Origin
Hempstead, NY
Afternoon in Hempstead on Saturday
Local time
1:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hempstead, NY to Selden, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
53m
Distance
38.6 mi
62 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 49m
★
6 AM
0h 54m
8 AM
1h 2m
10 AM
0h 57m
12 PM
0h 56m
3 PM
0h 57m
5 PM
1h 2m
8 PM
0h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Selden, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 38.6-mile drive from Hempstead to Selden, NY, is a straightforward 53-minute trip that's perfect for a single day. You'll navigate primarily via the Southern State Parkway, Middle Country Road, and Sagtikos State Parkway, with about 58% of the journey on highways. The estimated fuel cost is around $6, making it an economical option for a short excursion within the Northeast region. This route offers a mixed driving experience, ideal for a quick local hop rather than needing an overnight stay.
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 Selden, NY
Full guide →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 53m. Total distance: 38.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (58%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a mixed drive on this route, blending parkway cruising with local road segments. While 58% of the drive is on highways, you'll also encounter stretches on Middle Country Road. The longest uninterrupted segment is 16 miles on the Southern State Parkway, offering a chance to settle into a rhythm. This drive transitions from a more open parkway feel to more developed roadside environments as you approach your destination.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Southern State Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 16 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 38.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 53m.
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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.7 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Jerusalem Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto Jerusalem Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / right lanes.
6
18.8 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
SO / Southern State Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto SO / Southern State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
23.7 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Take the exit toward I 495 East: Riverhead
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit S1 E
Toward I 495 East: Riverhead
8
23.9 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 East: Riverhead
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 495 East: Riverhead
8
26.3 mi into trip
|
~34m in
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 56
Toward NY 111: Smithtown, Islip
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 Selden, NY, road signs point toward So East: East Islip, Kings Park, Islip, Middle Country Road East, Centereach and Riverhead.
So East: East Islip
3.5 mi in
|
~6m
Kings Park
19.6 mi in
|
~25m
|
via SA
Islip
26.3 mi in
|
~34m
Middle Country Road East
33 mi in
|
~44m
Centereach
33 mi in
|
~44m
Riverhead
33 mi in
|
~44m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southern State Parkway | 16 mi | 19m |
| Middle Country Road | 5.4 mi | 8m |
| Sagtikos State Parkway | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| Jerusalem Avenue | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Nesconset Highway | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| Long Island Expressway | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Wheeler Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Nesconset-Port Jefferson Highway | 1.3 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Southern State Parkway
— 16 mi, about 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hempstead, NY and Selden, NY.
1
Start on Peninsula Boulevard
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
Peninsula Boulevard
2
Turn slight right onto NY 102
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
Front Street
3
Turn slight right
111 ft
·
4 sec
Use the right lane.
4
Turn straight onto William Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
William Street
5
At end of road, turn left onto Jerusalem Avenue
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Jerusalem Avenue
Use the left / right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto Jerusalem Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Jerusalem Avenue
7
Turn slight right onto Merrick Avenue North
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
Merrick Avenue North
8
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward SO East: East Islip
9
Merge onto SO
15 mi
·
18 min
·
Southern State Parkway
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto SO
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Southern State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto SA
4.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Sagtikos State Parkway
Toward Kings Park
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit S1 E
Toward I 495 East: Riverhead
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 495 East: Riverhead
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 495
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Exit 56
Toward NY 111: Smithtown, Islip
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn straight onto Express Drive South
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
Express Drive South
17
Continue on Express Drive South
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Express Drive South
18
Turn left onto NY 111
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Wheeler Road
19
Continue on NY 111
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Townline Road
Use the left lane.
20
Turn left onto NY 111
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
Hauppauge Boulevard
Use the left lane.
21
Turn slight right onto NY 347
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Nesconset-Port Jefferson Highway
22
Continue on NY 347
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Nesconset Highway
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward Route 25, Middle Country Road EAST, Centereach, Riverhead
24
Turn right onto NY 25
5.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Middle Country Road
Use the straight lane.
25
Arrive at destination
NY 25
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 19.3 mi from Hempstead, NY · 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 38.6 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19.3 miles from Hempstead, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Selden, NY
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Selden, NY if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.35 one way
$12.71 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $6.87 | $13.74 |
| premium | $4.92 | $7.48 | $14.96 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.52 | $17.04 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.6 | 0 | $4.05 | $1.85 |
| Efficient EV | 9.7 | 0 | $3.38 | $1.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.4 | 0 | $5.40 | $2.47 |
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.
Destination
Selden, NY
Afternoon in Selden on Saturday
Local time
1:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
53m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 Selden, NY covers 38.6 miles and takes about 53m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Southern State Parkway, Middle Country Road, Sagtikos State Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 19.3 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 $6.35 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 38.6 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 53m.
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.
Between Hempstead, NY and Selden, NY, road signs point toward So East: East Islip, Kings Park, Islip, Middle Country Road East, Centereach and Riverhead.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Fire Island National Seashore, Gateway National Recreation Area and General Grant National Memorial. 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Selden, NY
More trips to Selden, NY
Explore more options from Hempstead, NY or browse trips ending in Selden, NY.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NY road trips.