Falconer, NY to Hempstead, NY is 388 miles and takes about 8h 10m via Keystone Shortway and US 62, with a fuel budget near $63 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, beginning and ending in New York. Given the duration and the profile, this drive is best suited for an overnight trip to avoid fatigue. You'll spend most of your time on surface roads, so expect a more leisurely pace with frequent opportunities to see local scenery and towns.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
194 miles from Falconer, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 19m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
262.7 mi
4h 57m
PA 948
23.8 mi
35m
US 62
15.6 mi
19m
Boot Jack Road
11.2 mi
16m
State Park Road
8.1 mi
14m
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
7.4 mi
11m
Cross Bronx Expressway
6.6 mi
8m
Christopher Columbus Highway
5.5 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 262.7 mi, about 4h 57m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 194 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,076 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,665
Quietest
1 AM
~346 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Falconer, NY and Hempstead, NY.
1
Start on NY 394
130 ft·7 sec·West Main Street
2
Turn right onto South Work Street
1.2 mi·2 min·South Work Street
3
Continue on Co Touring Rte 380
0.1 mi·12 sec·Co Touring Rte 380
4
Continue on Peck Settlement Road
3.5 mi·4 min·Peck Settlement Road
5
Turn left onto Martin Road
0.5 mi·44 sec·Martin Road
6
Turn left onto NY 60
0.2 mi·17 sec·Foote Avenue
7
Turn right onto US 62
16 mi·19 min·US 62
8
Turn right onto US 62
0.2 mi·23 sec·West 4th Avenue
9
Turn left onto Hickory Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·Hickory Street
10
Continue on Hickory Bridge
0.1 mi·24 sec·Hickory Bridge
11
Turn left onto Crescent Park
0.4 mi·57 sec·Crescent Park
Use the left lane.
12
Turn left onto US 6
1.8 mi·3 min·Crescent Park
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
13
Continue on US 6
0.2 mi·35 sec·Main Street
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on US 6
2.9 mi·4 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on US 6
1.4 mi·2 min·North Main Street
16
Continue on US 6
4.5 mi·6 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
17
Continue on US 6
1.1 mi·2 min·West Main Street
18
Take the exit
265 ft·9 sec
Toward PA 666 West
19
Merge onto PA 666
2.3 mi·4 min·South Main Street
20
Continue on PA 948
8.5 mi·12 min·PA 948
21
At end of road, turn left onto PA 66
2.9 mi·4 min·PA 66
22
Turn right onto PA 948
15 mi·22 min·PA 948
23
Turn left onto PA 948
1.0 mi·2 min·West Main Street
24
Continue on US 219; PA 948
11 mi·16 min·Boot Jack Road
25
Turn left onto PA 153
3.7 mi·6 min·Penfield Road
26
Continue on PA 153
5.0 mi·8 min·Hoovertown Road
27
Continue on PA 153
8.1 mi·14 min·State Park Road
28
Turn left
0.3 mi·40 sec
29
Merge onto I 80
263 mi·4 hr 57 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
30
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.
31
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.
32
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 70A-BToward Leonia, TeaneckUse the slight right lane.
33
Turn right
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 70AToward LeoniaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Turn straight onto CR 56
454 ft·9 sec·Degraw Avenue
35
Continue on CR 56
1.1 mi·2 min·Fort Lee Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
36
Continue on CR 56
469 ft·13 sec·Main Street
37
Take the ramp
472 ft·12 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge
38
Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46
0.3 mi·28 sec·Bergen Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Take the exit
312 ft·4 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level
40
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.3 mi·20 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
42
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
43
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
44
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi·6 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
45
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.
46
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi·58 sec·Throgs Neck Expressway
47
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
48
Continue on I 295
5.0 mi·5 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
49
Turn left onto NY 25
0.7 mi·1 min·Hillside Avenue
Use the left lane.
50
Turn right onto NY 25
1.1 mi·2 min·Braddock Avenue
51
Turn left onto NY 25
0.2 mi·34 sec·Jamaica Avenue
52
Continue on NY 25
0.5 mi·56 sec·Jericho Turnpike
53
Turn slight right onto Tulip Avenue
2.0 mi·3 min·Tulip Avenue
Use the right lane.
