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Create accountDrive Time
35m
Distance
21.2 mi
34 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kensington, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
The drive from Hempstead, NY to Kensington, NY covers 21.2 miles and takes about 35m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Belt Parkway, Southern State Parkway, Linden Boulevard for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 6.5 miles on Belt Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.45 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
10.6 miles from Hempstead, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 15m into the drive .
The drive from Hempstead, NY to Kensington, NY covers 21.2 miles and takes about 35m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
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 1.6 miles in near SO / Southern State Parkway.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 21.2 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 1.6 miles (SO / Southern State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.2 miles (BP / Belt Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.6 miles (BP / Belt Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Merge onto SO / Southern State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto BP / Belt Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto BP / Belt Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward North Conduit Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto Albemarle Road
Navigation decision point
On the drive from Hempstead, NY to Kensington, NY, road signs begin pointing toward So West: New York along the way.
So West: New York
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Belt Parkway | 6.5 mi | 9m |
| Southern State Parkway | 5.3 mi | 7m |
| Linden Boulevard | 3.8 mi | 6m |
| Church Avenue | 2.8 mi | 6m |
| Peninsula Boulevard | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| North Conduit Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Albemarle Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Westminster Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Hempstead, NY and Kensington, NY.
Start on Peninsula Boulevard
Continue on Peninsula Boulevard
Take the ramp
Merge onto SO
Continue on BP
Keep slight right at fork onto BP
Keep slight left at fork onto BP
Take the exit
Merge onto NY 27
Turn straight onto NY 27
Continue on NY 27
Turn slight left onto Church Avenue
Turn left onto Westminster Road
Turn right onto Albemarle Road
Arrive at destination
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.
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 21.2 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 10.6 miles or 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kensington, NY than in the middle of the route.
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 21.2 miles and 35m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 10.6 mi from Hempstead, NY · 15m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
11 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.
A short stop after about 21.2 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 10.6 miles from Hempstead, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Kensington, 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 Kensington, NY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$3.45 one way
$6.90 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $3.74 | $7.48 |
| premium | $4.88 | $4.08 | $8.15 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $4.71 | $9.42 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.23 | $1.02 |
| Efficient EV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.85 | $0.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.97 | $1.36 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Hempstead on Sunday
Local time
4:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Clear
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 2:05PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Destination
Afternoon in Kensington on Sunday
Local time
4:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Clear
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 2:05PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Along the Route
57°F
Jamaica, NY
11 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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