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Trip from Hempstead, NY to Cambridge, NY

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 23m

Distance

199.7 mi

321 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$33

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 10m ★
6 AM
4h 23m
8 AM
4h 50m
10 AM
4h 33m
12 PM
4h 30m
3 PM
4h 34m
5 PM
4h 49m
8 PM
4h 15m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

municipality with village of the same name in New York, United States

Cambridge, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Hempstead, NY to Cambridge, NY covers 199.7 miles and takes about 4h 23m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Clinton Street, Front Street, Hempstead Turnpike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.87 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

99.8 miles from Hempstead, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 11m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 23m. Total distance: 199.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 4h 23m drive with frequent turns across 199.7 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 49 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Clinton Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

Navigation is easy, but the length (4h 23m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots, so this is more about pacing than navigation skill.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Hempstead, NY to Cambridge, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Clinton Street
Front Street
Hempstead Turnpike
New Hyde Park Road
Tulip Avenue
Jamaica Avenue
Braddock Avenue
Hillside Avenue

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Clinton Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Peninsula Boulevard

79 ft · 1 sec · Peninsula Boulevard
2

Turn left onto Clinton Street

361 ft · 18 sec · Clinton Street
3

Turn left onto Front Street

1.1 mi · 1 min · Front Street
4

Turn slight left onto Hempstead Turnpike

2.0 mi · 3 min · Hempstead Turnpike
5

Turn right onto New Hyde Park Road

0.4 mi · 53 sec · New Hyde Park Road
6

Turn left onto Tulip Avenue

2.0 mi · 3 min · Tulip Avenue
7

Turn left onto Jamaica Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · Jamaica Avenue
8

Turn slight right onto Braddock Avenue

1.2 mi · 2 min · Braddock Avenue
9

Turn left onto Hillside Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · Hillside Avenue
10

Turn right onto Clearview Expressway

5.0 mi · 5 min · Clearview Expressway
11

Continue on Throgs Neck Bridge

2.0 mi · 3 min · Throgs Neck Bridge
12

Continue on Throgs Neck Expressway

0.7 mi · 1 min · Throgs Neck Expressway
13

Keep slight left to continue on Cross Bronx Expressway

6.6 mi · 8 min · Cross Bronx Expressway
14

Keep slight left to continue on Trans-Manhattan Expressway

0.7 mi · 1 min · Trans-Manhattan Expressway
15

Continue on George Washington Bridge (upper level)

0.6 mi · 1 min · George Washington Bridge (upper level)
16

Continue straight

0.5 mi · 48 sec
17

Keep slight left

0.6 mi · 39 sec
18

Keep slight left

0.1 mi · 9 sec
19

Take the exit slight right toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack

0.2 mi · 23 sec · I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
20

Keep slight right to continue on NJ 4 West: Paramus

0.2 mi · 24 sec · NJ 4 West: Paramus
21

Merge slight right

6.7 mi · 9 min
22

Take the exit straight toward GSP South, NJ 17 South, GSP North, NJ 17 North: Grand State Plaza, Newark, Mahwah

0.2 mi · 26 sec · GSP South, NJ 17 South, GSP North, NJ 17 North: Grand State Plaza, Newark, Mahwah
23

Keep slight right to continue on NJ 17 North: Mahwah

0.2 mi · 37 sec · NJ 17 North: Mahwah
24

Merge slight left

3.3 mi · 4 min
25

Continue straight

7.3 mi · 9 min
26

Continue straight

0.7 mi · 50 sec
27

Continue straight

3.3 mi · 4 min
28

Continue straight

0.2 mi · 11 sec
29

Keep slight left to continue on I 87 North, NY 17 North, New York State Thruway North: Albany

112 mi · 2 hr 8 min · I 87 North, NY 17 North, New York State Thruway North: Albany
30

Take the exit slight right toward I 787, US 9W: Albany, Troy

0.3 mi · 50 sec · I 787, US 9W: Albany, Troy
31

Continue straight

9.0 mi · 12 min
32

Keep slight right to continue on NY 7 East: Troy, Bennington

1.1 mi · 2 min · NY 7 East: Troy, Bennington
33

Turn left onto 10th Street

390 ft · 11 sec · 10th Street
34

Continue on Oakwood Avenue

3.4 mi · 7 min · Oakwood Avenue
35

At the end of the road, turn right onto Plank Road

466 ft · 21 sec · Plank Road
36

Turn left onto Leversee Road

0.6 mi · 1 min · Leversee Road
37

Continue on Brickyard Road

518 ft · 13 sec · Brickyard Road
38

Continue on Speigletown Road

1.1 mi · 2 min · Speigletown Road
39

Continue on State Highway 40

2.6 mi · 4 min · State Highway 40
40

Turn slight right onto Melrose-Valley Falls Road

1.5 mi · 2 min · Melrose-Valley Falls Road
41

Turn slight left onto CR 119 - Madigan Road

1.4 mi · 1 min · CR 119 - Madigan Road
42

Continue on Melrose-Valley Falls Road

0.4 mi · 42 sec · Melrose-Valley Falls Road
43

Continue on Melrose-Valley Falls Road

2.0 mi · 3 min · Melrose-Valley Falls Road
44

Continue on State Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · State Street
45

At the end of the road, turn right onto State Highway 67

11 mi · 17 min · State Highway 67
46

Turn left onto NY 22

5.3 mi · 8 min · NY 22
47

Turn left onto East Main Street

0.3 mi · 43 sec · East Main Street
48

Turn right onto Broad Street

56 ft · 2 sec · Broad Street
49

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 99.8 miles from Hempstead, NY, or about 2h 11m into the drive.

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 44 miles or 58m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 99.8 miles or 2h 11m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 35m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cambridge, 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 199.7 miles and 4h 23m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Hempstead, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 99.8 mi from Hempstead, NY · 2h 11m into the drive

town in Rockland County, New York, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ramapo, NY

100 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

The Bronx, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 44 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ramapo, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 99.8 miles from Hempstead, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Cambridge, NY

The final approach into Cambridge, 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 Cambridge, 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

$32.87 one way

$65.74 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 70 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.52 $35.55 $71.09
premium $4.92 $38.71 $77.41
diesel $5.61 $44.09 $88.18

Estimated Tolls: $22.55

George Washington Bridge $16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge $6.55
New York State Thruway $0.00

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$33

Tolls

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$80–$105

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 69.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 59.9 0 $20.97 $9.59
Efficient EV 49.9 0 $17.47 $7.99
EV Truck/SUV 79.9 0 $27.96 $12.78

Gas CO2

70 kg

EV CO2

23 kg (67% 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Hempstead, NY

Afternoon in Hempstead on Friday

Local time

1:29 PM

EDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Cambridge, NY

Afternoon in Cambridge on Friday

Local time

1:29 PM

EDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

57°F

Ramapo, NY

100 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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

4h 23m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

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 Cambridge, NY covers 199.7 miles and takes about 4h 23m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Clinton Street, Front Street, Hempstead Turnpike. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 99.8 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 $32.87 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Navigation is easy, but the length (4h 23m) means fatigue is the real challenge. The route is 0% highway with very few tricky spots, so this is more about pacing than navigation skill.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Hempstead, NY to Cambridge, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Hempstead, NY to Cambridge, NY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Cambridge, NY to Hempstead, NY

Plan the drive back the other way.

200.7 mi 4h 26m

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NY road trips.