Skip to main content

Trip from Ramapo, 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

1h 15m

Distance

49.6 mi

80 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 18 min
4 AM
1h 10m ★
6 AM
1h 16m
8 AM
1h 28m
10 AM
1h 20m
12 PM
1h 19m
3 PM
1h 21m
5 PM
1h 27m
8 PM
1h 12m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

town in Rockland County, New York, United States

Ramapo, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Ramapo, NY to Hempstead, NY covers 49.6 miles and takes about 1h 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on NJ 17, NJ 4, Cross Bronx Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 10.9 miles on NJ 17. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.16 one way before food or hotel costs.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
NJ 17 10.9 mi 14m
NJ 4 6.7 mi 9m
Cross Bronx Expressway 6.6 mi 8m
Clearview Expressway 5 mi 5m
Orange Avenue 3.9 mi 5m
Tulip Avenue 2 mi 3m
Throgs Neck Bridge 2 mi 3m
Hempstead Turnpike 2 mi 3m
Longest stretch: NJ 17 — 10.9 mi, about 14m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ramapo, NY and Hempstead, NY.

1

Start on Lake Street

153 ft · 8 sec · Lake Street
2

Turn left onto Torne Brook Road

0.4 mi · 1 min · Torne Brook Road
3

Turn right onto CR 95

1.1 mi · 2 min · Torne Valley Road
4

Turn left onto NY 59

0.5 mi · 44 sec · Orange Turnpike
5

Continue on NY 59

0.4 mi · 37 sec · Orange Avenue
6

Continue on US 202; 59

3.5 mi · 5 min · Orange Avenue
Use the straight lane.
7

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 21 sec
8

Merge onto NJ 17

11 mi · 14 min · NJ 17
Use the right lane.
9

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 19 sec
Toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
11

Merge onto NJ 4

0.3 mi · 24 sec · NJ 4
Use the right lane.
12

Continue on NJ 4

6.4 mi · 8 min · NJ 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 18 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge Use the straight / slight left lanes.
14

Merge onto I 95 EXPR

0.7 mi · 54 sec · I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR

0.8 mi · 1 min · I 95 EXPR
16

Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9

0.6 mi · 1 min · George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Continue on I 95; US 1

0.7 mi · 1 min · Trans-Manhattan Expressway
18

Continue on I 95; US 1

4.7 mi · 6 min · Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19

Keep slight right at fork onto I 295

2.0 mi · 2 min · Cross Bronx Expressway
Exit 6B Toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge Use the straight / slight left lanes.
20

Merge onto I 295

0.6 mi · 58 sec · Throgs Neck Expressway
21

Continue on I 295

2.0 mi · 3 min · Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Continue on I 295

5.0 mi · 5 min · Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23

Turn left onto NY 25

0.7 mi · 1 min · Hillside Avenue
Use the left lane.
24

Turn right onto NY 25

1.1 mi · 2 min · Braddock Avenue
25

Turn left onto NY 25

0.2 mi · 34 sec · Jamaica Avenue
26

Continue on NY 25

0.5 mi · 56 sec · Jericho Turnpike
27

Turn slight right onto Tulip Avenue

2.0 mi · 3 min · Tulip Avenue
Use the right lane.
28

Turn right onto New Hyde Park Road

0.4 mi · 56 sec · New Hyde Park Road
29

Turn left onto NY 24

2.0 mi · 3 min · Hempstead Turnpike
Use the left lane.
30

Turn slight right onto NY 102

0.8 mi · 1 min · Front Street
Use the right lane.
31

Turn right onto Greenwich Street

0.1 mi · 11 sec · Greenwich Street
Use the right lane.
32

Turn left onto Peninsula Boulevard

0.2 mi · 26 sec · Peninsula Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33

Arrive at destination

Peninsula Boulevard

Where to Stop

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

borough of New York City, New York, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

The Bronx, NY

25 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.

Popular next leg

The Bronx, NY to Hempstead, NY

20.2 mi · 35m

Pacing Suggestions

Yonkers, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Yonkers, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 24.8 miles from Ramapo, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 20

5 decision points cluster between mile 17 and 46.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
17 mi into trip | ~26m in

Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
6
24.2 mi into trip | ~36m in

Take the exit toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge
8
31.9 mi into trip | ~47m in | I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Exit 6B Toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge
6
41.5 mi into trip | ~1h in | NY 25 / Hillside Avenue

Turn left onto NY 25 / Hillside Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
46.5 mi into trip | ~1h 9m in | NY 24 / Hempstead Turnpike

Turn left onto NY 24 / Hempstead Turnpike

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$8.16 one way

$16.33 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 17 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.52 $8.83 $17.66
premium $4.92 $9.61 $19.23
diesel $5.61 $10.95 $21.90

Estimated Tolls: $22.77

George Washington Bridge $16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge $6.55
Hempstead Turnpike (2 mi) $0.14
Orange Turnpike (0.5 mi) $0.04
Jericho Turnpike (0.5 mi) $0.04

Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$8

Tolls

$23

Total

$31

Estimated CO2 emission: 17.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 14.9 0 $5.21 $2.38
Efficient EV 12.4 0 $4.34 $1.98
EV Truck/SUV 19.8 0 $6.94 $3.17

Gas CO2

17 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (65% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026

Origin

Ramapo, NY

Afternoon in Ramapo on Saturday

Local time

3:36 PM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Hempstead, NY

Afternoon in Hempstead on Saturday

Local time

3:36 PM

EDT

Current temp

56°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

7 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

1h 15m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

49.6 mi in 1h 15m, mostly highway — 10.9 mi of that is on NJ 17.

71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10.9 mi on NJ 17.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NJ 17 and NJ 4. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 17 miles in.

Driving Effort 10/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 49.6 miles you will encounter 20 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 17 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.9 miles (I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Ramapo, NY and Hempstead, NY, road signs point toward Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee and New York.

Gsp South: Paterson

16.9 mi in | ~26m

Fort Lee

16.9 mi in | ~26m

New York

16.9 mi in | ~26m

About the Cities

Starting in Ramapo, NY

Full guide →

Founded 1791

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 1h 15m. Total distance: 49.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 10.9 miles on NJ 17. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $22.77 in tolls one way, starting with George Washington Bridge. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Hempstead, NY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 17 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 31.9 miles (I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes — Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial and Stonewall National Monument (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hempstead, NY before heading back.

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

Explore More

Return Trip

Hempstead, NY to Ramapo, NY

Plan the drive back the other way.

49.9 mi 1h 14m

Explore more options from Ramapo, NY or browse trips ending in Hempstead, NY.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NY road trips.