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Trip from Washington Heights, NY to Ronkonkoma, NY

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 26, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 10m

Distance

50.3 mi

81 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 17 min
4 AM
1h 5m ★
6 AM
1h 11m
8 AM
1h 22m
10 AM
1h 15m
12 PM
1h 13m
3 PM
1h 15m
5 PM
1h 21m
8 PM
1h 7m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Washington Heights, NY, NY

Washington Heights, NY

Wikimedia Commons

hamlet and census-designated place on Long Island in the Town of Islip, New York, United States

Ronkonkoma, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Washington Heights, NY to Ronkonkoma, NY is 50.3 miles and takes about 1 hour 10 minutes via the Long Island Expressway and Cross Bronx Expressway, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, connecting two points in the Northeast region. It's a straightforward, mostly highway drive, ideal for a quick transfer or a day trip without needing an overnight stay. Plan for this route to be efficient, getting you from one part of the metro area to another with minimal fuss.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Long Island Expressway 36.4 mi 49m
Cross Bronx Expressway 6.1 mi 8m
Clearview Expressway 3.2 mi 3m
Throgs Neck Bridge 2 mi 3m
Throgs Neck Expressway 0.6 mi <1m
Washington Bridge 0.4 mi 1m
West 181st Street 0.2 mi <1m
Ronkonkoma Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Long Island Expressway — 36.4 mi, about 49m

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

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

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 Washington Heights, NY and Ronkonkoma, NY.

1

Start on US 9

302 ft · 20 sec · Broadway
2

Turn left onto West 180th Street

293 ft · 17 sec · West 180th Street
3

Turn left onto Wadsworth Avenue

293 ft · 12 sec · Wadsworth Avenue
4

Turn right onto West 181st Street

0.2 mi · 41 sec · West 181st Street
5

Continue on Washington Bridge

0.4 mi · 1 min · Washington Bridge
Use the straight lane.
6

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 44 sec
Toward I 95 North: Cross Bronx Expressway, New England, Eastern Long Island
7

Merge onto I 95; US 1

4.1 mi · 5 min · Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Keep slight right at fork onto I 295

2.0 mi · 2 min · Cross Bronx Expressway
Exit 6B Toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge Use the straight / slight left lanes.
9

Merge onto I 295

0.6 mi · 58 sec · Throgs Neck Expressway
10

Continue on I 295

2.0 mi · 3 min · Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Continue on I 295

3.2 mi · 3 min · Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Exit 4E-W Toward I 495: Manhattan, Eastern Long Island Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Exit 4E Toward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, Eastern Long Island
14

Merge onto I 495

36 mi · 49 min · Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 23 sec
Exit 60 Toward Ronkonkoma Avenue, Lake Ronkonkoma, Sayville Use the slight right lane.
16

Turn straight onto Express Drive South

226 ft · 12 sec · Express Drive South
17

Turn left onto Ronkonkoma Avenue

0.2 mi · 28 sec · Ronkonkoma Avenue
Use the left lane.
18

Arrive at destination

Ronkonkoma Avenue

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Garden City, NY, NY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Garden City, NY

25 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Jamaica, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Garden City Park, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 25.1 miles from Washington Heights, 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 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 5.3 and 50.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8
5.3 mi into trip | ~8m in | I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Exit 6B Toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge
8
13 mi into trip | ~19m 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
13.2 mi into trip | ~19m 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...
8
49.8 mi into trip | ~1h 9m in

Take the exit toward Ronkonkoma Avenue, Lake Ronkonkoma, Sayville

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 60 Toward Ronkonkoma Avenue, Lake Ronkonkoma, Sayv...
7
50.1 mi into trip | ~1h 10m in | Ronkonkoma Avenue

Turn left onto Ronkonkoma Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$8.17 one way

$16.35 round trip

$4.13/gal 25.4 MPG avg 18 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.47 $8.85 $17.70
premium $4.87 $9.64 $19.27
diesel $5.40 $10.70 $21.40

Estimated Tolls: $6.55

Throgs Neck Bridge $6.55

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Tolls

$7

Total

$15

Estimated CO2 emission: 17.6 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 15.1 0 $5.28 $2.41
Efficient EV 12.6 0 $4.40 $2.01
EV Truck/SUV 20.1 0 $7.04 $3.22

Gas CO2

18 kg

EV CO2

6 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

Washington Heights, NY

Late night in Washington Heights on Sunday

Local time

12:40 AM

EDT

Current temp

42°F

Rain Showers

E 10 mph 97% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 25 at 8:05PM EDT until April 26 at 11:00AM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 25 at 1:03PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY

Destination

Ronkonkoma, NY

Late night in Ronkonkoma on Sunday

Local time

12:40 AM

EDT

Current temp

39°F

Rain Showers

E 10 mph 98% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 25 at 8:05PM EDT until April 26 at 11:00AM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 25 at 1:03PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY

46°F

Garden City, NY

25 mi in

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

3 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 10m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

You'll spend 92% of this 50.3-mile trip on the highway. Expect a significant stretch of 36.4 miles on the Long Island Expressway, which means you'll be cruising at highway speeds for a substantial portion of your travel. The remaining 8% of the drive will involve surface streets as you enter and exit the main highways, likely through more densely populated areas with frequent intersections.

92% 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: 36.4 mi on Long Island Expressway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Island Expressway and Cross Bronx Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.3 miles in near I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway.

Driving Effort 9/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 50.3 miles you will encounter 12 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 5.3 miles (I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 13 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.

On the drive from Washington Heights, NY to Ronkonkoma, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Eastern Long Island along the way.

Eastern Long Island

13 mi in | ~19m

About the Cities

Starting in Washington Heights, NY

Full guide →

Arriving in Ronkonkoma, NY

Full guide →

Islip (pronounced "ICE-lip") is a town on Long Island in the state of New York. Located within Suffolk County, the Town of Islip includes the villages of Brightwaters, Islandia, Ocean Beach and Saltaire. It also includes numerous hamlets including Bay Shore and Sayville which are ferry terminals for Fire Island. Other prominent communities are Bayport, Brentwood, Central Islip, Hauppauge, Islip village (the town seat), and Ronkonkoma.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 10m. Total distance: 50.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 36.4 miles on Long Island Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $6.55 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.

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 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 5.3 miles (I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 13 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Ronkonkoma, NY before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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