Origin
Hempstead, NY
Morning in Hempstead on Saturday
Local time
10:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 29m
Distance
64 mi
103 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Peach Lake, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Hempstead to Peach Lake is 64 miles and takes about 1 hour 29 minutes via I 684 and Hutchinson River Parkway, with a fuel budget near $11 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This straightforward, highway-focused trip stays within New York, moving you from the bustling Northeast region to a more tranquil part of the same state. It’s a quick journey that makes for an easy day trip, allowing plenty of time for your destination activities. You’ll spend most of your time on major parkways and expressways, making it a convenient option when you need to get moving without much fuss.
Hempstead is the most populous town in America, with a whopping 700,000 residents, located on the South Shore of Nassau County, New York. The town is highly urbanized and fragmented, containing 22 semi-autonomous villages within its boundaries, and forty other neighborhoods. Garden City, encompassing the "Nassau Hub" region, has its own article. The other prominent communities in Hempstead include Floral Park, Hempstead Village, Valley Stream, Rockville Centre, Freeport, Merrick, and the Five Towns area.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 29m. Total distance: 64 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (80%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Expect a highway-focused drive for about 80% of this 64-mile journey. You'll predominantly be on major arteries like the Clearview Expressway, Hutchinson River Parkway, and I 684. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 27.3 miles on I 684, offering a solid period of consistent driving. This route generally maintains a smooth pace, transitioning between expressway and parkway styles, keeping the miles flowing efficiently. It’s designed for getting you where you need to go with minimal complication.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
987 ft
Total Descent
484 ft
Highest Point
558 ft
~64 mi in
Elevation Range
563 ft
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 684 and Hutchinson River Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 15.8 miles in near I 695 / Throgs Neck Expressway.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 64 miles you will encounter 19 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 15.8 miles (I 695 / Throgs Neck Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 18.9 miles: 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.
Keep slight right at fork onto I 695 / Throgs Neck Expressway toward I 695 North: New Haven
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Hutchinson Parkway North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward Hutchinson River Parkway North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 684 North: Brewster
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward US 6, US 202, NY 22 South: Brewster
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hempstead, NY and Peach Lake, NY, road signs point toward Hutchinson Parkway North and Hutchinson River Parkway North.
Hutchinson Parkway North
Hutchinson River Parkway North
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 684 | 27.3 mi | 31m |
| Hutchinson River Parkway | 13.5 mi | 19m |
| Clearview Expressway | 5 mi | 5m |
| Throgs Neck Expressway | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Tulip Avenue | 2 mi | 3m |
| Throgs Neck Bridge | 2 mi | 3m |
| Hempstead Turnpike | 2 mi | 3m |
| Peach Lake Road | 1.4 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Hempstead, NY and Peach Lake, NY.
Start on Peninsula Boulevard
Turn left onto Clinton Street
Turn left onto NY 102
Turn slight left onto NY 24
Turn right onto New Hyde Park Road
Turn left onto Tulip Avenue
Turn left onto NY 25
Turn slight right onto NY 25
Turn left onto NY 25
Turn right onto I 295
Continue on I 295
Continue on I 295
Keep slight right at fork onto I 695
Merge onto I 95
Continue on I 95
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto HR
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 684
Continue on I 684
Take the exit
Turn left onto US 6; US 202
Turn right onto NY 121
Turn right onto Vail Grove
Turn left onto Vails Lake Shore Drive
Turn left onto Spruce Lane
Turn right onto White Oak Lane
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 32 mi from Hempstead, NY · 49m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
32 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 14 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 32 miles from Hempstead, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Peach Lake, NY usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$10.53 one way
$21.07 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $11.39 | $22.78 |
| premium | $4.92 | $12.40 | $24.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.13 | $28.26 |
Estimated Tolls: $6.69
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$11
Tolls
$7
Total
$17
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.2 | 0 | $6.72 | $3.07 |
| Efficient EV | 16 | 0 | $5.60 | $2.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 25.6 | 0 | $8.96 | $4.10 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Hempstead on Saturday
Local time
10:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Peach Lake on Saturday
Local time
10:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
34°F
Mount Vernon, NY
32 mi in
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
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.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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