Northern State Parkway

The Northern State Parkway is one of Long Island’s most historic and heavily traveled roadways, stretching roughly 28 miles from Queens into central Suffolk County. Originally designed in the 1930s as part of Robert Moses’ parkway system, it was intended as a scenic, automobile-only route for suburban commuters.

The parkway begins at the Grand Central Parkway in Queens and runs east through Nassau County, continuing into Suffolk until it merges with the Sagtikos State Parkway in Commack. Together with the Grand Central and Southern State Parkways, it forms a major east–west corridor across Long Island.

Route and Features

• Western Terminus: Grand Central Parkway (Queens)
• Eastern Terminus: Sagtikos State Parkway (Commack, Suffolk County)
• Length: ~28 miles
• Counties Served: Queens, Nassau, Suffolk
• Restrictions: Passenger cars only — commercial vehicles and trucks prohibited.

The Northern State Parkway is known for its narrow lanes, sharp curves, and stone overpasses, many of which were part of the original parkway design. While scenic, these features make it challenging to navigate, especially during heavy traffic. Despite periodic upgrades, it still reflects the design of early-20th-century parkways.

Exits

Here’s a reference list of major exits along the Northern State Parkway:

Exit	Destination / Roadway	Notes
16	Lakeville Rd	New Hyde Park
17	Shelter Rock Rd	Manhasset
18	Willis Ave	Roslyn Heights
19	Roslyn Rd	Roslyn Heights
20	Meadowbrook Pkwy	Access to Eisenhower Park, Jones Beach
21	Glen Cove Rd	Carle Place / Old Westbury
22	Post Ave	Westbury
23	Wantagh State Pkwy	Access to Jones Beach
25	Roslyn Rd	Roslyn Heights
27	Brush Hollow Rd	Westbury / Jericho
28	Jericho Tpke (NY-25)	Jericho
29	Seaford–Oyster Bay Expwy (NY-135)	Syosset / Seaford
31	South Oyster Bay Rd	Syosset
33	Wantagh Ave	Hicksville
36	Sunnyside Blvd	Plainview
37A	Long Island Expwy (I-495)	Connection to LIE
37B	Manetto Hill Rd	Plainview
38	Round Swamp Rd	Old Bethpage
39	NY-110	Melville
40	Wolf Hill Rd	Dix Hills
41	Deer Park Ave (NY-231)	Dix Hills
42	Park Ave	Huntington
43	Sagtikos State Parkway	Commack (eastern terminus)

Notable Facts

• Opened in 1933, extended eastward several times until reaching Commack in the 1960s.
• Designed by Robert Moses as part of his vision for car-oriented suburban parkways.
• Along with the Meadowbrook, Wantagh, and Sagtikos Parkways, it links to Long Island’s extensive network of beaches and parks.
• Still features original stone-faced bridges and landscaping, giving it historic character but also modern driving challenges.