Origin
Knox, NY
Late night in Knox on Saturday
Local time
1:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Knox, NY to Hempstead, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 51m
Distance
167.3 mi
269 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 38m
★
6 AM
3h 51m
8 AM
4h 17m
10 AM
4h 0m
12 PM
3h 57m
3 PM
4h 1m
5 PM
4h 15m
8 PM
3h 43m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Knox, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Trip Overview
The drive from Knox, NY to Hempstead, NY covers 167.3 miles and takes about 3h 51m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Warners Lake Road, Thacher Park Road, Helderberg Trail for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.54 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
83.6 miles from Knox, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 55m into the drive .
About the Cities
Arriving 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
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 3h 51m. Total distance: 167.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 51m drive with frequent turns across 167.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 43 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Warners Lake Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Knox, NY to Hempstead, NY is easy. At 3h 51m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Knox, NY to Hempstead, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Warners Lake Road | — | — |
| Thacher Park Road | — | — |
| Helderberg Trail | — | — |
| Delaware Turnpike | — | — |
| Highway 143 | — | — |
| Route 401 | — | — |
| Route 405 | — | — |
| Highway 32 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Warners Lake Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Knox, NY and Hempstead, NY.
1
Start on Knox Cave Road
3.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Knox Cave Road
2
Continue on Warners Lake Road
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Warners Lake Road
3
At the end of the road, turn right onto Thacher Park Road
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Thacher Park Road
4
At the end of the road, turn left onto Helderberg Trail
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Helderberg Trail
5
Turn right onto Delaware Turnpike
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Delaware Turnpike
6
Turn left onto New York State Highway 143
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
New York State Highway 143
7
At the end of the road, turn left
187 ft
·
6 sec
8
Turn right onto County Route 401
5.2 mi
·
10 min
·
County Route 401
9
At the end of the road, turn left onto County Route 405
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
County Route 405
10
Turn right onto State Highway 32
11 mi
·
15 min
·
State Highway 32
11
Turn left onto State Highway 23
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 23
12
Turn right onto State Highway 32
9.2 mi
·
13 min
·
State Highway 32
13
Continue on King's Highway
6.8 mi
·
9 min
·
King's Highway
14
Take the ramp left
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
15
Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway
71 mi
·
1 hr 21 min
·
New York State Thruway
16
Keep slight right to continue on I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
17
Continue straight
0.5 mi
·
39 sec
18
Keep slight left to continue on NJ 17 South: Mahwah
14 mi
·
18 min
·
NJ 17 South: Mahwah
19
Take the exit slight right toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
20
Keep slight left to continue on NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
21
Merge slight left
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
22
Continue straight
6.4 mi
·
8 min
23
Take the exit slight left toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
I 95 North: George Washington Bridge
24
Merge slight left
0.7 mi
·
55 sec
25
Keep slight left
0.8 mi
·
1 min
26
Continue on George Washington Bridge (upper level)
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
George Washington Bridge (upper level)
27
Continue on Trans-Manhattan Expressway
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Trans-Manhattan Expressway
28
Continue on Cross Bronx Expressway
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Cross Bronx Expressway
29
Keep slight right to continue on Cross Bronx Expressway
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Cross Bronx Expressway
30
Merge slight left onto Throgs Neck Expressway
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
·
Throgs Neck Expressway
31
Continue on Throgs Neck Bridge
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Throgs Neck Bridge
32
Continue on Clearview Expressway
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Clearview Expressway
33
Turn left onto Hillside Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Hillside Avenue
34
Turn right onto Braddock Avenue
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Braddock Avenue
35
Turn left onto Jamaica Avenue
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Jamaica Avenue
36
Continue on Jericho Turnpike
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
Jericho Turnpike
37
Turn slight right onto Tulip Avenue
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Tulip Avenue
38
Turn right onto New Hyde Park Road
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
New Hyde Park Road
39
Turn left onto Hempstead Turnpike
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Hempstead Turnpike
40
Turn slight right onto Front Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Front Street
41
Turn right onto Greenwich Street
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
Greenwich Street
42
Turn left onto Peninsula Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Peninsula Boulevard
43
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 83.6 miles from Knox, NY, or about 1h 55m 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 37 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.6 miles or 1h 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hempstead, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Knox, 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 Knox, NY
This is one driving day of about 167.3 miles and 3h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Knox, 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.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 83.6 mi from Knox, NY · 1h 55m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
84 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 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 83.6 miles from Knox, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Hempstead, NY
The final approach into Hempstead, 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 Hempstead, NY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.54 one way
$55.08 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
59 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $29.78 | $59.56 |
| premium | $4.92 | $32.43 | $64.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $36.94 | $73.88 |
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
$28
Tolls
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.2 | 0 | $17.57 | $8.03 |
| Efficient EV | 41.8 | 0 | $14.64 | $6.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 66.9 | 0 | $23.42 | $10.71 |
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (66% 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
Hempstead, NY
Late night in Hempstead on Saturday
Local time
1:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Ramapo, NY
84 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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 51m 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 Knox, NY to Hempstead, NY covers 167.3 miles and takes about 3h 51m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Warners Lake Road, Thacher Park Road, Helderberg Trail. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 83.6 miles from Knox, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.54 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Knox, NY to Hempstead, NY is easy. At 3h 51m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Knox, NY to Hempstead, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Knox, NY to Hempstead, NY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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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