Stafford, NY to Hempstead, NY is 367.2 miles and takes about 7h 32m via Southern Tier Expressway, Keystone Shortway, and I-81, with a fuel budget near $60 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, taking you from the western part of the state across to Long Island. You'll be on mostly highway for this journey, making it a straightforward drive if you're looking for efficiency. Given the 7.5-hour estimated drive time, it's perfectly manageable as a single-day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.
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 44m into the drive
.
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
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.
Drive Character
This is a highway-focused drive, with 66% of the route utilizing major expressways. You can expect long stretches of consistent speed, particularly on the Southern Tier Expressway where you'll encounter the longest uninterrupted segment of 104.5 miles. The drive progresses through a mix of highway types, including the Southern Tier Expressway and I-81, suggesting a fairly open road experience for much of the 367.2 miles. This character means you'll likely spend most of your time in the fast lane, making good time between points.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 53 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Southern Tier Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 104.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern Tier Expressway and Keystone Shortway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 171.9 miles in near I 81.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 32 significant decision points across 367.2 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 171.9 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 225.3 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 339.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 32 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
171.9 mi into trip|~3h 30m in|I 81
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81 toward I 81 South: Scranton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 81 South: Scranton
9
225.3 mi into trip|~4h 33m in|US 6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6 toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 187
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbo...
8
339.8 mi into trip|~6h 49m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, Ne...
9
340.1 mi into trip|~6h 49m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Leonia, Teaneck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 70A-B
Toward Leonia, Teaneck
8
349.5 mi into trip|~7h 4m 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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Stafford, NY and Hempstead, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford, New York City, Leonia, Teaneck and George Washington Bridge Upper Level.
Step-by-step road directions between Stafford, NY and Hempstead, NY.
1
Start on NY 5
2.0 mi·2 min·East Main Street Road
2
Continue on NY 5
1.5 mi·2 min·West Main Road
3
Continue on NY 5
0.7 mi·1 min·West Main Street
4
Turn right onto NY 19
0.4 mi·36 sec·Clay Street
5
Continue on NY 19
0.2 mi·20 sec·Wolcott Street
6
Continue on NY 19
1.4 mi·2 min·Warsaw Road
7
Continue on NY 19
5.4 mi·8 min·Lake Street
8
Turn left onto NY 63
4.1 mi·6 min·Big Tree Road
9
Continue on NY 63
0.7 mi·54 sec·State Highway 63
10
Continue on NY 63
7.5 mi·11 min·Genesee Street
11
Enter roundabout onto NY 63
108 ft·1 sec·Genesee Street
12
Continue on NY 63
1.3 mi·1 min·Genesee Street
13
Merge onto US 20A; NY 39; NY 63
3.3 mi·4 min·Geneseo-Mount Morris Road
14
Continue on NY 408
0.3 mi·32 sec·Mount Morris-Geneseo Road
15
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·53 sec
16
Merge onto I 390
38 mi·44 min·Genesee Expressway
17
Merge onto I 86
105 mi·2 hr 2 min·Southern Tier Expressway
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
53 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 81
Toward I 81 South: ScrantonUse the straight lane.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
0.8 mi·1 min·US 6
Exit 187Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt PoconoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on I 84; I 380
3.7 mi·4 min·I 84; I 380
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, MilfordUse the straight lane.
21
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
24 mi·25 min·I 380
Exit 4Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
22
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 1BToward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
23
Merge onto I 80
80 mi·1 hr 37 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·5 min·Christopher Columbus Highway
Toward I 95: George Washington Bridge Lower LevelUse the slight right lane.
25
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·23 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 70A-BToward Leonia, TeaneckUse the slight right lane.
27
Turn right
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 70AToward LeoniaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Turn straight onto CR 56
454 ft·9 sec·Degraw Avenue
29
Continue on CR 56
1.1 mi·2 min·Fort Lee Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
30
Continue on CR 56
469 ft·13 sec·Main Street
31
Take the ramp
472 ft·12 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge
32
Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46
0.3 mi·28 sec·Bergen Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Take the exit
312 ft·4 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level
34
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.3 mi·20 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
36
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
38
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi·6 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
2.0 mi·2 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Exit 6BToward I 295 South: Throgs Neck BridgeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
40
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi·58 sec·Throgs Neck Expressway
41
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
42
Continue on I 295
5.0 mi·5 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
43
Turn left onto NY 25
0.7 mi·1 min·Hillside Avenue
Use the left lane.
44
Turn right onto NY 25
1.1 mi·2 min·Braddock Avenue
45
Turn left onto NY 25
0.2 mi·34 sec·Jamaica Avenue
46
Continue on NY 25
0.5 mi·56 sec·Jericho Turnpike
47
Turn slight right onto Tulip Avenue
2.0 mi·3 min·Tulip Avenue
Use the right lane.
48
Turn right onto New Hyde Park Road
0.4 mi·56 sec·New Hyde Park Road
49
Turn left onto NY 24
2.0 mi·3 min·Hempstead Turnpike
Use the left lane.
50
Turn slight right onto NY 102
0.8 mi·1 min·Front Street
Use the right lane.
51
Turn right onto Greenwich Street
0.1 mi·11 sec·Greenwich Street
Use the right lane.
52
Turn left onto Peninsula Boulevard
0.2 mi·26 sec·Peninsula Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
53
Arrive at destination
Peninsula Boulevard
Trip Plan
For this 7-hour, 367.2-mile drive, starting early in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and avoid late-day fatigue. With only 2 recommended stops, you can be strategic, perhaps planning one around the halfway mark. Consider that the longest stretch is over 100 miles, so ensure you're fueled up before embarking on that segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the 104.5-mile mark on the Southern Tier Expressway, as services can sometimes be spaced out on major highways.
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 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.5 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 81 miles or 1h 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 183.6 miles or 3h 44m 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 10m
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.
The longest stretch is on Southern Tier Expressway for about 104.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 183.6 mi from Stafford, NY
· 3h 44m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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/gal25.4 MPG avg129 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: $22.73
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
Hempstead Turnpike
(2 mi)$0.14
Jericho Turnpike
(0.5 mi)$0.04
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 18, 2026
Origin
Stafford, NY
Morning
in Stafford on Saturday
Local time
10:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hempstead, NY
Morning
in Hempstead on Saturday
Local time
10:20 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Partly Cloudy
NE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 18 at 2:37AM EDT until April 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Burlington VT
57°F
Ramapo, NY
184 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
13 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 Southern Tier Expressway, Keystone Shortway, I 81. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
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.
This is a demanding drive. With 32 significant decision points across 367.2 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 171.9 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 225.3 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 339.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Stafford, NY and Hempstead, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford, New York City, Leonia, Teaneck and George Washington Bridge Upper Level.
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.
