Trip from Hempstead, NY to Cherry Creek, NY

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

8h 29m

Distance

418.6 mi

674 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$69

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min

4 AM

8h 22m ★

6 AM

8h 29m

8 AM

8h 45m

10 AM

8h 35m

12 PM

8h 33m

3 PM

8h 35m

5 PM

8h 44m

8 PM

8h 25m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Cherry Creek, NY

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Trip Overview

The drive from Hempstead, NY to Cherry Creek, NY covers 418.6 miles and takes about 8h 29m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.

The route leans on Keystone Shortway, Christopher Columbus Highway, US 219 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 200 miles on Keystone Shortway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $68.90 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Best split across 2 days

Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

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

Midpoint

209.3 miles from Hempstead, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 10m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 8h 29m drive with frequent turns across 418.6 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 58 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

Keystone Shortway is the longest continuous segment at about 200 miles.

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 8.1 miles in near I 295 / Clearview Expressway.

Route Complexity 9/10

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

This is a demanding drive. With 33 significant decision points across 418.6 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 8.1 miles (I 295 / Clearview Expressway): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.8 miles (I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 33 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

8.1 mi into trip | ~15m in | I 295 / Clearview Expressway

Turn right onto I 295 / Clearview Expressway toward I 295 North: Clearview Expressway, Through Neck Bridge

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / right lanes. Toward I 295 North: Clearview Expressway, Throu...

15.8 mi into trip | ~25m in | I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

24.9 mi into trip | ~37m in

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

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack

25.2 mi into trip | ~38m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack

27.5 mi into trip | ~41m in

Take the exit toward I 80 West: Paterson, Hackensack

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 69 Toward I 80 West: Paterson, Hackensack

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Hempstead, NY and Cherry Creek, NY, road signs point toward Upper Level, Njtp South: Hackensack, Hackensack and Penfield.

Upper Level

22.4 mi in | ~34m | via I 95; US 1

Njtp South: Hackensack

24.9 mi in | ~37m

Hackensack

27.5 mi in | ~41m

Penfield

296.5 mi in | ~5h 47m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Keystone Shortway	200 mi	3h 44m
Christopher Columbus Highway	68.2 mi	1h 20m
US 219	46.5 mi	53m
Southern Tier Expressway	25.5 mi	29m
Bennetts Valley Highway	10.5 mi	16m
Million Dollar Highway	8.3 mi	12m
State Park Road	7.5 mi	13m
Cross Bronx Expressway	6.6 mi	8m

Longest stretch: Keystone Shortway — 200 mi, about 3h 44m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on Peninsula Boulevard

77 ft · 1 sec · Peninsula Boulevard

Turn left onto Clinton Street

359 ft · 17 sec · Clinton Street

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto NY 102

1.1 mi · 1 min · Front Street

Turn slight left onto NY 24

2.0 mi · 3 min · Hempstead Turnpike

Turn right onto New Hyde Park Road

0.4 mi · 53 sec · New Hyde Park Road

Turn left onto Tulip Avenue

2.0 mi · 3 min · Tulip Avenue

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto NY 25

0.7 mi · 1 min · Jamaica Avenue

Turn slight right onto NY 25

1.2 mi · 2 min · Braddock Avenue

Turn left onto NY 25

0.7 mi · 1 min · Hillside Avenue

Turn right onto I 295

5.0 mi · 5 min · Clearview Expressway

Toward I 295 North: Clearview Expressway, Through Neck Bridge Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on I 295

2.0 mi · 3 min · Throgs Neck Bridge

Continue on I 295

0.7 mi · 1 min · Throgs Neck Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 295

6.6 mi · 8 min · Cross Bronx Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; US 1

0.7 mi · 1 min · Trans-Manhattan Expressway

Toward Upper Level

Continue on I 95; US 1

0.6 mi · 59 sec · George Washington Bridge (upper level)

Continue on I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR

0.5 mi · 48 sec · I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR

0.6 mi · 39 sec · I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; NJTP

0.1 mi · 8 sec · I 95 EXPR; NJTP

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec

Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 29 sec

Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 95; NJTP

2.0 mi · 2 min · New Jersey Turnpike

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 1 min

Exit 69 Toward I 80 West: Paterson, Hackensack Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 80

68 mi · 1 hr 20 min · Christopher Columbus Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

5.5 mi · 8 min · Keystone Shortway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

195 mi · 3 hr 35 min · Keystone Shortway

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward PA 153: Clearfield, Penfield

