The drive from Fenner, NY to Hempstead, NY covers 257.1 miles and takes about 5h 39m 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 8, NJ 17 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 106 miles on NY 17.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $42.32 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
128.5 miles from Fenner, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 49m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 39m. Total distance: 257.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 5h 39m highway drive covering 257.1 miles, with most of the trip on NY 17 and State Highway 8. The longest continuous stretch is about 106 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 51 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 106 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NY 17 and State Highway 8. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 193.7 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 26 significant decision points across 257.1 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 193.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 194.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 208.9 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 26 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
193.7 mi into trip|~4h 11m 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
7
194.3 mi into trip|~4h 12m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 87 Toll South: New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 87 Toll South: New York City
9
208.9 mi into trip|~4h 29m 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
210.3 mi into trip|~4h 31m 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
239.4 mi into trip|~5h 11m 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 Fenner, NY and Hempstead, NY, road signs point toward Nyst: Albany, New York City, Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee and New York.
Nyst: Albany
193.7 mi in|~4h 11m
New York City
193.7 mi in|~4h 11m
Gsp South: Paterson
224.4 mi in|~4h 50m
Fort Lee
224.4 mi in|~4h 50m
New York
224.4 mi in|~4h 50m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NY 17
106 mi
2h 12m
State Highway 8
36.8 mi
41m
NJ 17
14.1 mi
18m
New York State Thruway
13.7 mi
15m
US 20
10.8 mi
15m
State Highway 12
10.2 mi
15m
Rexford Street
8.3 mi
9m
NJ 4
6.7 mi
9m
Longest stretch:
NY 17
— 106 mi, about 2h 12m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fenner, NY and Hempstead, NY.
1
Start on CR 23
3.8 mi·9 min·Nelson Road
2
Turn left onto US 20
11 mi·15 min·US 20
3
Continue on NY 46
1.4 mi·1 min·State Route 46
4
Continue on NY 12B
2.0 mi·2 min·State Route 12B
5
Continue on NY 12B
1.1 mi·1 min·Utica Street
6
Turn slight right onto NY 12B
1.1 mi·1 min·Broad Street
7
Continue on NY 12B
4.6 mi·6 min·State Route 12B
8
Continue on NY 12B
1.4 mi·2 min·North Main Street
9
Continue on NY 12B
3.7 mi·5 min·State Highway 12B
10
Continue on NY 12B
1.4 mi·2 min·North Main Street
11
Continue on NY 12
10 mi·15 min·State Highway 12
12
Continue on NY 12
0.6 mi·1 min·North Broad Street
13
Turn left onto NY 23
8.3 mi·9 min·Rexford Street
14
Turn right onto NY 8
18 mi·20 min·State Highway 8
15
Continue on NY 8
0.4 mi·29 sec·Airport Road
16
Continue on NY 8
19 mi·21 min·State Highway 8
17
Continue on NY 8; NY 10
0.3 mi·18 sec·Oak Street
18
Continue on NY 8; NY 10
0.4 mi·44 sec·State Highway 10
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward NY 17 East
20
Merge onto NY 17
105 mi·2 hr 11 min·NY 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·59 sec
Toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York CityUse the slight right lane.
22
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi·1 min
Toward I 87 Toll South: New York CityUse the slight right lane.
23
Merge onto I 87
14 mi·15 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
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.
25
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
0.5 mi·39 sec·I 287; NJ 17
26
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.
27
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
28
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
29
Merge onto NJ 4
0.3 mi·24 sec·NJ 4
Use the right lane.
30
Continue on NJ 4
6.4 mi·8 min·NJ 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington BridgeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
32
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.7 mi·54 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
34
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
36
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi·6 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
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.
38
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi·58 sec·Throgs Neck Expressway
39
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
40
Continue on I 295
5.0 mi·5 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41
Turn left onto NY 25
0.7 mi·1 min·Hillside Avenue
Use the left lane.
42
Turn right onto NY 25
1.1 mi·2 min·Braddock Avenue
43
Turn left onto NY 25
0.2 mi·34 sec·Jamaica Avenue
44
Continue on NY 25
0.5 mi·56 sec·Jericho Turnpike
45
Turn slight right onto Tulip Avenue
2.0 mi·3 min·Tulip Avenue
Use the right lane.
46
Turn right onto New Hyde Park Road
0.4 mi·56 sec·New Hyde Park Road
47
Turn left onto NY 24
2.0 mi·3 min·Hempstead Turnpike
Use the left lane.
48
Turn slight right onto NY 102
0.8 mi·1 min·Front Street
Use the right lane.
49
Turn right onto Greenwich Street
0.1 mi·11 sec·Greenwich Street
Use the right lane.
50
Turn left onto Peninsula Boulevard
0.2 mi·26 sec·Peninsula Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
51
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 128.5 miles from Fenner, NY, or about 2h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 106 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 57 miles or 1h 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 128.5 miles or 2h 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 32m
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 Fenner, 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 Fenner, NY
This is one driving day of about 257.1 miles and 5h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 miles from Fenner, 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 106 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 128.5 mi from Fenner, NY
· 2h 49m into the drive
The midpoint is around 128.5 miles from Fenner, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before NY 17 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 106 miles.
Arriving in Hempstead, NY
The final approach into Hempstead, NY usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Hempstead, NY.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
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...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 230.5
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...
5 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 230.5
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...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 230.5
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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 230.5
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...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
Free
near mile 230.5
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...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 230.5
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
77.1
0
$27.00
$12.34
Efficient EV
64.3
0
$22.50
$10.28
EV Truck/SUV
102.8
1
$35.99
$16.45
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 16, 2026
Origin
Fenner, NY
Evening
in Fenner on Thursday
Local time
7:28 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hempstead, NY
Evening
in Hempstead on Thursday
Local time
7:28 PM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Partly Sunny
S 12 mph2% chanceLive forecast
57°F
Ramapo, NY
129 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
29 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
5h 39m 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 Fenner, NY to Hempstead, NY covers 257.1 miles and takes about 5h 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are NY 17, State Highway 8, 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 128.5 miles from Fenner, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $42.32 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 26 significant decision points across 257.1 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 193.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 194.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 208.9 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Fenner, NY and Hempstead, NY, road signs point toward Nyst: Albany, New York City, Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee and New York.
