The drive from Cooperstown, NY to Hempstead, NY covers 205.8 miles and takes about 4h 46m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on NY 17, State Highway 28, NJ 17 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 70.1 miles on NY 17.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.88 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
102.9 miles from Cooperstown, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 30m into the drive
.
Cooperstown, in Central New York, is known best for its role as the home of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. The villagers believe that Abner Doubleday invented baseball on a cow pasture within the village in 1839. (The actual origins of baseball are uncertain but surely date back earlier.)
Cooperstown is also known for the Glimmerglass Opera Festival which is the finest of its kind in Upstate New York and even beats the only permanent opera company in this area, Syracuse Opera.
Hempstead is the most populous town in America, with a whopping 700,000 residents, located on the South Shore of Nassau County, New York. The town is highly urbanized and fragmented, containing 22 semi-autonomous villages within its boundaries, and forty other neighborhoods.
Garden City, encompassing the "Nassau Hub" region, has its own article. The other prominent communities in Hempstead include Floral Park, Hempstead Village, Valley Stream, Rockville Centre, Freeport, Merrick, and the Five Towns area.
Top landmarks
•Mitchel Air Force Base — US Air Force base in Long Island, New York
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 46m. Total distance: 205.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (76%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 4h 46m highway drive covering 205.8 miles, with most of the trip on NY 17 and State Highway 28. The longest continuous stretch is about 70.1 miles on NY 17.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 60 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
NY 17 is the longest continuous segment at about 70.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NY 17 and State Highway 28. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 73 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 35 significant decision points across 205.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 73 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 142.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 157.6 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 35 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
73 mi into trip|~1h 55m in
Take the ramp toward NY 17 East: New York City
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward NY 17 East: New York City
8
142.4 mi into trip|~3h 18m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York City
9
157.6 mi into trip|~3h 36m in|NY 17
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17 toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 15
Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
8
159 mi into trip|~3h 38m in|NJ 17
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17 toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 66
Toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
8
188.1 mi into trip|~4h 18m in|I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 6B
Toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Cooperstown, NY and Hempstead, NY, road signs point toward Davenport, Nyst: Albany, New York City, Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee and New York.
Davenport
22.5 mi in|~32m|via NY 28
Nyst: Albany
142.4 mi in|~3h 18m
New York City
142.4 mi in|~3h 18m
Gsp South: Paterson
173.1 mi in|~3h 57m
Fort Lee
173.1 mi in|~3h 57m
New York
173.1 mi in|~3h 57m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NY 17
70.1 mi
1h 23m
State Highway 28
20.2 mi
29m
NJ 17
14.1 mi
18m
State Highway 206
13.7 mi
24m
New York State Thruway
13.7 mi
15m
Franklin-Walton Road
9 mi
12m
NJ 4
6.7 mi
9m
Cross Bronx Expressway
6.6 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
NY 17
— 70.1 mi, about 1h 23m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cooperstown, NY and Hempstead, NY.
1
Start on Pioneer Street
6 ft·2 sec·Pioneer Street
2
Turn right onto Main Street
0.1 mi·35 sec·Main Street
3
Turn left onto NY 80
0.8 mi·1 min·Chestnut Street
4
Continue on NY 28
7.3 mi·10 min·State Highway 28
5
Continue on NY 28
0.8 mi·1 min·North Main Street
6
Continue on NY 28
7.4 mi·10 min·State Highway 28
7
Continue on NY 28
1.3 mi·1 min·Gersoni Road
8
Take the ramp onto NY 28
4.8 mi·5 min·NY 28
9
Take the exit onto NY 28
0.3 mi·38 sec·NY 28
Exit 15Toward NY 23, NY 28 South: Oneonta, Davenport
10
Turn left onto NY 23; NY 28
0.2 mi·38 sec·James F. Lettis Highway
11
Turn right onto NY 28
5.6 mi·7 min·State Highway 28
12
Continue on NY 357
6.4 mi·10 min·NY 357
13
Turn slight left onto CR 21
9.0 mi·12 min·Franklin-Walton Road
14
Continue on CR 21
3.6 mi·4 min·West Brook Road
15
Continue on CR 21
0.1 mi·20 sec·Franklin Road
16
Turn right onto CR 21
0.9 mi·2 min·Townsend Street
17
At end of road, turn left onto NY 10; NY 206
242 ft·8 sec·Delaware Street
18
Turn right onto NY 206
0.1 mi·18 sec·Bridge Street
Use the right lane.
19
At end of road, turn left onto NY 206
0.9 mi·1 min·Stockton Avenue
20
Continue on NY 206
9.0 mi·16 min·State Highway 206
21
Continue on NY 30; NY 206
0.3 mi·47 sec·Bridge Street
22
Continue on NY 30; NY 206
2.8 mi·4 min·State Highway 30
23
Turn right onto NY 206; CR 7
4.6 mi·8 min·Cat Hollow Road
24
Continue on NY 206; CR 7
4.7 mi·8 min·State Highway 206
25
Continue on NY 206; CR 91
1.6 mi·2 min·Rockland Road
26
Continue on NY 206; CR 179
0.3 mi·33 sec·Old Route 17
27
Turn right onto CR 124
0.2 mi·21 sec·Stewart Avenue
28
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward NY 17 East: New York CityUse the left lane.
