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Trip from Hempstead, NY to Hamilton, NY

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 8m

Distance

238.2 mi

383 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$39

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 55m ★
6 AM
5h 8m
8 AM
5h 35m
10 AM
5h 18m
12 PM
5h 15m
3 PM
5h 19m
5 PM
5h 34m
8 PM
5h 0m

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

Downtown Hamilton, NY, NY

Hamilton, NY

Renan Tagliaferro

Trip Overview

The drive from Hempstead, NY to Hamilton, NY covers 238.2 miles and takes about 5h 8m 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 mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $39.21 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

119.1 miles from Hempstead, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 34m into the drive .

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 Hamilton, 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

14 mi · 16 min · I 87 North, NY 17 North, New York State Thruway North: Albany
30

Take the exit slight right toward US 6, NY 17: Harriman

1.5 mi · 3 min · US 6, NY 17: Harriman
31

Continue straight

151 ft · 4 sec
32

Keep slight left to continue on NY 17 West: Binghamton

0.4 mi · 30 sec · NY 17 West: Binghamton
33

Continue straight

105 mi · 2 hr 11 min
34

Take the exit slight right toward NY 8, NY 10: Deposit, Walton

0.4 mi · 1 min · NY 8, NY 10: Deposit, Walton
35

Turn right onto State Highway 10

0.2 mi · 14 sec · State Highway 10
36

Continue on Oak Street

0.3 mi · 18 sec · Oak Street
37

Turn straight onto State Highway 8

19 mi · 21 min · State Highway 8
38

Continue on Airport Road

0.4 mi · 29 sec · Airport Road
39

Continue on State Highway 8

18 mi · 20 min · State Highway 8
40

Turn left onto West Street

8.3 mi · 9 min · West Street
41

Turn right onto North Broad Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Broad Street
42

Continue on State Highway 12

10 mi · 15 min · State Highway 12
43

Continue on South Main Street

1.4 mi · 2 min · South Main Street
44

Continue on State Highway 12B

3.7 mi · 5 min · State Highway 12B
45

Continue on South Main Street

1.4 mi · 2 min · South Main Street
46

Continue on State Route 12B

4.6 mi · 6 min · State Route 12B
47

Continue on Broad Street

1.1 mi · 1 min · Broad Street
48

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 119.1 miles from Hempstead, NY, or about 2h 34m 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 52 miles or 1h 7m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 119.1 miles or 2h 34m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 12m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hamilton, 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 238.2 miles and 5h 8m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 52 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.

town in Rockland County, New York, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ramapo, NY

119 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

Ramapo, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 52 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ramapo, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 119.1 miles from Hempstead, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$39.21 one way

$78.42 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 83 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.52 $42.40 $84.80
premium $4.92 $46.17 $92.34
diesel $5.61 $52.59 $105.18

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

$39

Tolls

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$87–$112

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 83.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 71.5 0 $25.01 $11.43
Efficient EV 59.6 0 $20.84 $9.53
EV Truck/SUV 95.3 1 $33.35 $15.24

Gas CO2

83 kg

EV CO2

28 kg (66% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 Saturday

Local time

2:37 PM

EDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Hamilton, NY

Afternoon in Hamilton on Saturday

Local time

2:37 PM

EDT

Current temp

38°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

49°F

Ramapo, NY

119 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

18 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

5h 8m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

238.2 mi in 5h 8m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
48 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: Clinton Street.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 5h 8m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

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

About the Cities

Starting in Hempstead, NY

Full guide →

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

  • Mitchel Air Force Base — US Air Force base in Long Island, New York

Arriving in Hamilton, NY

Full guide →

Founded 1795

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 8m. Total distance: 238.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

Expect about $22.55 in tolls one way, starting with George Washington Bridge. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

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

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Hamilton, NY before the return drive.

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

Hamilton, NY to Hempstead, NY

Plan the drive back the other way.

238.1 mi 5h 8m

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NY road trips.