How far is Lake Ronkonkoma, NY from Washington Heights, NY?
The driving distance from Lake Ronkonkoma, NY to Washington Heights, NY is about 50.2 miles (80.8 km), with a travel time of about 01h 18m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 42.1 miles (67.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 02h 37m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 01h 18m.
A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Census-designated place in Nassau County, New York
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Mostly Cloudy then Rain Showers Likely
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Lake Ronkonkoma and Washington Heights.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Ronkonkoma and Washington Heights.
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1
Start on Margaret Drive
1277 ft · 1 min · Margaret Drive
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2
Turn left onto Gibbs Pond Road
1472 ft · 44 sec · Gibbs Pond Road
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3
Continue on Rosevale Avenue
1 km · 1 min · Rosevale Avenue
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4
Turn right onto Motor Parkway
1.4 mi · 3 min · Motor Parkway
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5
Turn left onto Old Nichols Road
3016 ft · 1 min · Old Nichols Road
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6
Turn right onto Express Drive North
800 ft · 17 sec · Express Drive North
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7
Take the ramp slight left toward I 495 west: New York
818 ft · 22 sec
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8
Merge slight left onto Long Island Expressway
31.8 mi · 43 min · Long Island Expressway
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9
Take the exit slight right toward Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Bridge, Kennedy Airport
1267 ft · 27 sec
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10
Keep slight right to continue on Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone Bridge
1604 ft · 38 sec
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11
Merge slight left onto Cross Island Parkway
3.1 mi · 5 min · Cross Island Parkway
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12
Take the exit slight right toward I 295 North: Throgs Neck Bridge, Bronx, New England
2905 ft · 1 min
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13
Merge slight left onto Throgs Neck Bridge
1.8 mi · 3 min · Throgs Neck Bridge
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14
Continue on Throgs Neck Expressway
1.1 km · 1 min · Throgs Neck Expressway
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15
Keep slight left to continue on Cross Bronx Expressway
6 mi · 8 min · Cross Bronx Expressway
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16
Take the exit slight right toward I 87: Queens, Albany, Major Deegan Expressway
699 ft · 20 sec
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17
Keep slight left to continue on Amsterdam Avenue
1014 ft · 29 sec
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18
Turn straight onto Washington Bridge
2123 ft · 1 min · Washington Bridge
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19
Continue on West 181st Street
1290 ft · 44 sec · West 181st Street
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20
Turn right onto Wadsworth Avenue
72 m · 14 sec · Wadsworth Avenue
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21
Turn left onto West 182nd Street
84 m · 24 sec · West 182nd Street
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22
Turn left onto Broadway
70 m · 4 sec · Broadway
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23
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Broadway
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Lake Ronkonkoma and Washington Heights.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
Long Island Expressway
Merge slight left onto Long Island Expressway
31.8 mi · 00h 43m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A comfortable day-trip route
This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.
Mostly Cloudy then Rain Showers Likely leaving Lake Ronkonkoma and Sunny near Washington Heights.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Lake Ronkonkoma to Washington Heights?
The road trip is about 50.2 miles (80.8 km) and usually takes 01h 18m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Hicksville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 24.5 miles from Lake Ronkonkoma and 25.7 miles from Washington Heights.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 42.1 miles (67.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 8.1 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 3:52 PM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $7.87 one way or $15.75 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 15.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Mostly Cloudy then Rain Showers Likely around Lake Ronkonkoma and Sunny near Washington Heights.
Stop Ideas Near Hicksville
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Flushing Town Hall
Babylon Town Hall Annex
Town of Babylon History Museum at Old Town Hall
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Hicksville.
New Rochelle station
Stamford Transportation Center
Yonkers station
Pennsylvania Station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Lake Ronkonkoma and Washington Heights. Straight-line distance: 42.05 mi (67.67 km).
#1 Lake Ronkonkoma
Census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York
| Population | 20,155 |
| Coordinates | 40.8351000, -73.1312200 |
| Altitude | 22 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Washington Heights
Washington Heights is a place in New York, United States.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 40.8501000, -73.9354100 |
| Altitude | 54 |
| Country | United States |
End: West 181st Street (-73.935446, 40.850053)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 81 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 01h 40m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 01h 15m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 01h 00m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 00h 50m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 00h 43m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 00h 37m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.45 | $7.87 | $15.75 |
| Mid-grade | $4.98 | $8.82 | $17.64 |
| Premium | $5.38 | $9.53 | $19.05 |
| Diesel | $6.51 | $11.52 | $23.04 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in New York · Oct 15, 2026