Southern State Parkway

The Southern State Parkway is a core east–west artery on Long Island’s South Shore. Opened in stages beginning in the 1920s–30s as part of Robert Moses’ parkway system, it runs from the Cross Island Parkway in Queens through Nassau County and into Suffolk County, where it transitions to the Heckscher State Parkway approaching Heckscher State Park. Like other parkways in the region, it is passenger-cars only (no trucks/commercial vehicles) and is known for its classic stone overpasses, tight curves, and heavy commuter volumes.

Route and Features

• Western Terminus: Cross Island Parkway (Cambria Heights, Queens)
• Eastern Terminus: Heckscher State Parkway (East Islip), continuing toward Heckscher State Park
• Length: ~25 miles (Southern State segment proper; continuous corridor extends further via Heckscher)
• Counties: Queens (briefly), Nassau, Suffolk
• Restrictions: Passenger cars only; commercial vehicles/trucks prohibited
• Character: Tree-lined medians, narrow lanes/shoulders in legacy segments, frequent interchanges with other parkways

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Southern State Parkway Exits

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Southern State Parkway – Exit List

Exit	Destination / Roadway	Notes
13	Cross Island Parkway	Western terminus; Queens/Nassau border
15A	Linden Blvd (NY-27)	Elmont
15S	Elmont Rd	Elmont / Valley Stream
17N	Hempstead Ave (NY-24) North	Garden City / Hempstead
17S	Hempstead Ave (NY-24) South	West Hempstead
18	Eagle Ave	West Hempstead
19	Peninsula Blvd (CR-2)	Hempstead / Rockville Centre
20	Grand Ave / Baldwin Rd	Baldwin / Freeport
21	Nassau Rd	Roosevelt / Freeport
22N	Meadowbrook Pkwy North	Eisenhower Park / Roosevelt Field
22S	Meadowbrook Pkwy South	Jones Beach access
23	Wantagh State Pkwy	Levittown (north) / Jones Beach (south)
25N	Newbridge Rd (NY-106) North	Hicksville
25S	Bellmore Rd (NY-106) South	Bellmore
27	Seaford–Oyster Bay Expwy (NY-135)	Seaford / Syosset
28N	Wantagh Ave North	Levittown
28S	Wantagh Ave South	Wantagh
29	Hicksville Rd (NY-107)	Massapequa
30	Broadway	Massapequa
31	Bethpage State Pkwy	Bethpage State Park
32	NY-110 (Broadhollow Rd)	Amityville / Farmingdale
33	Straight Path	Wyandanch
34	New Hwy	North Amityville
36	Wellwood Ave	North Lindenhurst
37	Belmont Ave	Babylon
38	Little East Neck Rd	Babylon
39	Deer Park Ave (NY-231)	North Babylon
40	Bay Shore Rd	Bay Shore
41	Robert Moses Causeway	Access to Fire Island / Robert Moses State Park
42	Fifth Ave	Bay Shore
43	Islip Ave (NY-111)	Islip
44	Brentwood Rd	Brentwood
45	Wicks Rd	Brentwood
46	Sagtikos State Pkwy	Links north to Sunken Meadow, south to Robert Moses Causeway
47	Bay Shore Rd / Broadway	Islip Terrace
48	Carleton Ave (CR-17)	Central Islip / East Islip
49	Heckscher State Pkwy	Eastern terminus – continues east to Heckscher State Park

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Notes:

• Exits start at 13 because numbering continues from the Cross Island Parkway system.
• Parkway length: about 25 miles.
• This format matches the multi-column exit charts we’ve already done for the LIE and Northern State Parkway.

Notable Facts

• Designed as a scenic, limited-access parkway for passenger cars – part of Robert Moses’ vision for Long Island mobility and recreation access.
• Shares the South Shore role with Sunrise Highway (NY-27) but provides a parkway-only alternative with key beach connectors (Meadowbrook/Wantagh).
• Legacy design elements (stone bridges, tighter curves) contribute to its distinct look – and to modern operational challenges during peak traffic.