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Trip from Washington Heights, NY to Hempstead, NY

Drive Time

1h 55m

Distance

84.1 mi

135 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 47m ★
6 AM
1h 55m
8 AM
2h 12m
10 AM
2h 1m
12 PM
1h 59m
3 PM
2h 2m
5 PM
2h 11m
8 PM
1h 50m

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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Downtown Washington Heights, NY, NY

Washington Heights, NY

Renan Tagliaferro

Trip Overview

The drive from Washington Heights, NY to Hempstead, NY covers 84.1 miles and takes about 1h 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on NY 17, NJ 17, New York State Thruway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 18.5 miles on NY 17. At current regular gas prices, budget about $13.69 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

42.1 miles from Washington Heights, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 1h 55m highway drive covering 84.1 miles, with most of the trip on NY 17 and NJ 17. The longest continuous stretch is about 18.5 miles on NY 17.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 40 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
NY 17 is the longest continuous segment at about 18.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NY 17 and NJ 17. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 20.7 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

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

This is a demanding drive. With 27 significant decision points across 84.1 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 20.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 36 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 27 key points

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

8
20.7 mi into trip | ~26m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York City

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York City
7
21.4 mi into trip | ~27m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 87 Toll South: New York City

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 87 Toll South: New York City
9
36 mi into trip | ~45m in | NY 17

Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17 toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 15 Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
8
37.3 mi into trip | ~46m in | NJ 17

Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17 toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Exit 66 Toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
8
66.4 mi into trip | ~1h 26m 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 Along This Route

Between Washington Heights, NY and Hempstead, NY, road signs point toward Nyst: Albany, New York City, Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee and New York.

Nyst: Albany

20.7 mi in | ~26m

New York City

20.7 mi in | ~26m

Gsp South: Paterson

51.4 mi in | ~1h 5m

Fort Lee

51.4 mi in | ~1h 5m

New York

51.4 mi in | ~1h 5m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
NY 17 18.5 mi 21m
NJ 17 14.1 mi 18m
New York State Thruway 13.7 mi 15m
NJ 4 6.7 mi 9m
Cross Bronx Expressway 6.6 mi 8m
Clearview Expressway 5 mi 5m
Tulip Avenue 2 mi 3m
Throgs Neck Bridge 2 mi 3m
Longest stretch: NY 17 — 18.5 mi, about 21m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

85 ft · 7 sec · this road
2

Turn right onto NY 17M

0.6 mi · 57 sec · Route 17M
3

Continue on NY 17M

0.3 mi · 28 sec · North Street
4

Turn left onto Wisner Avenue

0.4 mi · 1 min · Wisner Avenue
5

Turn left onto NY 211

0.2 mi · 14 sec · Wickham Avenue
6

Continue on NY 211

1.3 mi · 2 min · Route 211 East
Use the straight / right lanes.
7

Take the ramp

428 ft · 11 sec
Toward NY 17 East: Goshen, New York City Use the right lane.
8

Continue on this road

0.3 mi · 33 sec · this road
Exit 121W Toward I 84 West: Scranton Use the right lane.
9

Merge onto NY 17

18 mi · 20 min · NY 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.7 mi · 59 sec
Toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York City Use the slight right lane.
11

Keep slight right at fork

0.9 mi · 1 min
Toward I 87 Toll South: New York City Use the slight right lane.
12

Merge onto I 87

14 mi · 15 min · New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17

0.9 mi · 59 sec · NY 17
Exit 15 Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey Use the slight right lane.
14

Continue on I 287; NJ 17

0.5 mi · 39 sec · I 287; NJ 17
15

Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17

14 mi · 18 min · NJ 17
Exit 66 Toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah Use the slight left / straight lanes.
16

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 19 sec
Toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
17

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
18

Merge onto NJ 4

0.3 mi · 24 sec · NJ 4
Use the right lane.
19

Continue on NJ 4

6.4 mi · 8 min · NJ 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 18 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge Use the straight / slight left lanes.
21

