Melville, NY Area Guide

Melville traces its roots to the land once called Sunsquams by Native Americans, later evolving through names like Samuel Ketcham's Valley and Sweet Hollow before settling on Melville in 1854. The name may honor author Herman Melville or derive from the Latin word for honey, a nod to the abundant bee population that once thrived in the area's trees. A Presbyterian church built in 1829 at the corner of Old Country and Sweet Hollow Roads stands as one of the area's earliest physical markers. The historic Walt Whitman Trail, winding through West Hills County Park to Jayne's Hill—Long Island's highest point at 400 feet—connects residents to the literary heritage of the region's most celebrated poet. Nearby, the Heckscher Museum of Art in Huntington and the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum offer deeper dives into the island's artistic and maritime past.

Melville's dining scene reflects the area's upscale suburban character, with a strong emphasis on Italian-American cuisine, prime steakhouse fare, and fresh seafood. The Route 110 corridor serves as the area's informal restaurant row, where a mix of established local favorites and national chains line the strip malls and office parks. Cirella's has been a go-to gathering spot since 1987, blending classic Italian dishes — including mussels, penne alla vodka, and eggplant parmigiana — with a sushi bar that keeps regulars coming back. Nearby Huntington Village, just minutes north, expands the options considerably with a walkable stretch of restaurants spanning American, Japanese, and Mediterranean menus.

Getting around Melville requires a car. The hamlet sits along the Route 110 corridor, one of Long Island's busiest commercial strips, and connects to major east-west routes including the Northern State Parkway and Jericho Turnpike. There are no bike lanes, and pedestrian infrastructure is limited outside of residential streets. Melville has no Long Island Rail Road station of its own, but the Huntington and Farmingdale stations are both nearby; the ride from Huntington to Penn Station takes roughly an hour and ten minutes. Suffolk County Transit's S1 bus runs along Route 110. Taxi and shuttle service to Long Island MacArthur Airport, LaGuardia, and JFK is available through local providers.

West Hills County Park is the centerpiece of outdoor life in Melville, offering wooded trails, bridle paths, and some of Long Island's most scenic natural terrain. The park's flagship route, the Walt Whitman Trail, climbs to Jayne's Hill — the highest point on Long Island at 400 feet — winding past wild mountain laurel, moccasin flowers, and wildlife including red fox, turtles, and salamanders. Horseback riders can lease mounts from Sweet Hollow Stables, located right within the park. Organized youth groups can also reserve campsites for overnight stays. The park is managed by the Suffolk County Parks Department and gives Melville residents a surprisingly rugged natural escape just minutes from the Route 110 corridor.

Melville sits within the Huntington area of Suffolk County, where housing costs reflect Long Island's generally elevated price point. One-bedroom apartments in the area average around $1,968 per month, while studio units average approximately $1,255. Larger rentals vary, with three-bedroom units averaging around $3,318 and four-bedroom homes averaging $3,519 per month. The housing stock in Melville leans heavily toward single-family homes and townhouse-style communities, with a comparatively limited supply of traditional apartment rentals. Rents have seen modest year-over-year increases across most unit sizes, consistent with broader trends across New York State.

Melville's retail scene is anchored by the Walt Whitman Shops, a well-established mall just north on Route 110 in Huntington that has served the area for decades with a strong lineup of department stores and national retailers. Closer to home, a stretch of Route 110 through Melville offers everyday convenience through strip mall shopping that includes big-box retailers, specialty stores, and service businesses. For a more local flavor, White Post Farms has long been a neighborhood favorite for gourmet groceries, fresh-baked goods, and seasonal produce, rounding out the area's retail options with a distinctly Long Island character.