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Trip from Stafford, 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

7h 32m

Distance

367.2 mi

591 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$60

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 30 min
4 AM
7h 22m ★
6 AM
7h 32m
8 AM
7h 52m
10 AM
7h 39m
12 PM
7h 37m
3 PM
7h 40m
5 PM
7h 51m
8 PM
7h 26m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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county town of Staffordshire in the West Midlands, England

Stafford, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Stafford, NY to Hempstead, NY covers 367.2 miles and takes about 7h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on West Main Road, West Main Street, Clay Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $60.44 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

183.6 miles from Stafford, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 46m 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 7h 32m. Total distance: 367.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 32m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.

Drive Character

Expect a 7h 32m drive with frequent turns across 367.2 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 53 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Main 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 32m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Stafford, NY to Hempstead, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
West Main Road — —
West Main Street — —
Clay Street — —
Wolcott Street — —
Warsaw Road — —
Lake Street — —
Big Tree Road — —
Highway 63 — —

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: West Main Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on East Main Street Road

2.0 mi · 2 min · East Main Street Road
2

Continue on West Main Road

1.5 mi · 2 min · West Main Road
3

Continue on West Main Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · West Main Street
4

Turn right onto Clay Street

0.4 mi · 37 sec · Clay Street
5

Continue on Wolcott Street

0.2 mi · 21 sec · Wolcott Street
6

Continue on Warsaw Road

1.4 mi · 2 min · Warsaw Road
7

Continue on Lake Street

5.4 mi · 8 min · Lake Street
8

Turn left onto Big Tree Road

4.1 mi · 6 min · Big Tree Road
9

Continue on State Highway 63

0.7 mi · 55 sec · State Highway 63
10

Continue on Genesee Street

7.5 mi · 11 min · Genesee Street
11

Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Genesee Street

108 ft · 2 sec · Genesee Street
12

Exit the roundabout onto Genesee Street

1.3 mi · 1 min · Genesee Street
13

Merge slight left onto Geneseo-Mount Morris Road

3.3 mi · 4 min · Geneseo-Mount Morris Road
14

Continue on Mount Morris-Geneseo Road

0.3 mi · 32 sec · Mount Morris-Geneseo Road
15

Take the ramp left

0.4 mi · 53 sec
16

Merge slight left onto Genesee Expressway

38 mi · 44 min · Genesee Expressway
17

Merge slight right onto Southern Tier Expressway

105 mi · 2 hr 2 min · Southern Tier Expressway
18

Keep slight right to continue on I 81 South: Scranton

53 mi · 1 hr 3 min · I 81 South: Scranton
19

Keep slight right to continue on I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono

0.8 mi · 1 min · I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono
20

Continue on I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, Milford

3.7 mi · 4 min · I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, Milford
21

Keep slight right to continue on I 380 South: Mount Pocono

24 mi · 25 min · I 380 South: Mount Pocono
22

Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East: Stroudsburg

1.0 mi · 1 min · I 80 East: Stroudsburg
23

Merge slight right onto Keystone Shortway

80 mi · 1 hr 37 min · Keystone Shortway
24

Keep slight right to continue on Christopher Columbus Highway

5.5 mi · 5 min · Christopher Columbus Highway
25

Keep slight left to continue on I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York City

0.3 mi · 23 sec · I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York City
26

Keep slight right to continue on Leonia, Teaneck

0.4 mi · 38 sec · Leonia, Teaneck
27

Turn right onto Leonia

0.2 mi · 35 sec · Leonia
28

Turn straight onto Degraw Avenue

453 ft · 9 sec · Degraw Avenue
29

Continue on Fort Lee Road

1.1 mi · 2 min · Fort Lee Road
30

Continue on Main Street

469 ft · 13 sec · Main Street
31

Take the ramp left toward George Washington Bridge

472 ft · 13 sec · George Washington Bridge
32

Merge slight left onto Bergen Boulevard

0.3 mi · 29 sec · Bergen Boulevard
33

Take the exit slight left toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level

312 ft · 5 sec · George Washington Bridge Upper Level
34

Merge slight left

0.3 mi · 20 sec
35

Keep slight left

0.8 mi · 1 min
36

Continue on George Washington Bridge (upper level)

