Trip from Port Jefferson Station, NY to Hempstead, NY

Drive Time

56m

Distance

39.9 mi

64 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Photo: Peter Olexa

Trip Overview

The drive from Port Jefferson Station, NY to Hempstead, NY covers 39.9 miles and takes about 56m 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, Smithtown Bypass for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 17.5 miles on Southern State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $6.50 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

20 miles from Port Jefferson Station, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 29m into the drive .

Drive Character

The drive from Port Jefferson Station, NY to Hempstead, NY covers 39.9 miles and takes about 56m, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 20 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 17.5 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

176 ft 30 ft

Total Climb

120 ft

Total Descent

241 ft

Highest Point

176 ft

Elevation Range

146 ft

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 10.4 miles in.

Route Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 39.9 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 10.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 11 miles (NY 111 / Wheeler Road): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.5 miles (SO / Southern State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

10.4 mi into trip | ~16m in

Take the exit toward Route 111, Islip, Smithtown

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the right lane. Toward Route 111, Islip, Smithtown

11 mi into trip | ~17m in | NY 111 / Wheeler Road

Keep slight left at fork onto NY 111 / Wheeler Road

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

20.5 mi into trip | ~30m 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 slight left lane.

37.9 mi into trip | ~52m in

Take the exit toward Nassau Road, Hempstead, Freeport

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 21 Toward Nassau Road, Hempstead, Freeport

38 mi into trip | ~52m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Uniondale

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward Uniondale

Towns Along This Route

Between Port Jefferson Station, NY and Hempstead, NY, road signs point toward Islip, Smithtown, So: New York and Freeport.

Islip

10.4 mi in | ~16m

Smithtown

10.4 mi in | ~16m

So: New York

16.3 mi in | ~25m

Freeport

37.9 mi in | ~52m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Southern State Parkway	17.5 mi	21m
Nesconset Highway	5.9 mi	8m
Smithtown Bypass	4.5 mi	7m
Heckscher State Parkway	3.9 mi	4m
Islip Avenue	2.2 mi	3m
Wheeler Road	1.6 mi	2m
Joshuas Path	1.5 mi	2m
Nassau Road	0.8 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Southern State Parkway — 17.5 mi, about 21m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Port Jefferson Station, NY and Hempstead, NY.

Start on NY 112

82 ft · 5 sec · Patchogue Road

Turn right onto NY 347

5.9 mi · 8 min · Nesconset Highway

Use the right lane.

Continue on NY 347

4.5 mi · 7 min · Smithtown Bypass

Take the exit

380 ft · 16 sec

Toward Route 111, Islip, Smithtown Use the right lane.

Turn left onto NY 111

0.5 mi · 46 sec · Hauppauge Boulevard

At end of road, turn right onto NY 111; CR 76

421 ft · 8 sec · Townline Road

Keep slight left at fork onto NY 111

1.6 mi · 2 min · Wheeler Road

Use the straight lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto NY 111

1.5 mi · 2 min · Joshuas Path

Continue on NY 111

2.2 mi · 3 min · Islip Avenue

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 26 sec

Toward SO: New York

Merge onto H

3.9 mi · 4 min · Heckscher State Parkway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on SO

0.1 mi · 9 sec · Southern State Parkway

Keep slight left at fork onto SO

17 mi · 21 min · Southern State Parkway

Use the slight left lane.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 25 sec

Exit 21 Toward Nassau Road, Hempstead, Freeport Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight right at fork

163 ft · 5 sec

Toward Uniondale Use the right lane.

Turn right onto Nassau Road

0.8 mi · 1 min · Nassau Road

Use the right lane.

Continue on Greenwich Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · Greenwich Street

Turn right onto Henry Street

0.5 mi · 56 sec · Henry Street

Use the right lane.

Turn right onto Peninsula Boulevard

64 ft · 1 sec · Peninsula Boulevard

Arrive at destination

Peninsula Boulevard

Trip Plan

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.

The halfway point lands around 20 miles from Port Jefferson Station, NY, or about 29m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 17.5 miles.

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 39.9 miles or 56m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 20 miles or 29m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 47m

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 Port Jefferson Station, 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 Port Jefferson Station, NY

This is one driving day of about 39.9 miles and 56m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Port Jefferson Station, NY.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

The longest stretch is on Southern State Parkway for about 17.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 20 mi from Port Jefferson Station, NY · 29m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Brentwood, NY

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Jamaica, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 39.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Brentwood, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 20 miles from Port Jefferson Station, 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

$6.50 one way

$12.99 round trip

$4.14/gal 25.4 MPG avg 14 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.48	$7.04	$14.08
premium	$4.88	$7.67	$15.34
diesel	$5.64	$8.86	$17.73

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$32–$57

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 14 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	12	$4.19	$1.92
Efficient EV	10	$3.49	$1.60
EV Truck/SUV	16	$5.59	$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

Local time and weather at both ends of the drive

Current conditions at both ends of the drive. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.

Forecast data refreshed 1 hour ago

Origin

Port Jefferson Station, NY

Evening in Port Jefferson Station on Saturday

Local time

8:11 PM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Sunny

NW 17 mph 0% chance EDT NWS forecast

Destination

Hempstead, NY

Evening in Hempstead on Saturday

Local time

8:11 PM

EDT

Current temp

54°F

Forecast unavailable right now

EDT Live forecast

Along the Route

51°F

Brentwood, 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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

7 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

56m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Port Jefferson Station, NY to Hempstead, NY covers 39.9 miles and takes about 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Southern State Parkway, Nesconset Highway, Smithtown Bypass. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 20 miles from Port Jefferson Station, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $6.50 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.

Between Port Jefferson Station, NY and Hempstead, NY, road signs point toward Islip, Smithtown, So: New York and Freeport.

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Return Trip

Hempstead, NY to Port Jefferson Station, NY

Plan the drive back the other way.

39.8 mi 53m

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Trip from Port Jefferson Station, NY to Hempstead, NY

Trip Overview

Drive Character

Elevation Profile

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Hempstead, NY

Fuel & Cost

Local time and weather at both ends of the drive

Port Jefferson Station, NY

Hempstead, NY

Same local time

7 degrees cooler at arrival

56m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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