The drive from Fort Covington, NY to Hempstead, NY covers 379.4 miles and takes about 7h 52m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Adirondack Northway, I 87, Military Turnpike for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 152 miles on Adirondack Northway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $62.45 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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
189.7 miles from Fort Covington, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 57m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 52m. Total distance: 379.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 52m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Fort Covington, NY to Hempstead, NY covers 379.4 miles and takes about 7h 52m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 43 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Adirondack Northway is the longest continuous segment at about 152 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 212.6 miles in near I 87.
Driving Effort9/10
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 29 significant decision points across 379.4 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 212.6 miles (I 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 213.5 miles (I 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 331.2 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 29 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
212.6 mi into trip|~4h 24m in|I 87
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87 toward I 87 South, I 90: Boston, Albany, New York, Buffalo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1E-W
Toward I 87 South, I 90: Boston, Albany, New Yo...
7
213.5 mi into trip|~4h 25m in|I 87
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87 toward I 87 South: New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 87 South: New York
9
331.2 mi into trip|~6h 42m 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
332.6 mi into trip|~6h 44m 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
361.7 mi into trip|~7h 24m 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 Fort Covington, NY and Hempstead, NY, road signs point toward Albany, New York, Buffalo, Gsp South: Paterson and Fort Lee.
Albany
212.6 mi in|~4h 24m|via I 87
New York
212.6 mi in|~4h 24m|via I 87
Buffalo
212.6 mi in|~4h 24m|via I 87
Gsp South: Paterson
346.7 mi in|~7h 2m
Fort Lee
346.7 mi in|~7h 2m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Adirondack Northway
152 mi
2h 57m
I 87
118.6 mi
2h 17m
Military Turnpike
23.5 mi
32m
State Route 11
17.8 mi
24m
NJ 17
14.1 mi
18m
County Highway 22
10.3 mi
15m
NJ 4
6.7 mi
9m
Cross Bronx Expressway
6.6 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
Adirondack Northway
— 152 mi, about 2h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Covington, NY and Hempstead, NY.
1
Start on Water Street
98 ft·9 sec·Water Street
2
Turn left onto NY 37
2.1 mi·3 min·Chateaugay Street
3
Continue on NY 37
4.3 mi·5 min·State Highway 37
4
Turn left onto NY 122
10 mi·15 min·County Highway 22
5
Merge onto US 11
5.6 mi·7 min·State Route 11
6
Continue on US 11
1.0 mi·2 min·West Main Street
7
Continue on US 11
12 mi·16 min·State Route 11
8
Turn right onto Military Turnpike
23 mi·32 min·Military Turnpike
9
Turn left onto NY 3
1.0 mi·1 min·State Route 3
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·51 sec
12
Merge onto I 87
152 mi·2 hr 57 min·Adirondack Northway
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87
0.3 mi·31 sec·I 87
Exit 1E-WToward I 87 South, I 90: Boston, Albany, New York, BuffaloUse the slight right lane.
14
Continue on I 87
0.5 mi·51 sec·I 87
Exit 1WToward I 87 South, I 90 West: New York, Buffalo
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87
118 mi·2 hr 16 min·I 87
Toward I 87 South: New YorkUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
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.
17
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
0.5 mi·39 sec·I 287; NJ 17
18
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.
19
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
21
Merge onto NJ 4
0.3 mi·24 sec·NJ 4
Use the right lane.
22
Continue on NJ 4
6.4 mi·8 min·NJ 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington BridgeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
24
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.7 mi·54 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
26
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
28
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi·6 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
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.
30
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi·58 sec·Throgs Neck Expressway
31
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Continue on I 295
5.0 mi·5 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Turn left onto NY 25
0.7 mi·1 min·Hillside Avenue
Use the left lane.
34
Turn right onto NY 25
1.1 mi·2 min·Braddock Avenue
35
Turn left onto NY 25
0.2 mi·34 sec·Jamaica Avenue
36
Continue on NY 25
0.5 mi·56 sec·Jericho Turnpike
37
Turn slight right onto Tulip Avenue
2.0 mi·3 min·Tulip Avenue
Use the right lane.
38
Turn right onto New Hyde Park Road
0.4 mi·56 sec·New Hyde Park Road
39
Turn left onto NY 24
2.0 mi·3 min·Hempstead Turnpike
Use the left lane.
40
Turn slight right onto NY 102
0.8 mi·1 min·Front Street
Use the right lane.
41
Turn right onto Greenwich Street
0.1 mi·11 sec·Greenwich Street
Use the right lane.
42
Turn left onto Peninsula Boulevard
0.2 mi·26 sec·Peninsula Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
43
Arrive at destination
Peninsula Boulevard
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 189.7 miles from Fort Covington, NY, or about 3h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 152 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 83 miles or 1h 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 189.7 miles or 3h 57m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 28m
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 Fort Covington, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fort Covington, NY
This is one driving day of about 379.4 miles and 7h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 83 miles from Fort Covington, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Adirondack Northway for about 152 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 189.7 mi from Fort Covington, NY
· 3h 57m into the drive
The midpoint is around 189.7 miles from Fort Covington, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Adirondack Northway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 152 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.
General Grant National Memorial
National Memorial
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
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 353.2
Caution: Lower Crypt Access Subject to Safe Conditions
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
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 353.2
In 1777, a large British invasion force met an equally large American army here at Saratoga. After two intense battles, an eight-mile retreat, and a three-day siege, British General John Burgoyne surr...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 183.2
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 353.2
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 353.2
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
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 353.2
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$62.45 one way
$124.90 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg133 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$67.53
$135.06
premium
$4.92
$73.53
$147.07
diesel
$5.61
$83.77
$167.53
Estimated Tolls: $24.37
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
Military Turnpike
(23.5 mi)$1.64
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
$62
Tolls
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$112–$137
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 132.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
113.8
1
$39.84
$18.21
Efficient EV
94.9
1
$33.20
$15.18
EV Truck/SUV
151.8
1
$53.12
$24.28
Gas CO2
133 kg
EV CO2
44 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 14, 2026
Origin
Fort Covington, NY
Evening
in Fort Covington on Thursday
Local time
5:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hempstead, NY
Evening
in Hempstead on Thursday
Local time
5:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Cloudy then Isolated Rain Showers
W 6 to 10 mph16% chanceLive forecast
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
19 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
7h 52m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Fort Covington, NY to Hempstead, NY covers 379.4 miles and takes about 7h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Adirondack Northway, I 87, Military Turnpike. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 189.7 miles from Fort Covington, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $62.45 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks 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 29 significant decision points across 379.4 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 212.6 miles (I 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 213.5 miles (I 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 331.2 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Fort Covington, NY and Hempstead, NY, road signs point toward Albany, New York, Buffalo, Gsp South: Paterson and Fort Lee.
Yes. Nearby national parks include General Grant National Memorial, Hamilton Grange National Memorial and Saratoga National Historical Park. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.
