Origin
Watervliet, NY
Afternoon in Watervliet on Sunday
Local time
4:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Watervliet, NY to Hempstead, NY
Drive Time
3h 32m
Distance
168.9 mi
272 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 21m
★
6 AM
3h 33m
8 AM
3h 58m
10 AM
3h 42m
12 PM
3h 39m
3 PM
3h 43m
5 PM
3h 56m
8 PM
3h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Watervliet, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Trip Overview
The drive from Watervliet, NY to Hempstead, NY covers 168.9 miles and takes about 3h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on New York State Thruway, NJ 17, I 787 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 111.2 miles on New York State Thruway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.50 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
84.4 miles from Watervliet, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 41m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 32m drive with frequent turns across 168.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 36 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
New York State Thruway is the longest continuous segment at about 111.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 168.9 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 9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 120.7 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 122.1 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 25 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
9 mi into trip
|
~13m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 87 South: New York, Massachusetts Turnpike, Exits 22-1
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 87 South: New York, Massachusetts Turn...
9
120.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 22m 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
122.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 24m 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
6
136.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 43m 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
8
151.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 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 / none lanes.
Exit 6B
Toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge
Towns Along This Route
Between Watervliet, NY and Hempstead, NY, road signs point toward Massachusetts Turnpike, Exits 22-1, Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee and New York.
Massachusetts Turnpike
9 mi in
|
~13m
Exits 22-1
9 mi in
|
~13m
Gsp South: Paterson
136.2 mi in
|
~2h 43m
Fort Lee
136.2 mi in
|
~2h 43m
New York
136.2 mi in
|
~2h 43m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New York State Thruway | 111.2 mi | 2h 8m |
| NJ 17 | 14.1 mi | 18m |
| I 787 | 8.5 mi | 12m |
| 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:
New York State Thruway
— 111.2 mi, about 2h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Watervliet, NY and Hempstead, NY.
1
Start on NY 2
67 ft
·
4 sec
·
19th Street
2
Turn right onto NY 32
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
2nd Avenue
3
Turn right onto 23rd Street
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
23rd Street
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward I 787 South
5
Merge onto I 787
7.8 mi
·
10 min
·
I 787
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 787
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 787
Exit 1
Toward I 87 Toll: New York State Thruway
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 87 South: New York, Massachusetts Turnpike, Exits 22-1
8
Merge onto I 87
111 mi
·
2 hr 8 min
·
New York State Thruway
Use the none lane.
9
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.
10
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
0.5 mi
·
39 sec
·
I 287; NJ 17
11
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.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
Toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
14
Merge onto NJ 4
0.3 mi
·
24 sec
·
NJ 4
Use the none lane.
15
Continue on NJ 4
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
NJ 4
Use the none lane.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
17
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.7 mi
·
54 sec
·
I 95 EXPR
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 95 EXPR
19
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Trans-Manhattan Expressway
Use the none lane.
21
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
22
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 / none lanes.
23
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
·
Throgs Neck Expressway
Use the none lane.
24
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on I 295
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Clearview Expressway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
26
Turn left onto NY 25
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Hillside Avenue
Use the left lane.
27
Turn right onto NY 25
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Braddock Avenue
Use the none lane.
28
Turn left onto NY 25
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Jamaica Avenue
Use the none lane.
29
Continue on NY 25
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
Jericho Turnpike
Use the none lane.
30
Turn slight right onto Tulip Avenue
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Tulip Avenue
Use the right lane.
31
Turn right onto New Hyde Park Road
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
New Hyde Park Road
32
Turn left onto NY 24
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Hempstead Turnpike
Use the left lane.
33
Turn slight right onto NY 102
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Front Street
Use the right lane.
34
Turn right onto Greenwich Street
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
Greenwich Street
Use the right lane.
35
Turn left onto Peninsula Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Peninsula Boulevard
Use the none lane.
36
Arrive at destination
Peninsula Boulevard
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 84.4 miles from Watervliet, NY, or about 1h 41m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.2 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 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.4 miles or 1h 41m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 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 Watervliet, 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 Watervliet, NY
This is one driving day of about 168.9 miles and 3h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Watervliet, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on New York State Thruway for about 111.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 84.4 mi from Watervliet, NY · 1h 41m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
84 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 84.4 miles from Watervliet, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before New York State Thruway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 111.2 miles.
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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.50 one way
$54.99 round trip
$4.14/gal
25.4 MPG avg
59 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $29.80 | $59.59 |
| premium | $4.88 | $32.47 | $64.94 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $37.52 | $75.05 |
Estimated Tolls: $28.29
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
New York State Thruway
(111.2 mi)
$5.56
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
$28
Tolls
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.7 | 0 | $17.73 | $8.11 |
| Efficient EV | 42.2 | 0 | $14.78 | $6.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 67.6 | 0 | $23.65 | $10.81 |
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Destination
Hempstead, NY
Afternoon in Hempstead on Sunday
Local time
4:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
59°F
Ramapo, NY
84 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
18 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
3h 32m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Watervliet, NY to Hempstead, NY covers 168.9 miles and takes about 3h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are New York State Thruway, NJ 17, I 787. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 84.4 miles from Watervliet, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.50 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 168.9 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 120.7 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 122.1 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Watervliet, NY and Hempstead, NY, road signs point toward Massachusetts Turnpike, Exits 22-1, Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee and New York.
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