Embarking on this 376.3-mile journey from Canton to Hempstead, New York, will take approximately 7 hours and 43 minutes of driving time. The route primarily utilizes the New York State Thruway, Gouverneur Street, and State Highway 12, making it a feasible day trip for those looking to cover ground efficiently. With an estimated fuel cost of $62 and a plan for 2 stops, this drive offers a straightforward passage through the Northeast region. The total travel time, including brief breaks, suggests you can reach your destination within a single day if you start early.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
188.1 miles from Canton, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 52m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New York State Thruway
201.9 mi
3h 53m
Gouverneur Street
23.8 mi
27m
State Highway 12
22.8 mi
31m
Bea Luck Road
19.6 mi
23m
State Highway 812
16.7 mi
20m
Indian River Road
16.1 mi
19m
NJ 17
14.1 mi
18m
Erwin Parkway
9.7 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 201.9 mi, about 3h 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Canton, NY and Hempstead, NY.
1
Start on US 11; NY 68
0.3 mi·48 sec·Main Street
2
Turn left onto US 11
24 mi·27 min·Gouverneur Street
3
Turn left onto NY 58; NY 812
0.6 mi·40 sec·William Street
4
Continue on NY 58; NY 812
5.5 mi·6 min·State Highway 58
5
Turn right onto NY 812
2.1 mi·2 min·Balmat-Fowler Road
6
Continue on NY 812
7.9 mi·9 min·State Highway 812
7
At end of road, turn right onto NY 3; NY 812
0.3 mi·33 sec·State Highway 812
8
Continue on NY 3; NY 812
0.4 mi·59 sec·State Street
9
Continue on NY 3; NY 812
0.8 mi·1 min·Main Street
10
Continue on NY 3; NY 812
2.9 mi·4 min·State Route 3
11
Turn left onto NY 812
5.7 mi·6 min·Indian River Road
12
Continue on NY 812
10 mi·12 min·Indian River Road
13
Continue on NY 812
0.8 mi·1 min·Main Street
14
Continue on NY 812
8.4 mi·10 min·State Highway 812
15
Turn left onto East State Street
1.5 mi·3 min·East State Street
16
Continue on Ross Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Ross Road
17
Turn left onto NY 12
20 mi·23 min·Bea Luck Road
18
Continue on NY 12
0.8 mi·51 sec·State Highway 12
19
Continue on NY 12
9.7 mi·11 min·Erwin Parkway
20
Continue on NY 12
22 mi·30 min·State Highway 12
21
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
22
Merge onto NY 49
0.4 mi·26 sec·State Route 49
23
Continue on I 790; NY 5
0.2 mi·13 sec·I 790; NY 5
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Toward Genesee Street South
25
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 90
26
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 90 East
27
Merge onto I 90
84 mi·1 hr 36 min·New York State Thruway
28
Keep slight right at fork onto New York State Thruway
118 mi·2 hr 16 min·New York State Thruway
Toward I 87 South: New York, BostonUse the slight right lane.
29
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17
0.9 mi·59 sec·NY 17
Exit 15Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New JerseyUse the slight right lane.
30
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
0.5 mi·39 sec·I 287; NJ 17
31
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17
14 mi·18 min·NJ 17
Exit 66Toward NJ 17 South: MahwahUse the slight left / straight lanes.
32
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
33
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
34
Merge onto NJ 4
0.3 mi·24 sec·NJ 4
Use the right lane.
35
Continue on NJ 4
6.4 mi·8 min·NJ 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington BridgeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
37
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.7 mi·54 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
39
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
40
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
41
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi·6 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
42
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.
43
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi·58 sec·Throgs Neck Expressway
44
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
45
Continue on I 295
5.0 mi·5 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
46
Turn left onto NY 25
0.7 mi·1 min·Hillside Avenue
Use the left lane.
47
Turn right onto NY 25
1.1 mi·2 min·Braddock Avenue
48
Turn left onto NY 25
0.2 mi·34 sec·Jamaica Avenue
49
Continue on NY 25
0.5 mi·56 sec·Jericho Turnpike
50
Turn slight right onto Tulip Avenue
2.0 mi·3 min·Tulip Avenue
Use the right lane.