54
Turn right onto New Hyde Park Road
0.4 mi·56 sec·New Hyde Park Road
55
Turn left onto NY 24
2.0 mi·3 min·Hempstead Turnpike
Use the left lane.
56
Turn slight right onto NY 102
0.8 mi·1 min·Front Street
Use the right lane.
57
Turn right onto Greenwich Street
0.1 mi·11 sec·Greenwich Street
Use the right lane.
58
Turn left onto Peninsula Boulevard
0.2 mi·26 sec·Peninsula Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
59
Arrive at destination
Peninsula Boulevard
Trip Plan
Given the 8h 10m estimated drive time, splitting this trip into two days is highly recommended for comfort and safety. Aim to leave early on your first day to cover about half the distance, perhaps stopping for the night around the halfway point or slightly beyond the 262.7-mile Keystone Shortway segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you move from the highway portion to the more rural surface roads where gas stations might be less frequent. Planning your overnight stop in advance will also help ensure a smooth continuation on your second day.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 194 miles from Falconer, NY, or about 4h 19m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 262.7 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 85 miles or 2h 10m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 194 miles or 4h 19m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 194 miles or 4h 19m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 50m
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 Falconer, 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.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Falconer, NY
Aim for roughly 194 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Hempstead, NY
Aim for roughly 194 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 85 miles from Falconer, NY.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Keystone Shortway for about 262.7 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 35
5 decision points cluster between mile 21.7 and 370.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
21.7 mi into trip|~29m in|Crescent Park
Turn left onto Crescent Park
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
355.1 mi into trip|~7h 21m in|I 80 / Christopher Columbus Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 / Christopher Columbus Highway toward I 95: George Washington Bridge Lower Level
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 95: George Washington Bridge Lower Lev...
8
360.6 mi into trip|~7h 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
360.9 mi into trip|~7h 28m 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
370.3 mi into trip|~7h 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
$62.77 one way
$125.53 round trip
$4.11/gal25.4 MPG avg136 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$68.11
$136.23
premium
$4.85
$74.06
$148.11
diesel
$4.80
$73.26
$146.52
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
$63
Tolls
$23
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$216–$326
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 135.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
116.4
1
$40.74
$18.62
Efficient EV
97
1
$33.95
$15.52
EV Truck/SUV
155.2
1
$54.32
$24.83
Gas CO2
136 kg
EV CO2
45 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Falconer, NY
Late night
in Falconer on Sunday
Local time
2:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Smoke
NW 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Hempstead, NY
Late night
in Hempstead on Sunday
Local time
2:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Smoke
NW 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
85°F
Waverly, NY
194 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
13 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
8h 10m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 361.3
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
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 361.3
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...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 361.3
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
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 361.3
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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 361.3
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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 361.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route covers 388 miles with only 15% on highways, meaning you'll primarily navigate surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a main road, the Keystone Shortway, is 262.7 miles. After this significant portion, you'll transition to more local routes. Expect to encounter frequent intersections and lower speed limits, typical of navigating through towns and rural areas.
Only 15% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
59 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 262.7 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 21.7 miles in near Crescent Park.
Driving Effort9/10
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 35 significant decision points across 388 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 21.7 miles (Crescent Park): Lane positioning matters here; at 355.1 miles (I 80 / Christopher Columbus Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 360.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,819 ft55 ft
Total Climb
2,621 ft
Total Descent
3,827 ft
Highest Point
1,819 ft
~55.4 mi in
Elevation Range
1,763 ft
Notable High Points
1,547 ft at ~166.3 miles+774 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Falconer, NY and Hempstead, NY, road signs point toward New York City, Leonia, Teaneck and George Washington Bridge Upper Level.
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
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 262.7 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 194 miles on day one.
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.
Yes — we found about 35 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. There are 35 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 21.7 miles (Crescent Park): Lane positioning matters here; at 355.1 miles (I 80 / Christopher Columbus Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 360.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 8.2 hours each way, a round trip means 16.3 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.
