Drive Time
53m
Distance
39.8 mi
64 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
Photo: Andres Escalona Vergara
The drive from Hempstead, NY to Port Jefferson Station, NY covers 39.8 miles and takes about 53m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Southern State Parkway, Nesconset Highway, Sagtikos State Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 16 miles on Southern State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.48 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
19.9 miles from Hempstead, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 26m into the drive .
The drive from Hempstead, NY to Port Jefferson Station, NY covers 39.8 miles and takes about 53m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
203 ft
Total Descent
83 ft
Highest Point
176 ft
~39.8 mi in
Elevation Range
145 ft
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.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 39.8 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 0.7 miles (Jerusalem Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 18.8 miles (SO / Southern State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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
Keep slight left at fork onto SO / Southern State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 495 East: Riverhead
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 East: Riverhead
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward NY 111: Smithtown, Islip
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Between Hempstead, NY and Port Jefferson Station, NY, road signs point toward So East: East Islip, Kings Park and Islip.
So East: East Islip
Kings Park
Islip
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southern State Parkway | 16 mi | 19m |
| Nesconset Highway | 7.7 mi | 9m |
| Sagtikos State Parkway | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| Jerusalem Avenue | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Nesconset-Port Jefferson Highway | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Long Island Expressway | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Wheeler Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Express Drive South | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Hempstead, NY and Port Jefferson Station, 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
Keep slight left at fork onto SA
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 495
Take the exit
Turn straight onto Express Drive South
Continue on Express Drive South
Turn left onto NY 111
Continue on NY 111
Turn left onto NY 111
Turn slight right onto NY 347
Continue on NY 347
Continue on NY 347
Turn left onto Jayne Boulevard
Turn right
Turn right onto NY 112
Arrive at destination
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
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 39.8 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 19.9 miles or 26m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Port Jefferson Station, NY than in the middle of the route.
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 39.8 miles and 53m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 19.9 mi from Hempstead, NY · 26m 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 39.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 19.9 miles from Hempstead, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Port Jefferson Station, 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 Port Jefferson Station, NY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$6.48 one way
$12.96 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $7.02 | $14.04 |
| premium | $4.88 | $7.65 | $15.30 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $8.84 | $17.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$31–$56
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.18 | $1.91 |
| Efficient EV | 10 | 0 | $3.48 | $1.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.9 | 0 | $5.57 | $2.55 |
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Evening in Hempstead on Saturday
Local time
6:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Evening in Port Jefferson Station on Saturday
Local time
6:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Sunny
Along the Route
63°F
Babylon, NY
20 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
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.
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Return Trip
Port Jefferson Station, NY to Hempstead, NYPlan the drive back the other way.
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