Drive Time
3h 33m
Distance
168.9 mi
272 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$27
one way
Photo: Peter Olexa
The drive from Watervliet, NY to Hempstead, NY covers 168.9 miles and takes about 3h 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on 2nd Avenue, 23rd Street, I 787 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.66 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 46m into the drive .
Expect a 3h 33m drive with frequent turns across 168.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 23rd Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 787 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 87 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 87 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| New York State Thruway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 287 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| NJ 17 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Watervliet, NY and Hempstead, NY.
Start on 19th Street
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue
Turn right onto 23rd Street
Take the ramp right toward I 787 South
Merge slight left
Continue on I 87 Toll: New York State Thruway
Keep slight left to continue on I 87 South: New York, Massachusetts Turnpike, Exits 22-1
Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway
Keep slight right to continue on I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
Continue straight
Keep slight left to continue on NJ 17 South: Mahwah
Take the exit slight right toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
Keep slight left to continue on NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
Merge slight left
Continue straight
Take the exit slight left toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge
Merge slight left
Keep slight left
Continue on George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Continue on Trans-Manhattan Expressway
Continue on Cross Bronx Expressway
Keep slight right to continue on Cross Bronx Expressway
Merge slight left onto Throgs Neck Expressway
Continue on Throgs Neck Bridge
Continue on Clearview Expressway
Turn left onto Hillside Avenue
Turn right onto Braddock Avenue
Turn left onto Jamaica Avenue
Continue on Jericho Turnpike
Turn slight right onto Tulip Avenue
Turn right onto New Hyde Park Road
Turn left onto Hempstead Turnpike
Turn slight right onto Front Street
Turn right onto Greenwich Street
Turn left onto Peninsula Boulevard
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.4 miles or 1h 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 2h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hempstead, NY than in the middle of the route.
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 33m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 84.4 mi from Watervliet, NY · 1h 46m 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 84.4 miles from Watervliet, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$26.66 one way
$53.32 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $29.80 | $59.59 |
| premium | $4.86 | $32.32 | $64.65 |
| diesel | $4.69 | $31.21 | $62.43 |
Estimated Tolls: $22.55
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
$27
Tolls
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.1 kg one way.
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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Watervliet on Saturday
Local time
9:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Hempstead on Saturday
Local time
9:55 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Forecast unavailable right now
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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