Spanning 75 miles across the Northeast, this drive from Bridgehampton to Hempstead is a straightforward trip that typically takes 1 hour and 45 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, it works perfectly as a one-day excursion, eliminating the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend approximately $12 on fuel for the journey, making it a budget-friendly option for your schedule. By utilizing a mix of major arteries, you transition efficiently between these two New York locations. This route is ideal if you are looking for a practical, direct way to navigate the region without overcomplicating your travel plans.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37.5 miles from Bridgehampton, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Sunrise Highway
38.8 mi
51m
Southern State Parkway
17.5 mi
21m
Heckscher State Parkway
6 mi
7m
County Road 39A
5.5 mi
11m
Montauk Highway
4.7 mi
9m
Nassau Road
0.8 mi
1m
Greenwich Street
0.6 mi
1m
Henry Street
0.5 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
Sunrise Highway
— 38.8 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bridgehampton, NY and Hempstead, NY.
1
Start on CR 79
67 ft·1 sec·Bridgehampton–Sag Harbor Turnpike
2
Turn right onto NY 27
4.7 mi·9 min·Montauk Highway
Use the right lane.
3
Take the exit onto NY 27
372 ft·7 sec·NY 27
Toward NY 27 West: New York
4
Merge onto NY 27; CR 39A
5.5 mi·11 min·County Road 39A
5
Continue on NY 27
38 mi·50 min·Sunrise Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Turn slight right onto Sunrise Highway
0.7 mi·1 min·Sunrise Highway
Exit 46Toward SO, H: New York, Hekscher ParkUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward SO West: New York
8
Merge onto H
6.0 mi·7 min·Heckscher State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on SO
0.1 mi·9 sec·Southern State Parkway
10
Keep slight left at fork onto SO
17 mi·21 min·Southern State Parkway
Use the slight left lane.
11
Take the exit
0.1 mi·25 sec
Exit 21Toward Nassau Road, Hempstead, FreeportUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
163 ft·5 sec
Toward UniondaleUse the right lane.
13
Turn right onto Nassau Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Nassau Road
Use the right lane.
14
Continue on Greenwich Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Greenwich Street
15
Turn right onto Henry Street
0.5 mi·56 sec·Henry Street
Use the right lane.
16
Turn right onto Peninsula Boulevard
64 ft·1 sec·Peninsula Boulevard
17
Arrive at destination
Peninsula Boulevard
Trip Plan
Since this is a quick 1-hour and 45-minute trek, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around your personal preferences. Keep in mind that with no mandatory stops scheduled, you can easily complete the entire 75-mile distance in one go. If you prefer a smoother experience, try to time your departure to avoid peak commuter traffic on the Southern State Parkway. Make sure your fuel tank is ready for the $12 estimated cost before you leave, as the lack of planned stops means you should be prepared to drive the full duration without needing to pull over. Focus on navigating the transition between the Sunrise Highway and the parkways to keep your trip on schedule.
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 37.5 miles from Bridgehampton, NY, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.8 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 17 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.5 miles or 56m 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 30m
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 Bridgehampton, NY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bridgehampton, NY
This is one driving day of about 75 miles and 1h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Bridgehampton, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Sunrise Highway for about 38.8 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 73.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|NY 27 / Montauk Highway
Turn right onto NY 27 / Montauk Highway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
6
48.4 mi into trip|~1h 11m in|Sunrise Highway
Turn slight right onto Sunrise Highway toward SO, H: New York, Hekscher Park
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 46
Toward SO, H: New York, Hekscher Park
6
55.5 mi into trip|~1h 20m in|SO / Southern State Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto SO / Southern State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
8
72.9 mi into trip|~1h 42m in
Take the exit toward Nassau Road, Hempstead, Freeport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 21
Toward Nassau Road, Hempstead, Freeport
8
73.1 mi into trip|~1h 42m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Uniondale
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward Uniondale
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.35 one way
$24.69 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$13.35
$26.70
premium
$4.92
$14.54
$29.07
diesel
$5.61
$16.56
$33.12
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.5
0
$7.87
$3.60
Efficient EV
18.8
0
$6.56
$3.00
EV Truck/SUV
30
0
$10.50
$4.80
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Bridgehampton, NY
Night
in Bridgehampton on Saturday
Local time
10:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hempstead, NY
Night
in Hempstead on Saturday
Local time
10:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 6 to 12 mph3% chanceLive forecast
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
26 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 45m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Fire Island National Seashore
National Seashore
Immerse yourself in an enchanting collage of coastal life and history. Rhythmic waves, high dunes, ancient maritime forests, historic landmarks and glimpses of wildlife, Fire Island has been a special...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 41.4
Park Closure: Pet Restrictions, Beach Driving Closures in Effect March 15 through Labor Day
Caution: Avian Influenza (HPAI) Suspected in Dead Birds in Seashore Areas
Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City, the park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience as you traverse this 75-mile stretch of New York. The journey is defined by a 31% highway share, cycling through the Sunrise Highway, Southern State Parkway, and Heckscher State Parkway. You will spend the bulk of your time on the Sunrise Highway, which features a longest uninterrupted stretch of 38.8 miles. The character of the road shifts from regional thoroughfares to controlled-access parkways, requiring you to stay alert as traffic patterns evolve. It is a functional drive that balances consistent highway speeds with the varied pace of local transit.
31% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38.8 mi on Sunrise Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 early in the drive near NY 27 / Montauk Highway.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 75 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (NY 27 / Montauk Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 48.4 miles (Sunrise Highway): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.5 miles (SO / Southern State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bridgehampton, NY and Hempstead, NY, road signs point toward H: New York, Hekscher Park and So West: New York.
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 1h 45m. Total distance: 75 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (31%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 38.8 miles on Sunrise Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (NY 27 / Montauk Highway): Lane positioning matters here; at 48.4 miles (Sunrise Highway): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 55.5 miles (SO / Southern State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Fire Island National Seashore, Gateway National Recreation Area and General Grant National Memorial (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hempstead, NY before heading back.
