Montauk Highway (NY-27A / CR-80)

Montauk Highway
Street sign for Montauk Highway, one of Long Island’s most historic and well-traveled roads. Stretching from Queens through Nassau and Suffolk Counties to Montauk Point, the highway serves as the South Shore’s original main route, passing through downtowns, beaches, and the Hamptons. File photo: Jaclyn Vernace, licensed.

Montauk Highway is one of Long Island’s most historic and scenic roadways, running along the South Shore from Queens all the way to Montauk Point. While its numbering and maintenance vary by segment – parts are signed as NY-27A, others as County Route 80 (CR-80), and further east as NY-27 (Montauk Highway continuation) – locals simply know it as Montauk Highway.

The route passes through dozens of South Shore towns and villages, often serving as their main street, and provides direct access to beaches, marinas, downtown shopping areas, and the Hamptons. It is slower than Sunrise Highway (NY-27 expressway) but remains a vital and popular road, especially for tourists heading to the East End.

Route and Features

  • Western Terminus: Jamaica, Queens (concurrent with NY-27 at Atlantic Ave / South Conduit Blvd)
  • Eastern Terminus: Montauk Point Lighthouse, Montauk, NY
  • Length: ~95 miles (depending on which designations included)
  • Counties: Queens, Nassau, Suffolk
  • Character: Two- to four-lane surface road, often village main street
  • Restrictions: None (open to all vehicles; unlike the parkways, trucks allowed)

Major Segments & Junctions (west → east)

Segment / DesignationPlaces ServedNotes
NY-27A (Queens/Nassau border to Babylon)Freeport, Merrick, Wantagh, Amityville, Lindenhurst, BabylonParallel to Sunrise Hwy, commercial downtowns
CR-80 (Suffolk)West Islip, Bay Shore, Islip, Oakdale, Patchogue, Bellport, Shirley, MorichesCounty-maintained; local traffic & commerce
NY-27 (Montauk Hwy continuation)Westhampton, Southampton, Water Mill, Bridgehampton, East HamptonThrough the Hamptons; slower traffic, heavy in summer
Amagansett → Montauk PointNapeague, Hither Hills, downtown Montauk, Montauk Point LighthouseScenic terminus at Atlantic Ocean

Notable Facts

  • Montauk Highway predates Sunrise Highway, serving as the original South Shore highway.
  • Runs through some of Long Island’s most historic villages, with 19th-century architecture, main streets, and waterfronts.
  • Remains a popular tourist drive for those exploring the Hamptons, vineyards, and beaches.
  • Known for traffic bottlenecks in summer, especially in the Hamptons and Montauk.
  • Provides direct access to attractions like the Montauk Point Lighthouse, South Shore beaches, and numerous parks and marinas.