Origin
Commack, NY
Morning in Commack on Friday
Local time
7:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Commack, NY to Hempstead, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
34m
Distance
27.2 mi
44 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 32m
★
6 AM
0h 35m
8 AM
0h 41m
10 AM
0h 37m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 41m
8 PM
0h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Commack, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 27.2-mile drive from Commack, NY to Hempstead, NY is a straightforward, highway-focused journey designed for a single day. Expect the trip to take about 34 minutes, making it an easy option for a quick excursion within the Northeast region. You'll primarily be on the Southern State Parkway, Sagtikos State Parkway, and Sunken Meadow State Parkway, with 90% of the route being highway driving. With an estimated fuel cost of just $4, this route is very budget-friendly for a day trip. There are no designated stops, so you can easily complete this drive without needing an overnight stay.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 34m. Total distance: 27.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The personality of this drive is almost entirely highway. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on parkways, which are known for their smooth, flowing conditions. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 17.5 miles on the Southern State Parkway, offering a consistent driving experience. Given that 90% of this route is highway, expect minimal interruptions and a focus on efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways. The parkway system generally provides a pleasant, easy-to-navigate environment for this short journey.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 15 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Southern State Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 17.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern State Parkway and Sagtikos State Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near NY 25 / Jericho Turnpike.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 27.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 34m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (NY 25 / Jericho Turnpike): Navigation decision point; at 7.7 miles (SO / Southern State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
NY 25 / Jericho Turnpike
Turn right onto NY 25 / Jericho Turnpike
Navigation decision point
6
7.7 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
SO / Southern State Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto SO / Southern State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
8
25.1 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward Nassau Road, Hempstead, Freeport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 21
Toward Nassau Road, Hempstead, Freeport
8
25.3 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Uniondale
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward Uniondale
5
25.3 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
Nassau Road
Turn right onto Nassau Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Commack, NY and Hempstead, NY, road signs point toward Freeport and Uniondale.
Freeport
25.1 mi in
|
~31m
Uniondale
25.3 mi in
|
~31m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southern State Parkway | 17.5 mi | 21m |
| Sagtikos State Parkway | 5.4 mi | 6m |
| Sunken Meadow State Parkway | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| Nassau Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Greenwich Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Henry Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Veterans Memorial Highway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Jericho Turnpike | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Southern State Parkway
— 17.5 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Commack, NY and Hempstead, NY.
1
Start on CR 4
34 ft
·
7 sec
·
Commack Road
2
Turn right onto NY 25
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Jericho Turnpike
3
Keep slight right at fork onto Veterans Memorial Highway
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
Veterans Memorial Highway
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward SM South: Bay Shore
5
Merge onto SM
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Sunken Meadow State Parkway
6
Continue on SA
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Sagtikos State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on SO
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
Southern State Parkway
8
Keep slight left at fork onto SO
17 mi
·
21 min
·
Southern State Parkway
Use the slight left lane.
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 21
Toward Nassau Road, Hempstead, Freeport
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork
163 ft
·
5 sec
Toward Uniondale
Use the right lane.
11
Turn right onto Nassau Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Nassau Road
Use the right lane.
12
Continue on Greenwich Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Greenwich Street
13
Turn right onto Henry Street
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
Henry Street
Use the right lane.
14
Turn right onto Peninsula Boulevard
64 ft
·
1 sec
·
Peninsula Boulevard
15
Arrive at destination
Peninsula Boulevard
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.48 one way
$8.95 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $4.84 | $9.68 |
| premium | $4.92 | $5.27 | $10.54 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.01 | $12.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.86 | $1.31 |
| Efficient EV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.38 | $1.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.81 | $1.74 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Hempstead, NY
Morning in Hempstead on Friday
Local time
7:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
12 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
34m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Commack, NY to Hempstead, NY covers 27.2 miles and takes about 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Southern State Parkway, Sagtikos State Parkway, Sunken Meadow State Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 13.6 miles from Commack, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.48 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 27.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 34m.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (NY 25 / Jericho Turnpike): Navigation decision point; at 7.7 miles (SO / Southern State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Commack, NY and Hempstead, NY, road signs point toward Freeport and Uniondale.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Fire Island National Seashore, Gateway National Recreation Area and General Grant National Memorial. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. National park proximity is from the NPS API. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Hempstead, NY
More from Commack, NY
More trips to Hempstead, NY
Explore more options from Commack, NY or browse trips ending in Hempstead, NY.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NY road trips.