Origin
Hempstead, NY
Evening in Hempstead on Sunday
Local time
5:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hempstead, NY to Great River, NY
Drive Time
39m
Distance
28.8 mi
46 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 36m
★
6 AM
0h 40m
8 AM
0h 46m
10 AM
0h 42m
12 PM
0h 41m
3 PM
0h 42m
5 PM
0h 46m
8 PM
0h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Great River, NY
Mel Audelo
Trip Overview
The drive from Hempstead, NY to Great River, NY covers 28.8 miles and takes about 39m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Southern State Parkway, Heckscher State Parkway, Jerusalem Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 16 miles on Southern State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.69 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
14.4 miles from Hempstead, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 19m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 39m highway drive covering 28.8 miles, with most of the trip on Southern State Parkway and Heckscher State Parkway. The longest continuous stretch is about 16 miles on Southern State Parkway.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 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 16 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern State Parkway and Heckscher State Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near Jerusalem Avenue.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 28.8 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 0.7 miles (Jerusalem Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles (Jerusalem Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.8 miles (SO / Southern State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Jerusalem Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto Jerusalem Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
6
2.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
Jerusalem Avenue
Keep slight right at fork onto Jerusalem Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
6
18.8 mi into trip
|
~24m 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 none / straight / slight right lanes.
7
19.6 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
H / Heckscher State Parkway
Keep slight right at fork onto H / Heckscher State Parkway toward Heckscher Park
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
Toward Heckscher Park
6
27.8 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit toward Timber Point Road, East Islip, Great River
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 46
Toward Timber Point Road, East Islip, Great Riv...
Towns Along This Route
Between Hempstead, NY and Great River, NY, road signs point toward So East: East Islip and Heckscher Park.
So East: East Islip
3.5 mi in
|
~6m
Heckscher Park
19.6 mi in
|
~25m
|
via H
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southern State Parkway | 16 mi | 19m |
| Heckscher State Parkway | 8.2 mi | 10m |
| Jerusalem Avenue | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| William Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| River Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Woodhollow Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Timberpoint Road | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Front Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Southern State Parkway
— 16 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hempstead, NY and Great River, NY.
1
Start on Peninsula Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
Peninsula Boulevard
Use the none lane.
2
Turn slight right onto NY 102
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
Front Street
Use the none lane.
3
Turn slight right
111 ft
·
4 sec
Use the right lane.
4
Turn straight onto William Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
William Street
5
At end of road, turn left onto Jerusalem Avenue
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Jerusalem Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto Jerusalem Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Jerusalem Avenue
Use the none lane.
7
Turn slight right onto Merrick Avenue North
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Merrick Avenue North
Use the none lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward SO East: East Islip
9
Merge onto SO
15 mi
·
18 min
·
Southern State Parkway
Use the none lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto SO
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Southern State Parkway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto H
8.2 mi
·
10 min
·
Heckscher State Parkway
Toward Heckscher Park
Use the none lane.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
49 sec
Exit 46
Toward Timber Point Road, East Islip, Great River
13
Turn right onto Timber Point Road
464 ft
·
20 sec
·
Timber Point Road
14
Continue on Timberpoint Road
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Timberpoint Road
15
Continue on River Road
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
River Road
16
Turn left onto Woodhollow Road
0.2 mi
·
56 sec
·
Woodhollow Road
17
Turn right onto New Street
52 ft
·
2 sec
·
New Street
18
Arrive at destination
New Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 14.4 miles from Hempstead, NY, or about 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 16 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 28.8 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 14.4 miles or 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Great River, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hempstead, 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 Hempstead, NY
This is one driving day of about 28.8 miles and 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Hempstead, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Southern State Parkway for about 16 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 14.4 mi from Hempstead, NY · 19m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
14 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 28.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 14.4 miles from Hempstead, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Great River, NY
The final approach into Great River, 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 Great River, NY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.69 one way
$9.38 round trip
$4.14/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $5.08 | $10.16 |
| premium | $4.88 | $5.54 | $11.07 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $6.40 | $12.80 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.02 | $1.38 |
| Efficient EV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.52 | $1.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.03 | $1.84 |
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
Great River, NY
Evening in Great River on Sunday
Local time
5:02 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live 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
7 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
39m 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 Hempstead, NY to Great River, NY covers 28.8 miles and takes about 39m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Southern State Parkway, Heckscher State Parkway, Jerusalem Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 14.4 miles from Hempstead, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $4.69 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 demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 28.8 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 0.7 miles (Jerusalem Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.7 miles (Jerusalem Avenue): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.8 miles (SO / Southern State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Hempstead, NY and Great River, NY, road signs point toward So East: East Islip and Heckscher Park.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Great River, NY
More trips to Great River, NY
Explore more options from Hempstead, NY or browse trips ending in Great River, NY.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NY road trips.
Explore maps for Hempstead, NY or Great River, NY on MapSof.net.