The drive from Hempstead, NY to Kent, NY covers 371.7 miles and takes about 8h behind the wheel.
It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on I 81, Christopher Columbus Highway, New York State Thruway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 97.3 miles on I 81.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $61.18 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
185.8 miles from Hempstead, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 51m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Solo Traveler
8h drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 8h drive with frequent turns across 371.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 63 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 81 is the longest continuous segment at about 97.3 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.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 40 significant decision points across 371.7 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 24.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 40 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
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...
8
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
8
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
8
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
8
343.3 mi into trip|~7h 18m in
Take the exit toward NY 531 West: Spencerport, Brockport
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 8
Toward NY 531 West: Spencerport, Brockport
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 Kent, NY, road signs point toward Upper Level, Njtp South: Hackensack, Hackensack, Albany and Brockport.
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
Albany
200.3 mi in|~4h 8m|via I 81
Brockport
343.3 mi in|~7h 18m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
97.3 mi
1h 55m
Christopher Columbus Highway
68.2 mi
1h 20m
New York State Thruway
30.3 mi
34m
I 380
27.7 mi
30m
Keystone Shortway
17.3 mi
24m
Eastern Expressway
15.3 mi
19m
West Ridge Road
13.4 mi
19m
Clinton Street
10.5 mi
15m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 97.3 mi, about 1h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hempstead, NY and Kent, NY.
1
Start on Peninsula Boulevard
77 ft·1 sec·Peninsula Boulevard
2
Turn left onto Clinton Street
359 ft·17 sec·Clinton Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto NY 102
1.1 mi·1 min·Front Street
4
Turn slight left onto NY 24
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
Use the left lane.
7
Turn left onto NY 25
0.7 mi·1 min·Jamaica Avenue
8
Turn slight right onto NY 25
1.2 mi·2 min·Braddock Avenue
9
Turn left onto NY 25
0.7 mi·1 min·Hillside Avenue
10
Turn right onto I 295
5.0 mi·5 min·Clearview Expressway
Toward I 295 North: Clearview Expressway, Through Neck BridgeUse the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
12
Continue on I 295
0.7 mi·1 min·Throgs Neck Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295
6.6 mi·8 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
Toward Upper Level
15
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.6 mi·59 sec·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
16
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
17
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.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; NJTP
0.1 mi·8 sec·I 95 EXPR; NJTP
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: HackensackUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·29 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: HackensackUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
21
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
2.0 mi·2 min·New Jersey Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 69Toward I 80 West: Paterson, HackensackUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on I 80
68 mi·1 hr 20 min·Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·8 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
12 mi·15 min·Keystone Shortway
26
Take the exit
0.7 mi·46 sec
Exit 293Toward I 380 North: Scranton
27
Continue on I 380
28 mi·30 min·I 380
Use the straight lane.
28
Merge onto I 81
58 mi·1 hr 9 min·I 81
Use the straight lane.
29
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
1.8 mi·2 min·I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse, Albany
30
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
37 mi·43 min·I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse
31
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
Exit 52Toward NY 13: Cortland
32
Turn right onto NY 13
39 ft·5 sec·Clinton Avenue
33
Turn left onto Locust Avenue
1.2 mi·2 min·Locust Avenue
34
Continue on Albany Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Albany Street
35
At end of road, turn right onto US 11; NY 41
0.4 mi·1 min·South Main Street
36
Turn left onto NY 41
10 mi·15 min·Clinton Street
37
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi·49 sec·East Lake Road
38
Continue on NY 41
4.8 mi·7 min·State Route 41
39
Continue on NY 41
9.4 mi·13 min·East Lake Road
40
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi·48 sec·East Lake Street
41
Turn left onto US 20
7.3 mi·13 min·East Genesee Street
42
Turn right onto US 20
0.2 mi·12 sec·North Fulton Street
43
Turn left onto US 20; NY 5
0.4 mi·1 min·Arterial West
44
Continue on US 20; NY 5; NY 38
9.8 mi·11 min·Chase Street
Use the left lane.
