Commuter Shortcuts

The Friday eastbound crush to the Hamptons is one of the worst recurring traffic events in the country. Specific timing windows, alternate routes, and the North Fork escape hatch that most drivers ignore.

When the LIE grinds to a halt between Exits 37 and 44, the north and south service roads running parallel through Jericho, Syosset, and Woodbury will keep you moving.

Montauk Highway hugs the south shore from the Rockaways through the Hamptons, running parallel to Sunrise Highway about a mile south — slower but reliably moving when Sunrise is jammed.

The Northern State has a left-lane express section that skips exits in the center of Nassau County. Knowing when to commit to the express lane — and when to avoid it — can shave real time off your commute.

When the LIE is gridlocked between exits 40-49, drop south on Route 110 (Broadhollow Road) to connect to Southern State or Sunrise Highway. The spine of Long Island's biggest employment corridor doubles as its best bypass.

Sunrise Highway runs parallel to the LIE but three miles south. Under specific conditions — especially Friday PM eastbound — Sunrise is dramatically faster. Here's how to know when to switch.

When both the Southern State and the LIE are gridlocked, Hempstead Turnpike runs east-west through the heart of Nassau with traffic lights but reliable, steady movement.

Three tested routes to JFK from Nassau County — Belt Parkway, Cross Island Parkway, or Atlantic Ave through Jamaica — and when each one actually wins.

Use Meadowbrook Parkway to jump between Southern State and Northern State without touching the LIE. A clean north-south crossing through the heart of Nassau for cross-island trips.

When the LIE is gridlocked from Exit 33 into the city, Northern Boulevard runs parallel through Great Neck and Manhasset into Flushing with lower speed limits but actual movement.

The Southern State Parkway to Belt Parkway merge at the Nassau/Queens border is one of Long Island's worst daily bottlenecks. Here's how to navigate it without losing your mind.

Wantagh Parkway runs north-south from Northern State Parkway straight to Jones Beach, letting you bypass the Southern State entirely when heading to south shore communities.

When the LIE grinds to a halt around Commack, bail at Exit 53 and take Nicolls Road south to Sunrise Highway. A reliable westbound PM rush escape that locals have used for decades.

The infamous squeeze where Sunrise Highway transitions from a signal-controlled road to a limited-access expressway near Oakdale, merging with service roads and Montauk Highway traffic. A daily battle involving 126,000+ vehicles.

Sagtikos Parkway is Suffolk County's best-kept north-south connector — linking Northern State to Southern State through Dix Hills and Bay Shore when the LIE is gridlocked.