Trip from Hempstead, NY to Hampton Bays, NY

Drive Time

1h 25m

Distance

61.9 mi

100 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$10

one way

Downtown Hampton Bays, NY, NY

Hampton Bays, NY

Sarah O'Shea

Trip Overview

The drive from Hempstead, NY to Hampton Bays, NY covers 61.9 miles and takes about 1h 25m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Sunrise Highway, Southern State Parkway, Jerusalem Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 39.9 miles on Sunrise Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.08 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

31 miles from Hempstead, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 42m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 25m drive with frequent turns across 61.9 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Sunrise Highway is the longest continuous segment at about 39.9 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

183 ft 19 ft

Total Climb

235 ft

Total Descent

257 ft

Highest Point

183 ft

~56.8 mi in

Elevation Range

164 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 61.9 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 3.6 miles (SO / Southern State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 15 key points

These 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.
5
3.6 mi into trip | ~6m in | SO / Southern State Parkway

Merge onto SO / Southern State Parkway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / right lanes.
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 straight / slight right lanes.
9
19 mi into trip | ~25m in

Take the exit toward Bay Shore Road South, Bay Shore

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 41S Toward Bay Shore Road South, Bay Shore
6
60.1 mi into trip | ~1h 21m in

Take the exit toward NY 24 South, To CR-80: Hampton Bays

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 65 S Toward NY 24 South, To CR-80: Hampton Bays

Towns Along This Route

Between Hempstead, NY and Hampton Bays, NY, road signs point toward So East: East Islip, Bay Shore Road South and Bay Shore.

So East: East Islip

3.5 mi in | ~6m

Bay Shore Road South

19 mi in | ~25m

Bay Shore

19 mi in | ~25m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Sunrise Highway 39.9 mi 53m
Southern State Parkway 15.4 mi 18m
Jerusalem Avenue 2.7 mi 4m
Ponquogue Avenue 0.7 mi 1m
West Montauk Highway 0.7 mi 1m
Bay Shore Road 0.5 mi 1m
William Street 0.4 mi 1m
Howells Road 0.3 mi <1m
Longest stretch: Sunrise Highway — 39.9 mi, about 53m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Hempstead, NY and Hampton Bays, NY.

1

Start on Peninsula Boulevard

0.1 mi · 11 sec · Peninsula Boulevard
2

Turn slight right onto NY 102

0.2 mi · 14 sec · Front Street
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
7

Turn slight right onto Merrick Avenue North

0.1 mi · 15 sec · Merrick Avenue North
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 straight / right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork onto SO

0.2 mi · 16 sec · Southern State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec
Exit 41S Toward Bay Shore Road South, Bay Shore Use the slight right lane.
12

Turn straight onto CR 57

0.5 mi · 1 min · Bay Shore Road
13

Continue on CR 57

0.3 mi · 43 sec · Howells Road
14

Turn straight onto CR 57

341 ft · 6 sec · Sunrise Highway
15

Keep slight left at fork onto Sunrise Highway

0.7 mi · 1 min · Sunrise Highway
Toward NY 27 East
16

Take the ramp

0.1 mi · 17 sec
Toward NY 27 East: Montauk
17

Merge onto NY 27

39 mi · 52 min · Sunrise Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 40 sec
Exit 65 S Toward NY 24 South, To CR-80: Hampton Bays
19

Turn straight onto NY 24

473 ft · 15 sec · Riverhead-Hampton Bays Road
Use the left lane.
20

At end of road, turn left onto CR 80

0.7 mi · 1 min · West Montauk Highway
21

Turn right onto Ponquogue Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · Ponquogue Avenue
22

Arrive at destination

Ponquogue Avenue

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 31 miles from Hempstead, NY, or about 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 39.9 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 61.9 miles or 1h 25m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 31 miles or 42m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 11m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hampton Bays, 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 61.9 miles and 1h 25m.

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 Sunrise Highway for about 39.9 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 31 mi from Hempstead, NY · 42m into the drive

Downtown Brentwood, NY, NY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Brentwood, NY

31 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

Brookhaven, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 61.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Islip, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 31 miles from Hempstead, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Hampton Bays, NY

The final approach into Hampton Bays, 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 Hampton Bays, 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

$10.08 one way

$20.15 round trip

$4.14/gal 25.4 MPG avg 22 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.48 $10.92 $21.84
premium $4.88 $11.90 $23.80
diesel $5.64 $13.75 $27.50

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$10

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$35–$60

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 21.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 18.6 0 $6.50 $2.97
Efficient EV 15.5 0 $5.42 $2.48
EV Truck/SUV 24.8 0 $8.67 $3.96

Gas CO2

22 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (68% 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 data refreshed 19 hours ago

Origin

Hempstead, NY

Afternoon in Hempstead on Sunday

Local time

3:44 PM

EDT

Current temp

54°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Hampton Bays, NY

Afternoon in Hampton Bays on Sunday

Local time

3:44 PM

EDT

Current temp

32°F

Clear then Areas Of Frost

N 3 to 15 mph 0% chance 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

22 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 25m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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 Hampton Bays, NY covers 61.9 miles and takes about 1h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Sunrise Highway, Southern State Parkway, Jerusalem Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 31 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 $10.08 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 15 significant decision points across 61.9 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 3.6 miles (SO / Southern State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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 Hampton Bays, NY, road signs point toward So East: East Islip, Bay Shore Road South and Bay Shore.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 19 ft to 183 ft elevation with about 235 ft of total climbing.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

Hampton Bays, NY to Hempstead, NY

Plan the drive back the other way.

63.1 mi 1h 25m

Explore more options from Hempstead, NY or browse trips ending in Hampton Bays, NY.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NY road trips.

Explore maps for Hempstead, NY or Hampton Bays, NY on MapSof.net.