29
Merge onto NY 17
69 mi·1 hr 22 min·NY 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·59 sec
Toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York CityUse the slight right lane.
31
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 87 Toll South: New York CityUse the slight right lane.
32
Merge onto I 87
14 mi·15 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17
0.9 mi·59 sec·NY 17
Exit 15Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New JerseyUse the slight right lane.
34
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
0.5 mi·39 sec·I 287; NJ 17
35
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17
14 mi·18 min·NJ 17
Exit 66Toward NJ 17 South: MahwahUse the slight left / straight lanes.
36
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
37
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
38
Merge onto NJ 4
0.3 mi·24 sec·NJ 4
Use the right lane.
39
Continue on NJ 4
6.4 mi·8 min·NJ 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
40
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington BridgeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
41
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.7 mi·54 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
42
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
43
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
44
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
45
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi·6 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
46
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
2.0 mi·2 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Exit 6BToward I 295 South: Throgs Neck BridgeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
47
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi·58 sec·Throgs Neck Expressway
48
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
49
Continue on I 295
5.0 mi·5 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
50
Turn left onto NY 25
0.7 mi·1 min·Hillside Avenue
Use the left lane.
51
Turn right onto NY 25
1.1 mi·2 min·Braddock Avenue
52
Turn left onto NY 25
0.2 mi·34 sec·Jamaica Avenue
53
Continue on NY 25
0.5 mi·56 sec·Jericho Turnpike
54
Turn slight right onto Tulip Avenue
2.0 mi·3 min·Tulip Avenue
Use the right lane.
55
Turn right onto New Hyde Park Road
0.4 mi·56 sec·New Hyde Park Road
56
Turn left onto NY 24
2.0 mi·3 min·Hempstead Turnpike
Use the left lane.
57
Turn slight right onto NY 102
0.8 mi·1 min·Front Street
Use the right lane.
58
Turn right onto Greenwich Street
0.1 mi·11 sec·Greenwich Street
Use the right lane.
59
Turn left onto Peninsula Boulevard
0.2 mi·26 sec·Peninsula Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
60
Arrive at destination
Peninsula Boulevard
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 102.9 miles from Cooperstown, NY, or about 2h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.1 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 45 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102.9 miles or 2h 30m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hempstead, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cooperstown, NY so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cooperstown, NY
This is one driving day of about 205.8 miles and 4h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 45 miles from Cooperstown, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on NY 17 for about 70.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 102.9 mi from Cooperstown, NY
· 2h 30m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Hamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
Merchant’s clerk, Revolutionary War soldier, first Secretary Treasury of the United States: Alexander Hamilton’s life is memorialized at The Grange, the home he built on a country estate in uptown Man...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 184.5
The final resting place of President Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, Julia, is the largest mausoleum in North America. It testifies to a people’s gratitude for the man who ended the bloodiest conflict...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 184.5
Before the 1960s, almost everything about living authentically as a lesbian, a bisexual person or a gay man was illegal. The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969 is a milestone in the quest for civil r...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 184.5
The African Burial Ground stands as the oldest and largest known excavated burial site in North America for both free and enslaved Africans. It offers a profound testament to the enduring legacy of Af...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 184.5
Located at the southern tip of Manhattan, Castle Clinton marks the place where New York City began and reflects the growth of both the city and the nation. Built to defend the harbor during the War of...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 184.5
Here at Federal Hall, George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States, marking the beginning of the American constitutional republic. This historic site served as...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 184.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.88 one way
$67.75 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg72 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$36.63
$73.26
premium
$4.92
$39.89
$79.78
diesel
$5.61
$45.44
$90.88
Estimated Tolls: $23.41
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
New York State Thruway
(13.7 mi)$0.68
Hempstead Turnpike
(2 mi)$0.14
Jericho Turnpike
(0.5 mi)$0.04
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Tolls
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$82–$107
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
61.7
0
$21.61
$9.88
Efficient EV
51.5
0
$18.01
$8.23
EV Truck/SUV
82.3
1
$28.81
$13.17
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Cooperstown, NY
Morning
in Cooperstown on Saturday
Local time
11:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hempstead, NY
Morning
in Hempstead on Saturday
Local time
11:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Scattered Rain Showers then Partly Cloudy
NE 5 to 8 mph32% chanceLive forecast
57°F
Ramapo, NY
103 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
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
14 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
4h 46m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Cooperstown, NY to Hempstead, NY covers 205.8 miles and takes about 4h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are NY 17, State Highway 28, NJ 17. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 102.9 miles from Cooperstown, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.88 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 35 significant decision points across 205.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 73 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 142.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 157.6 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Cooperstown, NY and Hempstead, NY, road signs point toward Davenport, Nyst: Albany, New York City, Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee and New York.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial and Stonewall National Monument. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