Merge onto I 95 EXPR

0.7 mi · 54 sec · I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR

0.8 mi · 1 min · I 95 EXPR
23

Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9

0.6 mi · 1 min · George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24

Continue on I 95; US 1

0.7 mi · 1 min · Trans-Manhattan Expressway
25

Continue on I 95; US 1

4.7 mi · 6 min · Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26

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.
27

Merge onto I 295

0.6 mi · 58 sec · Throgs Neck Expressway
28

Continue on I 295

2.0 mi · 3 min · Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29

Continue on I 295

5.0 mi · 5 min · Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30

Turn left onto NY 25

0.7 mi · 1 min · Hillside Avenue
Use the left lane.
31

Turn right onto NY 25

1.1 mi · 2 min · Braddock Avenue
32

Turn left onto NY 25

0.2 mi · 34 sec · Jamaica Avenue
33

Continue on NY 25

0.5 mi · 56 sec · Jericho Turnpike
34

Turn slight right onto Tulip Avenue

2.0 mi · 3 min · Tulip Avenue
Use the right lane.
35

Turn right onto New Hyde Park Road

0.4 mi · 56 sec · New Hyde Park Road
36

Turn left onto NY 24

2.0 mi · 3 min · Hempstead Turnpike
Use the left lane.
37

Turn slight right onto NY 102

0.8 mi · 1 min · Front Street
Use the right lane.
38

Turn right onto Greenwich Street

0.1 mi · 11 sec · Greenwich Street
Use the right lane.
39

Turn left onto Peninsula Boulevard

0.2 mi · 26 sec · Peninsula Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
40

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 42.1 miles from Washington Heights, NY, or about 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18.5 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 80 miles or 1h 47m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 42.1 miles or 53m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 34m

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 Washington Heights, 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 Washington Heights, NY

This is one driving day of about 84.1 miles and 1h 55m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Washington Heights, 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 NY 17 for about 18.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 42.1 mi from Washington Heights, NY · 53m into the drive

Downtown Ramapo, NY, NY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ramapo, NY

42 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ramapo, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 42.1 miles from Washington Heights, 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.

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...

2 mi from route ~5 min detour Free near mile 60.9
View on nps.gov
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 ~7 min detour Free near mile 60.9
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 ~21 min detour Free near mile 60.9
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 60.9
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...

10 mi from route ~26 min detour Free near mile 60.9
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 60.9
View on nps.gov

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.69 one way

$27.38 round trip

$4.14/gal 25.4 MPG avg 29 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.48 $14.84 $29.67
premium $4.88 $16.17 $32.34
diesel $5.64 $18.68 $37.37

Estimated Tolls: $23.41

George Washington Bridge $16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge $6.55
New York State Thruway (13.7 mi) $0.68
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

$14

Tolls

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$62–$87

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 29.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 25.2 0 $8.83 $4.04
Efficient EV 21 0 $7.36 $3.36
EV Truck/SUV 33.6 0 $11.77 $5.38

Gas CO2

29 kg

EV CO2

10 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.

Forecast data refreshed 1 hour ago

Origin

Washington Heights, NY

Morning in Washington Heights on Monday

Local time

9:21 AM

EDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Hempstead, NY

Morning in Hempstead on Monday

Local time

9:21 AM

EDT

Current temp

76°F

Mostly Cloudy

SW 10 to 17 mph 9% chance Live forecast

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 13 at 12:55AM EDT until April 13 at 2:00PM EDT by NWS Burlington VT

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 12:22AM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY

Along the Route

59°F

Ramapo, NY

42 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

19 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 55m on the road

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Washington Heights, NY to Hempstead, NY covers 84.1 miles and takes about 1h 55m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are NY 17, NJ 17, New York State Thruway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 42.1 miles from Washington Heights, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $13.69 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 27 significant decision points across 84.1 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 20.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 21.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 36 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Washington Heights, NY and Hempstead, NY, road signs point toward Nyst: Albany, New York City, Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee and New York.

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