51
Turn right onto New Hyde Park Road
0.4 mi·56 sec·New Hyde Park Road
52
Turn left onto NY 24
2.0 mi·3 min·Hempstead Turnpike
Use the left lane.
53
Turn slight right onto NY 102
0.8 mi·1 min·Front Street
Use the right lane.
54
Turn right onto Greenwich Street
0.1 mi·11 sec·Greenwich Street
Use the right lane.
55
Turn left onto Peninsula Boulevard
0.2 mi·26 sec·Peninsula Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
56
Arrive at destination
Peninsula Boulevard
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 376.3-mile trip, consider an early morning departure from Canton to maximize daylight and minimize traffic, especially as you approach the Hempstead area. With 2 planned stops, pacing yourself is key; aim for one break around the halfway point and another closer to your destination. The longest uninterrupted stretch of 201.9 miles on the New York State Thruway means you can cover significant distance, but be mindful of the transition back to local roads, which requires increased attention. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the $62 estimated cost suggests regular opportunities for refueling.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 188.1 miles from Canton, NY, or about 3h 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 201.9 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 83 miles or 1h 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 188.1 miles or 3h 52m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 19m
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 Canton, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Canton, NY
This is one driving day of about 376.3 miles and 7h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 83 miles from Canton, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on New York State Thruway for about 201.9 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 32
5 decision points cluster between mile 209.9 and 358.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
209.9 mi into trip|~4h 17m in|New York State Thruway
Keep slight right at fork onto New York State Thruway toward I 87 South: New York, Boston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 87 South: New York, Boston
9
328.1 mi into trip|~6h 33m 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
329.5 mi into trip|~6h 35m 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
343.7 mi into trip|~6h 54m 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
358.5 mi into trip|~7h 15m 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
$61.94 one way
$123.88 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg132 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$66.98
$133.96
premium
$4.92
$72.93
$145.87
diesel
$5.61
$83.08
$166.16
Estimated Tolls: $32.82
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
New York State Thruway
(201.9 mi)$10.09
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
$62
Tolls
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$120–$145
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 131.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
112.9
1
$39.51
$18.06
Efficient EV
94.1
1
$32.93
$15.05
EV Truck/SUV
150.5
1
$52.68
$24.08
Gas CO2
132 kg
EV CO2
44 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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
Canton, NY
Late night
in Canton on Sunday
Local time
3:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hempstead, NY
Late night
in Hempstead on Sunday
Local time
3:56 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live 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
19 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
7h 43m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
General Grant National Memorial
National Memorial
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 350.3
Caution: Lower Crypt Access Subject to Safe Conditions
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 350.3
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...
10 mi from route
~24 min detour
Free
near mile 350.3
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 350.3
Located at the southern tip of Manhattan, Castle Clinton marks the place where New York City began and reflects the growth of both the city and the nation. Built to defend the harbor during the War of...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 350.3
Here at Federal Hall, George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States, marking the beginning of the American constitutional republic. This historic site served as...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 350.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive presents a "turn-heavy local drive" profile, with only 26% of the journey on highways. Expect a dynamic experience as you navigate through varied road types, transitioning between local streets and the New York State Thruway. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 201.9 miles on the Thruway, offering a period of more consistent speed before you re-enter more localized sections. This mix means you'll be actively engaged with the road for much of the 7-hour-plus drive.
Only 26% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
56 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 201.9 mi on New York State Thruway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 209.9 miles in near New York State Thruway.
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 32 significant decision points across 376.3 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 209.9 miles (New York State Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 328.1 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 329.5 miles (NJ 17): 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 Canton, NY and Hempstead, NY, road signs point toward Genesee Street South, Boston, Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee and New York.
Canton (pop 7,200 in 2020, founded 1801) is the county seat of St. Lawrence County in northern New York. This tiny village is home to the State University of New York at Canton and to St. Lawrence University.
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 7h 43m. Total distance: 376.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 43m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 201.9 miles on New York State Thruway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $32.82 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 209.9 miles (New York State Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 328.1 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 329.5 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — General Grant National Memorial, Hamilton Grange National Memorial and Stonewall National Monument (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.7 hours each way, a round trip means 15.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Hempstead, NY before the return drive.
