Sunrise Highway (NY-27)
The Sunrise Highway (NY-27) is one of Long Island’s primary east–west roadways, running parallel to the Southern State Parkway but designed to carry both passenger cars and commercial traffic. It stretches from Queens/Nassau border at the Cross Island Parkway interchange through Nassau and Suffolk Counties before continuing as Montauk Highway toward the East End. With a mix of limited-access expressway sections and surface roadway segments, it provides a vital commercial and commuter route, connecting major South Shore communities, shopping hubs, and the Hamptons.
Route and Features
- Western Terminus: Queens/Nassau border (Cross Island Parkway / Belt Parkway connector)
- Eastern Terminus: Montauk Point (via Montauk Highway continuation)
- Length: ~119 miles (including Montauk Hwy sections; expressway portion much shorter)
- Counties: Queens, Nassau, Suffolk
- Character: Expressway-style highway in western/central Long Island; transitions to surface road in eastern Suffolk
- Restrictions: Unlike the parkways, trucks and commercial vehicles are allowed
Major Exits & Interchanges (west → east, Nassau & Suffolk)
| Exit | Destination / Roadway | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Cross Island Pkwy / Belt Pkwy | Western terminus |
| 19 | Meadowbrook State Parkway | North to Eisenhower Park / Roosevelt Field; south to Jones Beach |
| 23 | Wantagh State Parkway | North to Levittown; south to Jones Beach |
| 28 | Seaford–Oyster Bay Expwy (NY-135) | Syosset / Seaford |
| 32 | Broadway / Route 110 (Broadhollow Rd) | Amityville / Farmingdale business hub |
| 37 | Robert Moses Causeway | To Fire Island and Robert Moses State Park |
| 44 | Heckscher State Parkway | Islip / Bay Shore area |
| 50 | Nicolls Rd (CR-97) | Stony Brook University / Patchogue |
| 56 | William Floyd Parkway (CR-46) | Shirley / Mastic Beach |
| 62 | Brookhaven Lab / Manorville Rd | Manorville |
| 65 | NY-24 / Flanders Rd | Riverhead gateway |
| — | Montauk Highway (NY-27 continuation) | Eastern Suffolk / Hamptons / Montauk |
(Note: Exit numbers vary by segment; some areas of NY-27 east of Patchogue are signed as surface highway without numbered exits.)
Notable Facts
- The limited-access expressway portion of Sunrise Highway extends roughly from Queens through Patchogue, after which it becomes a surface arterial.
- Acts as the commercial counterpart to the Southern State Parkway, accommodating trucks.
- Serves as the main gateway to the Hamptons and Montauk, especially during summer traffic surges.
- Key commuter route for South Shore communities, with multiple LIRR stations and shopping centers located directly along NY-27.
