Traveling from Binghamton to Hempstead covers 200.2 miles of Northeast terrain, typically requiring about 4 hours and 10 minutes of travel time. Because this journey fits easily into a single day, you can plan it as a straightforward day trip without the need for an overnight stay. Your travel budget should account for approximately $33 in fuel costs to complete the trip. You will primarily utilize I-81, I-380, and the Keystone Shortway to navigate between these two New York locations. It is a practical route for those looking to reach the coast from the Southern Tier, balancing highway efficiency with a manageable total drive time.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
100.1 miles from Binghamton, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 59m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
80 mi
1h 37m
I 81
52.5 mi
1h 2m
I 380
23.6 mi
25m
Cross Bronx Expressway
6.6 mi
8m
Christopher Columbus Highway
5.5 mi
5m
Clearview Expressway
5 mi
5m
Court Street
4.7 mi
7m
I 84
3.7 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 80 mi, about 1h 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Binghamton, NY and Hempstead, NY.
1
Start on NY 17C
109 ft·5 sec·Main Street
2
Continue on US 11
0.3 mi·52 sec·Court Street
3
Enter roundabout onto US 11
80 ft·1 sec·Court Street
4
Continue on US 11
4.3 mi·6 min·Court Street
Use the straight lane.
5
Turn slight left
0.3 mi·28 sec
Toward I 81, I 86, NY 17
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·25 sec
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·36 sec
Toward I 81 South: ScrantonUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 81
53 mi·1 hr 2 min·I 81
Use the straight lane.
9
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.
10
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.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
24 mi·25 min·I 380
Exit 4Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
12
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 1BToward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
13
Merge onto I 80
80 mi·1 hr 37 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
14
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.
15
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.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 70A-BToward Leonia, TeaneckUse the slight right lane.
17
Turn right
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 70AToward LeoniaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn straight onto CR 56
454 ft·9 sec·Degraw Avenue
19
Continue on CR 56
1.1 mi·2 min·Fort Lee Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Continue on CR 56
469 ft·13 sec·Main Street
21
Take the ramp
472 ft·12 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge
22
Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46
0.3 mi·28 sec·Bergen Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
312 ft·4 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level
24
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.3 mi·20 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
26
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
28
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi·6 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
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.
30
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi·58 sec·Throgs Neck Expressway
31
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Continue on I 295
5.0 mi·5 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Turn left onto NY 25
0.7 mi·1 min·Hillside Avenue
Use the left lane.
34
Turn right onto NY 25
1.1 mi·2 min·Braddock Avenue
35
Turn left onto NY 25
0.2 mi·34 sec·Jamaica Avenue
36
Continue on NY 25
0.5 mi·56 sec·Jericho Turnpike
37
Turn slight right onto Tulip Avenue
2.0 mi·3 min·Tulip Avenue
Use the right lane.
38
Turn right onto New Hyde Park Road
0.4 mi·56 sec·New Hyde Park Road
39
Turn left onto NY 24
2.0 mi·3 min·Hempstead Turnpike
Use the left lane.
40
Turn slight right onto NY 102
0.8 mi·1 min·Front Street
Use the right lane.
41
Turn right onto Greenwich Street
0.1 mi·11 sec·Greenwich Street
Use the right lane.
42
Turn left onto Peninsula Boulevard
0.2 mi·26 sec·Peninsula Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
43
Arrive at destination
Peninsula Boulevard
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 4-hour and 10-minute transit, plan for at least one dedicated stop to break up the drive. Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart early to avoid potential traffic bottlenecks near your destination in Hempstead. Keep your fuel budget of $33 in mind and consider refueling during your stop to ensure you reach the end of the route without stress. Given that the Keystone Shortway makes up your longest stretch of 80 miles, use that segment to settle into a consistent cruising rhythm. Prioritize checking local traffic conditions before you depart Binghamton, as road work or congestion on these major arteries can easily fluctuate your total travel time.
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 100.1 miles from Binghamton, NY, or about 1h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80 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 44 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.1 miles or 1h 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 17m
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 Binghamton, 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 Binghamton, NY
This is one driving day of about 200.2 miles and 4h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Binghamton, 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 Keystone Shortway for about 80 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 29
5 decision points cluster between mile 5.4 and 182.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
5.4 mi into trip|~8m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 81 South: Scranton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 81 South: Scranton
9
58.2 mi into trip|~1h 11m 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
172.7 mi into trip|~3h 27m 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
173 mi into trip|~3h 27m 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
182.4 mi into trip|~3h 42m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$32.95 one way
$65.91 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$35.63
$71.27
premium
$4.92
$38.80
$77.61
diesel
$5.61
$44.20
$88.40
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
$33
Tolls
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60.1
0
$21.02
$9.61
Efficient EV
50.1
0
$17.52
$8.01
EV Truck/SUV
80.1
1
$28.03
$12.81
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 kg (67% 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 as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Binghamton, NY
Late night
in Binghamton on Sunday
Local time
12:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hempstead, NY
Late night
in Hempstead on Sunday
Local time
12:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Ramapo, NY
100 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
15 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
4h 10m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This mixed drive offers a varied experience behind the wheel, with highway travel accounting for 49% of your total distance. You will find yourself navigating a combination of major interstate systems and localized roads, keeping the journey from feeling like a monotonous grind. A significant portion of the trip involves an 80-mile stretch along the Keystone Shortway, which serves as your longest uninterrupted segment. Expect the road's personality to shift as you transition from the inland geography of Binghamton toward the more densely populated environment of Hempstead. The mix of high-speed interstate passages and shorter connecting stretches ensures the drive remains engaging for the duration of your 200.2-mile trek.
49% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
43 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.4 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 29 significant decision points across 200.2 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 5.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.2 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 172.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Binghamton, NY and Hempstead, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford, New York City, Leonia, Teaneck and George Washington Bridge Upper Level.
Binghamton is a city of 48,000 people (2020) in upstate New York, at the confluence of the Susquehanna and Chenango Rivers. It is the cultural and financial center of the Greater Binghamton Metropolitan Area and is the Broome County seat. Binghamton is part of the "Triple Cities" with Endicott and Johnson City.
Binghamton has many fantastic examples of Romanesque Revival Architecture in the city's center; for this, and for its collection of ornate mansions and nice homes, it's known as the Parlor City. The Binghamton area is also known as the Carousel Capital of America, home to 6 of the remaining 150 antique carousels in the nation. Other historic attractions are the Roberson Museum, Kopernik Space Center, and the Ross Park Zoo.
Rod Serling, the screenwriter and television producer, was born here, and the regional sandwich known as the "spiedie" was created here.
Top landmarks
•Alfred Dunk House — historic house in Binghamton, New York
•Forum Theatre — theater and former movie theater in Binghamton, New York, United States
•Building at 171–177 Clinton Street — Historic building in Binghamton, New York, USA
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 4h 10m. Total distance: 200.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $22.73 in tolls one way, starting with George Washington Bridge. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Hempstead, NY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 5.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 58.2 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 172.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Hempstead, NY, but most travelers stay overnight.