0.6 mi · 1 min · George Washington Bridge (upper level)
37

Continue on Trans-Manhattan Expressway

0.7 mi · 1 min · Trans-Manhattan Expressway
38

Continue on Cross Bronx Expressway

4.7 mi · 6 min · Cross Bronx Expressway
39

Keep slight right to continue on Cross Bronx Expressway

2.0 mi · 2 min · Cross Bronx Expressway
40

Merge slight left onto Throgs Neck Expressway

0.6 mi · 58 sec · Throgs Neck Expressway
41

Continue on Throgs Neck Bridge

2.0 mi · 3 min · Throgs Neck Bridge
42

Continue on Clearview Expressway

5.0 mi · 5 min · Clearview Expressway
43

Turn left onto Hillside Avenue

0.7 mi · 1 min · Hillside Avenue
44

Turn right onto Braddock Avenue

1.1 mi · 2 min · Braddock Avenue
45

Turn left onto Jamaica Avenue

0.2 mi · 34 sec · Jamaica Avenue
46

Continue on Jericho Turnpike

0.5 mi · 57 sec · Jericho Turnpike
47

Turn slight right onto Tulip Avenue

2.0 mi · 3 min · Tulip Avenue
48

Turn right onto New Hyde Park Road

0.4 mi · 56 sec · New Hyde Park Road
49

Turn left onto Hempstead Turnpike

2.0 mi · 3 min · Hempstead Turnpike
50

Turn slight right onto Front Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · Front Street
51

Turn right onto Greenwich Street

0.1 mi · 11 sec · Greenwich Street
52

Turn left onto Peninsula Boulevard

0.2 mi · 26 sec · Peninsula Boulevard
53

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 183.6 miles from Stafford, NY, or about 3h 46m 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 81 miles or 1h 39m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 183.6 miles or 3h 46m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 6h 18m

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 Stafford, 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.

+

Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Stafford, NY

This is one driving day of about 367.2 miles and 7h 32m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 81 miles from Stafford, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 183.6 mi from Stafford, NY · 3h 46m into the drive

town in Broome County, New York, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Vestal, NY

184 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

Vestal, NY to Hempstead, NY

208.7 mi · 4h 21m

Pacing Suggestions

Corning, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 81 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Vestal, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 183.6 miles from Stafford, 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

General Grant National Memorial

General Grant National Memorial

National Memorial

The final resting place of President Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, Julia, is the largest mausoleum in North America. It testifies to a people’s gratitude for the man who ended the bloodiest conflict...

3 mi from route ~8 min detour Free near mile 341.9
Caution: Lower Crypt Access Subject to Safe Conditions
View on nps.gov
Hamilton Grange National Memorial

Hamilton Grange National Memorial

National Memorial

Merchant’s clerk, Revolutionary War soldier, first Secretary Treasury of the United States: Alexander Hamilton’s life is memorialized at The Grange, the home he built on a country estate in uptown Man...

3 mi from route ~8 min detour Free near mile 341.9
View on nps.gov
Stonewall National Monument

Stonewall National Monument

National Monument

Before the 1960s, almost everything about living authentically as a lesbian, a bisexual person or a gay man was illegal. The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969 is a milestone in the quest for civil r...

9 mi from route ~22 min detour Free near mile 341.9
View on nps.gov
African Burial Ground National Monument

African Burial Ground National Monument

National Monument

The African Burial Ground stands as the oldest and largest known excavated burial site in North America for both free and enslaved Africans. It offers a profound testament to the enduring legacy of Af...

10 mi from route ~25 min detour Free near mile 341.9
View on nps.gov
Castle Clinton National Monument

Castle Clinton National Monument

National Monument

Located at the southern tip of Manhattan, Castle Clinton marks the place where New York City began and reflects the growth of both the city and the nation. Built to defend the harbor during the War of...

11 mi from route ~27 min detour Free near mile 341.9
View on nps.gov
Federal Hall National Memorial

Federal Hall National Memorial

National Memorial

Here at Federal Hall, George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States, marking the beginning of the American constitutional republic. This historic site served as...

11 mi from route ~26 min detour Free near mile 341.9
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$60.44 one way

$120.89 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 129 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.52 $65.36 $130.72
premium $4.92 $71.17 $142.34
diesel $5.61 $81.07 $162.15

Estimated Tolls: $22.55

George Washington Bridge $16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge $6.55

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

$60

Tolls

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$108–$133

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 128.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 110.2 1 $38.56 $17.63
Efficient EV 91.8 1 $32.13 $14.69
EV Truck/SUV 146.9 1 $51.41 $23.50

Gas CO2

128 kg

EV CO2

43 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 15, 2026

Origin

Stafford, NY

Late night in Stafford on Saturday

Local time

3:55 AM

EDT

Current temp

40°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Hempstead, NY

Late night in Hempstead on Saturday

Local time

3:55 AM

EDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

16 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

7h 32m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Stafford, NY to Hempstead, NY covers 367.2 miles and takes about 7h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are West Main Road, West Main Street, Clay Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 183.6 miles from Stafford, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $60.44 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

The route itself is not hard, but at 7h 32m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Stafford, NY to Hempstead, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Stafford, NY to Hempstead, NY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Yes. Nearby national parks include General Grant National Memorial, Hamilton Grange National Memorial and Stonewall National Monument. 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.

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