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 32 sec

Turn straight onto PA 153

7.5 mi · 13 min · State Park Road

Turn right onto PA 255

7.9 mi · 12 min · Bennetts Valley Highway

Continue on PA 255

0.2 mi · 20 sec · Million Dollar Highway

Continue on PA 255

2.6 mi · 3 min · Bennetts Valley Highway

Turn straight onto PA 255

8.1 mi · 12 min · Million Dollar Highway

Continue on PA 120; PA 255

0.1 mi · 14 sec · South Saint Marys Street

Turn right onto PA 120; PA 255

147 ft · 3 sec · Railroad Street

Turn left onto PA 120; PA 255

382 ft · 8 sec · South Michael Street

Continue on PA 255

0.1 mi · 14 sec · North Michael Street

Turn left onto PA 255

0.7 mi · 1 min · Maurus Street

Continue on PA 255

4.4 mi · 6 min · Johnsonburg Road

Continue on PA 255

2.3 mi · 3 min · Johnsonburg-Saint Marys Road

Continue on PA 255

0.8 mi · 1 min · Powers Avenue

Keep slight right at fork

149 ft · 5 sec

Merge onto US 219

6.6 mi · 7 min · US 219

Keep slight right at fork onto US 219

40 mi · 44 min · US 219

Take the exit onto US 219

0.4 mi · 46 sec · US 219

Merge onto I 86; US 219; NY 17

26 mi · 29 min · Southern Tier Expressway

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec

Exit 16 Toward Randolph, Gowanda

Keep slight right at fork

170 ft · 5 sec

Turn right onto Main Street

1.3 mi · 2 min · Main Street

Turn left onto NY 241

4.0 mi · 5 min · Conewango Road

Continue on NY 241

1.3 mi · 1 min · State Highway 241

Continue on NY 241

1.6 mi · 2 min · Conewango Road

Continue on NY 241

0.1 mi · 12 sec · Conewango Road

Continue on US 62

1.5 mi · 2 min · US 62

At end of road, turn right onto NY 83

0.1 mi · 12 sec · State Highway 83

Continue on NY 83

3.6 mi · 5 min · South Road

Continue on NY 83

0.5 mi · 53 sec · South Main Street

Turn left onto Center Street

67 ft · 1 sec · Center Street

Arrive at destination

Center Street

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 209.3 miles from Hempstead, NY, or about 4h 10m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 200 miles.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 92 miles or 1h 58m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 209.3 miles or 4h 10m in

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

Overnight split

Day 1 wrap after about 209.3 miles or 4h 10m

Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 7h 14m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Cherry Creek, 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.

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Hempstead, NY

Aim for roughly 209 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into Cherry Creek, NY

Aim for roughly 209 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 92 miles from Hempstead, NY.

This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Keystone Shortway for about 200 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 209.3 mi from Hempstead, NY · 4h 10m into the drive

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Waverly, NY

209 mi into the route

Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start

This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.

Find hotels in Waverly, NY

Overnight Options

Night 1

Waverly, NY

209 mi · about 4.2h in

A practical overnight split lands near Waverly, NY after about 209 miles or 4.2 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Ramapo, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 92 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Corning, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 209.3 miles from Hempstead, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 200 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 209 miles or 4.2 hours on the road.

Arriving in Cherry Creek, NY

The final approach into Cherry Creek, 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 Cherry Creek, NY.

On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Cherry Creek, NY with some flexibility left in the schedule.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$68.90 one way

$137.81 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 147 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.52	$74.51	$149.02
premium	$4.92	$81.13	$162.27
diesel	$5.61	$92.42	$184.84

Estimated Tolls: $22.97

George Washington Bridge $16.00

Throgs Neck Bridge $6.55

New Jersey Turnpike (2 mi) $0.28

Hempstead Turnpike (2 mi) $0.14

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

$69

Tolls

$23

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$222–$332

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 146.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $44 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	125.6	1	$43.95	$20.09
Efficient EV	104.7	1	$36.63	$16.74
EV Truck/SUV	167.4	2	$58.60	$26.79

Gas CO2

146 kg

EV CO2

49 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 14, 2026

Origin

Hempstead, NY

Late night in Hempstead on Thursday

Local time

12:06 AM

EDT

Current temp

79°F

Mostly Sunny

S 8 to 13 mph 8% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued April 14 at 12:38PM EDT by NWS Albany NY

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 14 at 12:03PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY

Destination

Cherry Creek, NY

Late night in Cherry Creek on Thursday

Local time

12:06 AM

EDT

Current temp

42°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

42°F

Waverly, NY

209 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.

For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.

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

37 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

8h 29m on the road

This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.

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 Cherry Creek, NY covers 418.6 miles and takes about 8h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Keystone Shortway, Christopher Columbus Highway, US 219. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.

Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 209 miles on day one.

The midpoint is about 209.3 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 $68.90 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Between Hempstead, NY and Cherry Creek, NY, road signs point toward Upper Level, Njtp South: Hackensack, Hackensack and Penfield.

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