Origin
Buchanan, NY
Late night in Buchanan on Sunday
Local time
2:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Buchanan, NY to Hempstead, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 24m
Distance
54 mi
87 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Fair
3 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 18m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 29m
12 PM
1h 28m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 37m
8 PM
1h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Buchanan, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Connecting Buchanan to Hempstead, this 54-mile journey takes approximately 1 hour and 24 minutes to complete. It is a straightforward trip that fits perfectly into a single day, making an overnight stay unnecessary. You can expect to spend about $9 on fuel for the trek, which primarily utilizes the Sprain Brook Parkway, US 9, and the Clearview Expressway. Because both the origin and destination are located within the Northeast, you will remain in a familiar regional environment throughout the drive. This route is an efficient way to navigate between these two points, offering a practical, highway-focused experience for those looking to reach their destination without unnecessary delays.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sprain Brook Parkway | 12.8 mi | 17m |
| US 9 | 12.4 mi | 19m |
| Clearview Expressway | 5 mi | 5m |
| North Columbus Avenue | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Throgs Neck Expressway | 2.2 mi | 3m |
| New England Thruway | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Tulip Avenue | 2 mi | 3m |
| Throgs Neck Bridge | 2 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
Sprain Brook Parkway
— 12.8 mi, about 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buchanan, NY and Hempstead, NY.
1
Start on this road
28 ft
·
3 sec
·
this road
2
Continue on Tate Avenue
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Tate Avenue
3
Turn slight left onto NY 9A
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
Albany Post Road
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
5
Merge onto US 9
12 mi
·
19 min
·
US 9
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Toward New York City
7
Merge onto Taconic State Parkway
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Taconic State Parkway
8
Keep slight left at fork onto Sprain Brook Parkway
13 mi
·
17 min
·
Sprain Brook Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on Bronx River Parkway
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Bronx River Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 11E
Toward Cross County Parkway East, Mount Vernon
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto Cross County Parkway (local lanes)
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Cross County Parkway (local lanes)
Use the straight / right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 8
Toward NY 22: North Columbus Avenue, Mount Vernon
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn straight onto Parkway South
380 ft
·
15 sec
·
Parkway South
Toward NY 22
14
Turn right onto NY 22
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
North Columbus Avenue
15
Continue on NY 22
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
South 3rd Avenue
16
Continue on NY 22
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Provost Avenue
17
Continue on Conner Street
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Conner Street
18
Turn right onto New England Thruway
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
New England Thruway
19
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
Toward I 95 South
20
Merge onto I 95
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
New England Thruway
21
Continue on I 95
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Bruckner Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 695
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
Throgs Neck Expressway
Exit 7A
Toward I 695 South: Throgs Neck Bridge, Long Island
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Continue on I 295
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Turn left onto NY 25
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Hillside Avenue
Use the left lane.
26
Turn right onto NY 25
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Braddock Avenue
27
Turn left onto NY 25
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Jamaica Avenue
28
Continue on NY 25
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
Jericho Turnpike
29
Turn slight right onto Tulip Avenue
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Tulip Avenue
Use the right lane.
30
Turn right onto New Hyde Park Road
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
·
New Hyde Park Road
31
Turn left onto NY 24
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Hempstead Turnpike
Use the left lane.
32
Turn slight right onto NY 102
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Front Street
Use the right lane.
33
Turn right onto Greenwich Street
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
Greenwich Street
Use the right lane.
34
Turn left onto Peninsula Boulevard
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
Peninsula Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Arrive at destination
Peninsula Boulevard
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27 miles from Buchanan, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 235 decision points cluster between mile 15.6 and 45.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
15.6 mi into trip
|
~24m in
|
Sprain Brook Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto Sprain Brook Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
28.9 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward Cross County Parkway East, Mount Vernon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 11E
Toward Cross County Parkway East, Mount Vernon
8
30 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward NY 22: North Columbus Avenue, Mount Vernon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 8
Toward NY 22: North Columbus Avenue, Mount Vern...
9
36.7 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
I 695 / Throgs Neck Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 695 / Throgs Neck Expressway toward I 695 South: Throgs Neck Bridge, Long Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 7A
Toward I 695 South: Throgs Neck Bridge, Long Is...
6
45.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
|
NY 25 / Hillside Avenue
Turn left onto NY 25 / Hillside Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.89 one way
$17.78 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $9.61 | $19.22 |
| premium | $4.92 | $10.47 | $20.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.92 | $23.85 |
Estimated Tolls: $6.88
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
Hempstead Turnpike
(2 mi)
$0.14
New England Thruway
(1.5 mi)
$0.11
New England Thruway
(0.5 mi)
$0.04
Jericho Turnpike
(0.5 mi)
$0.04
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$7
Total
$16
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.67 | $2.59 |
| Efficient EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.73 | $2.16 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.56 | $3.46 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Late night in Hempstead on Sunday
Local time
2:02 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
43°F
Mount Vernon, NY
27 mi in
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
11 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 24m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a trip dominated by highway travel, as 73 percent of this route consists of high-speed roads. You will find yourself navigating a mix of parkway driving and expressway transitions, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 12.8 miles along the Sprain Brook Parkway. The character of the drive is functional rather than leisurely, emphasizing consistency and speed over winding backroads. As you move from US 9 onto the larger parkways and expressways, the traffic flow becomes the primary focus of your time behind the wheel. Prepare for a steady, focused driving experience that prioritizes getting you to your destination efficiently.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
35 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 12.8 mi on Sprain Brook Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Sprain Brook Parkway and US 9. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 15.6 miles in near Sprain Brook Parkway.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 54 miles you will encounter 23 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: at 15.6 miles (Sprain Brook Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
301 ft
13 ft
Total Climb
453 ft
Total Descent
438 ft
Highest Point
301 ft
~11.6 mi in
Elevation Range
288 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Buchanan, NY and Hempstead, NY, road signs point toward New York City, Cross County Parkway East, Mount Vernon and Long Island.
New York City
13.2 mi in
|
~20m
Cross County Parkway East
28.9 mi in
|
~42m
Mount Vernon
28.9 mi in
|
~42m
Long Island
36.7 mi in
|
~56m
|
via I 695
About the Cities
Arriving in Hempstead, NY
Full guide →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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 24m. Total distance: 54 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (73%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 12.8 miles on Sprain Brook Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $6.88 in tolls one way, starting with Throgs Neck 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.
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: at 15.6 miles (Sprain Brook Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial and African Burial Ground National Monument (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.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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