45
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.9 mi·2 min·Auburn Road
46
Turn right onto NY 318
4.1 mi·7 min·NY 318
47
Continue on NY 318
319 ft·10 sec·NY 318
Use the right lane.
48
Turn right onto NY 414
0.3 mi·28 sec·State Route 414
Use the right lane.
49
Continue on NY 414
217 ft·11 sec·Ridge Road
Use the left lane.
50
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
Use the left lane.
51
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 West: BuffaloUse the straight / right lanes.
52
Merge onto I 90
30 mi·34 min·New York State Thruway
53
Take the exit
0.4 mi·51 sec
Exit 45Toward I 490: RochesterUse the slight right lane.
54
Continue on I 490
15 mi·19 min·Eastern Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
55
Keep slight left at fork onto I 490
4.8 mi·6 min·Western Expressway
Use the straight lane.
56
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 8Toward NY 531 West: Spencerport, BrockportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
57
Continue on NY 531
7.5 mi·8 min·NY 531
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
58
Continue on NY 31
2.5 mi·3 min·Brockport-Spencerport Road
59
Turn right onto NY 260
1.9 mi·3 min·Sweden-Walker Road
Use the right lane.
60
Turn left onto NY 104
13 mi·19 min·West Ridge Road
61
Turn right onto CR 11
2.6 mi·6 min·Kent Road
62
Turn right onto Ford Street
52 ft·2 sec·Ford Street
63
Arrive at destination
Ford 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 185.8 miles from Hempstead, NY, or about 3h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.3 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 82 miles or 1h 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 185.8 miles or 3h 51m 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 185.8 miles or 3h 51m
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 6h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kent, 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 186 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Kent, NY
Aim for roughly 186 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 82 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 I 81 for about 97.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 185.8 mi from Hempstead, NY
· 3h 51m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
General Grant National Memorial
National Memorial
The final resting place of President Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, Julia, is the largest mausoleum in North America. It testifies to a people’s gratitude for the man who ended the bloodiest conflict...
Merchant’s clerk, Revolutionary War soldier, first Secretary Treasury of the United States: Alexander Hamilton’s life is memorialized at The Grange, the home he built on a country estate in uptown Man...
Women’s Rights National Historical Park tells the story of the first Women’s Rights Convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York on July 19-20, 1848. It is a story of struggles for civil rights, human r...
5 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 294.8
Harriet Tubman was guided by a deep faith and devotion to family, freedom, and community. After emancipating herself and members of her family, she moved them from Ontario, Canada to Fleming and Aubur...
Before the 1960s, almost everything about living authentically as a lesbian, a bisexual person or a gay man was illegal. The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969 is a milestone in the quest for civil r...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 25.6
The African Burial Ground stands as the oldest and largest known excavated burial site in North America for both free and enslaved Africans. It offers a profound testament to the enduring legacy of Af...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 25.6
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
111.5
1
$39.03
$17.84
Efficient EV
92.9
1
$32.52
$14.87
EV Truck/SUV
148.7
1
$52.04
$23.79
Gas CO2
130 kg
EV CO2
43 kg (67% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Hempstead, NY
Morning
in Hempstead on Friday
Local time
9:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Partly Sunny
S 12 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Kent, NY
Morning
in Kent on Friday
Local time
9:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
53°F
Union, NY
186 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
41 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 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 Kent, NY covers 371.7 miles and takes about 8h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 81, Christopher Columbus Highway, New York State Thruway. 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 186 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 185.8 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 $61.18 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 40 significant decision points across 371.7 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.
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 24.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Hempstead, NY and Kent, NY, road signs point toward Upper Level, Njtp South: Hackensack, Hackensack, Albany and Brockport.
Yes. Nearby national parks include General Grant National Memorial, Hamilton Grange National Memorial and Women's Rights National Historical Park. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.
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, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
