Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
57m
Distance
40.7 mi
65 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
The drive from Hempstead, NY to Brookhaven, NY covers 40.7 miles and takes about 57m 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 mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 19.1 miles on Sunrise Highway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.70 one way before food or hotel costs.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 57m. Total distance: 40.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (38%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
The drive from Hempstead, NY to Brookhaven, NY covers 40.7 miles and takes about 57m, 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 0.7 miles in near Jerusalem Avenue.
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 16 decision points packed into just 40.7 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 57m.
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.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
At end of road, turn left onto Jerusalem Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Merge onto SO / Southern State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto SO / Southern State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Take the exit toward CR 21 South: Yaphank Avenue, Brookhaven
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 Brookhaven, NY, road signs point toward So East: East Islip, Bay Shore Road South and Bay Shore.
So East: East Islip
Bay Shore Road South
Bay Shore
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sunrise Highway | 19.1 mi | 26m |
| Southern State Parkway | 15.4 mi | 18m |
| Jerusalem Avenue | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Montauk Highway | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Bay Shore Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| William Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| South Country Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Howells Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Hempstead, NY and Brookhaven, NY.
Start on Peninsula Boulevard
Turn slight right onto NY 102
Turn slight right
Turn straight onto William Street
At end of road, turn left onto Jerusalem Avenue
Keep slight right at fork onto Jerusalem Avenue
Turn slight right onto Merrick Avenue North
Take the ramp
Merge onto SO
Keep slight left at fork onto SO
Take the exit
Turn straight onto CR 57
Continue on CR 57
Turn straight onto CR 57
Keep slight left at fork onto Sunrise Highway
Take the ramp
Merge onto NY 27
Take the exit
Turn left onto Sunrise Hwy South Service Road
Turn right onto CR 21
Turn right onto CR 80
Turn left onto CR 36
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 20.3 mi from Hempstead, NY · 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 20.3 miles from Hempstead, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Brookhaven, NY if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$6.70 one way
$13.40 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $7.24 | $14.49 |
| premium | $4.92 | $7.89 | $15.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.99 | $17.97 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.27 | $1.95 |
| Efficient EV | 10.2 | 0 | $3.56 | $1.63 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.3 | 0 | $5.70 | $2.60 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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 Friday
Local time
12:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Brookhaven on Friday
Local time
12:18 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
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.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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