Stony Brook

Stony Brook is a hamlet bordering the Long Island Sound, located in northern Suffolk County, on Long Island, in New York. This historic town is home to Stony Brook University, The Stony Brook School, Three Village School District, and the “Stony Brook Village.”

Understand
Stony Brook was a pretty unknown place until Stony Brook University was constructed, but that's the way the wealthy residents of the hamlet wanted it. As a result, there has been very little development within walking distance of the university, other than a minimal strip of shops directly across the street from the train station. Instead, the center of the hamlet has remained where it was, two and one-half miles or so north of the train station, and retains a charming, old-fashioned feel.

By train
The MTA Long Island Rail Road has a station in Stony Brook. Service from New York on the Port Jefferson Line takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes and requires a change of trains from an electric-powered to a diesel-powered train, usually in Huntington but sometimes in Jamaica or Hicksville. There are virtually always clear announcements telling riders where to change, and conductors are also helpful with information.

is right next to the university.

By car
Route 25A is called North Country Road in Stony Brook. It is a through street that traverses most of the island, but it has traffic lights. If you are coming from farther west than Smithtown or Kings Park, you should instead take the Long Island Expressway (I-495) and get off on the exit for Nicolls Road (Route 97) north, or take the Northern State Parkway, which turns into Route 454 in Hauppauge, and then the Nesconset Highway (Route 347), and go north (left) on Nicolls Road.

Get around
It's a pretty long walk from the train station to Stony Brook Village. Most people either drive, take a taxi from the train station, or use a bicycle in decent weather. If you do walk on the streets, keep in mind that they often lack sidewalks, and you may also be yelled at by idle joyriding teens with nothing better to do. That said, otherwise, the walk is not unpleasant.

Do




Go next
Port Jefferson and St. James are the next stops to the east and west, respectively, on the Long Island Railroad. For shopping, there's the Smithaven Mall in Smithtown, accessible by car or by Suffolk County bus. Further afield, the pleasant town of Huntington is about halfway to New York City on the train and an easy drive. There are some pretty areas near the Long Island Sound to the east of Stony Brook in small communities like Poquott and Miller Place.