exit 7AToward I 695 South: Throgs Neck Bridge, Long IslandUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on I 295
3.2 mi·3 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 4E-WToward I 495: Manhattan, Eastern Long IslandUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 4EToward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, Eastern Long Island
23
Merge onto I 495
43 mi·59 min·Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 65Toward CR 16: Horse Block Road, Centereach, ShirleyUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Turn straight onto Express Drive South
0.2 mi·21 sec·Express Drive South
Toward I 495, CR 101: Yaphank, Riverhead
26
Turn slight right onto CR 16
4.1 mi·6 min·Horseblock Road
Use the right lane.
27
At end of road, turn right onto CR 80
0.9 mi·1 min·Montauk Highway
Use the right lane.
28
Turn left onto CR 36
0.4 mi·50 sec·South Country Road
Use the left lane.
29
Arrive at destination
CR 36
Trip Plan
For this 1 hour and 59-minute drive, departing later in the morning or early afternoon will help you avoid the worst of any potential commuter traffic. Since the total distance is only 83.3 miles and the fuel cost is estimated at $14, you have a lot of flexibility. Consider a brief stop around the halfway point, perhaps near where the Long Island Expressway begins to have more exits, for a quick stretch. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without exits is over 43 miles, so it’s wise to fuel up before you begin if your tank is low.
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 41.7 miles from Spring Valley, NY, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 43.5 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 18 miles or 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 41.7 miles or 1h 1m 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 41m
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 Spring Valley, NY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Spring Valley, NY
This is one driving day of about 83.3 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Spring Valley, 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 43.5 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 18.5 and 33.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
18.5 mi into trip|~26m in
Take the exit toward Cross County Parkway East, Mount Vernon
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 11E
Toward Cross County Parkway East, Mount Vernon
8
19.6 mi into trip|~28m in
Take the exit toward NY 22: North Columbus Avenue, Mount Vernon
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 8
Toward NY 22: North Columbus Avenue, Mount Vern...
9
26.3 mi into trip|~40m in|I 695 / Throgs Neck Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 695 / Throgs Neck Expressway toward I 695 South: Throgs Neck Bridge, Long Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 7A
Toward I 695 South: Throgs Neck Bridge, Long Is...
8
33.7 mi into trip|~50m 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
8
33.8 mi into trip|~50m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, Eastern Long Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 4E
Toward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, East...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.54 one way
$27.08 round trip
$4.13/gal25.4 MPG avg29 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.47
$14.65
$29.31
premium
$4.87
$15.96
$31.92
diesel
$5.40
$17.72
$35.44
Estimated Tolls: $6.70
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
New England Thruway
(1.5 mi)$0.11
New England Thruway
(0.5 mi)$0.04
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
$14
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 29.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
EV Charging Along Route
5 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
Arcadian Shopping Center - Tesla Supercharger
Ossining, NY
Tesla
12 DCFC
Sheraton Tarrytown Hotel - Tesla Supercharger
Tarrytown, NY
Tesla
12 DCFC
Rose Hill Shopping Center
Thornwood, NY
eVgo Network
4 DCFC
Dalewood Shopping Center (Hartsdale, NY)
Hartsdale, NY
Electrify America
3 DCFC
Arcadian Shopping Center
Ossining, NY
eVgo Network
1 DCFC
Tesla: 2
eVgo Network: 2
Electrify America: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
25
0
$8.75
$4.00
Efficient EV
20.8
0
$7.29
$3.33
EV Truck/SUV
33.3
0
$11.66
$5.33
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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 26, 2026
Origin
Spring Valley, NY
Afternoon
in Spring Valley on Sunday
Local time
3:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Partly Sunny
NE 8 mph12% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 26 at 12:24AM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Destination
Brookhaven, NY
Afternoon
in Brookhaven on Sunday
Local time
3:44 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny
NE 8 to 12 mph37% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 26 at 12:24AM 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
5 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 59m 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.
Fire Island National Seashore
National Seashore
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 83.3
Park Closure: Pet Restrictions, Beach Driving Closures in Effect March 15 through Labor Day
Caution: Avian Influenza (HPAI) Suspected in Dead Birds in Seashore Areas
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 25.9
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...
8 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 25.9
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
~31 min detour
Free
near mile 31.6
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...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 31.6
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 31.6
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 cruising, with 79% of the total mileage on high-speed roads like the Long Island Expressway. You'll experience a solid stretch of 43.5 miles on the Long Island Expressway without needing to exit, which means continuous travel. The route transitions to surface roads for the final portion, indicated by Horseblock Road. Expect a noticeable increase in exits and potential for local traffic as you move off the main highway.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 43.5 mi on Long Island Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Island Expressway and Sprain Brook Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 18.5 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 83.3 miles you will encounter 20 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 18.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.3 miles (I 695 / Throgs Neck Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 Spring Valley, NY and Brookhaven, NY, road signs point toward Cross County Parkway East, Mount Vernon, Long Island, Eastern Long Island, Centereach and Shirley - among others.
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 1h 59m. Total distance: 83.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 43.5 miles on Long Island Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $6.70 in tolls one way, starting with Throgs Neck 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.
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.
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 18.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.3 miles (I 695 / Throgs Neck Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Brookhaven, NY before heading back.
