Origin
Commack, NY
Late night in Commack on Sunday
Local time
1:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Commack, 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
34m
Distance
27.2 mi
44 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 32m
★
6 AM
0h 35m
8 AM
0h 41m
10 AM
0h 37m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 41m
8 PM
0h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Commack, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 27.2-mile drive from Commack, NY to Hempstead, NY is a straightforward, highway-focused journey designed for a single day. Expect the trip to take about 34 minutes, making it an easy option for a quick excursion within the Northeast region. You'll primarily be on the Southern State Parkway, Sagtikos State Parkway, and Sunken Meadow State Parkway, with 90% of the route being highway driving. With an estimated fuel cost of just $4, this route is very budget-friendly for a day trip. There are no designated stops, so you can easily complete this drive without needing an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southern State Parkway | 17.5 mi | 21m |
| Sagtikos State Parkway | 5.4 mi | 6m |
| Sunken Meadow State Parkway | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| Nassau Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Greenwich Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Henry Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Veterans Memorial Highway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Jericho Turnpike | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Southern State Parkway
— 17.5 mi, about 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Commack, NY and Hempstead, NY.
1
Start on CR 4
34 ft
·
7 sec
·
Commack Road
2
Turn right onto NY 25
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Jericho Turnpike
3
Keep slight right at fork onto Veterans Memorial Highway
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
Veterans Memorial Highway
4
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward SM South: Bay Shore
5
Merge onto SM
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Sunken Meadow State Parkway
6
Continue on SA
5.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Sagtikos State Parkway
Use the straight lane.
7
Continue on SO
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
Southern State Parkway
8
Keep slight left at fork onto SO
17 mi
·
21 min
·
Southern State Parkway
Use the slight left lane.
9
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 21
Toward Nassau Road, Hempstead, Freeport
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork
163 ft
·
5 sec
Toward Uniondale
Use the right lane.
11
Turn right onto Nassau Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Nassau Road
Use the right lane.
12
Continue on Greenwich Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Greenwich Street
13
Turn right onto Henry Street
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
Henry Street
Use the right lane.
14
Turn right onto Peninsula Boulevard
64 ft
·
1 sec
·
Peninsula Boulevard
15
Arrive at destination
Peninsula Boulevard
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 25.3 — 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 25 / Jericho Turnpike
Turn right onto NY 25 / Jericho Turnpike
Navigation decision point
6
7.7 mi into trip
|
~9m 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
25.1 mi into trip
|
~31m 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
25.3 mi into trip
|
~31m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Uniondale
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward Uniondale
5
25.3 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
Nassau Road
Turn right onto Nassau Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$4.48 one way
$8.95 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
10 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $4.84 | $9.68 |
| premium | $4.92 | $5.27 | $10.54 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.01 | $12.01 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 9.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 70% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.86 | $1.31 |
| Efficient EV | 6.8 | 0 | $2.38 | $1.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 10.9 | 0 | $3.81 | $1.74 |
Gas CO2
10 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (70% 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
1:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
12 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
34m 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?
The personality of this drive is almost entirely highway. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on parkways, which are known for their smooth, flowing conditions. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 17.5 miles on the Southern State Parkway, offering a consistent driving experience. Given that 90% of this route is highway, expect minimal interruptions and a focus on efficient travel rather than winding scenic byways. The parkway system generally provides a pleasant, easy-to-navigate environment for this short journey.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.5 mi on Southern State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern State Parkway and Sagtikos State Parkway. 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 25 / Jericho Turnpike.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 27.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 34m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (NY 25 / Jericho Turnpike): Navigation decision point; at 7.7 miles (SO / Southern State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Commack, NY and Hempstead, NY, road signs point toward Freeport and Uniondale.
Freeport
25.1 mi in
|
~31m
Uniondale
25.3 mi in
|
~31m
About the Cities
Starting in Commack, NY
Full guide →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 34m. Total distance: 27.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17.5 miles on Southern State Parkway. 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 25 / Jericho Turnpike): Navigation decision point; at 7.7 miles (SO / Southern State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Hempstead, NY
More from Commack, NY
More trips to Hempstead, NY
Explore more options from Commack, NY or browse trips ending in Hempstead, NY.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NY road trips.