Frewsburg, NY to Hempstead, NY is 382.4 miles and takes about 8h 5m via Keystone Shortway, with a fuel budget near $62 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, primarily traversing New York state. Given the duration and distance, it's a solid option for a single, long driving day if you get an early start. However, with two recommended days, you can break it up for a more relaxed pace. The route predominantly uses surface roads, so expect a more scenic, less hurried experience than a pure interstate journey.
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
191.2 miles from Frewsburg, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
262.7 mi
4h 57m
PA 948
23.8 mi
35m
Boot Jack Road
11.2 mi
16m
Market Street
8.3 mi
9m
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 Frewsburg, NY and Hempstead, NY.
1
Start on Falconer Street
28 ft·1 sec·Falconer Street
2
Turn right onto US 62
155 ft·3 sec·Ivory Street
3
Continue on US 62
0.2 mi·34 sec·Main Street
4
Turn left onto Water Street
0.4 mi·51 sec·Water Street
5
Continue on Warren Road
3.7 mi·5 min·Warren Road
6
Continue on Akeley Road
2.5 mi·6 min·Akeley Road
7
Turn right onto Old Warren Jamestown Road
0.2 mi·30 sec·Old Warren Jamestown Road
8
Continue on Cable Hollow Road
465 ft·16 sec·Cable Hollow Road
9
At end of road, turn left onto US 62
8.3 mi·9 min·Market Street
10
Turn right onto US 62
0.2 mi·23 sec·West 4th Avenue
11
Turn left onto Hickory Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·Hickory Street
12
Continue on Hickory Bridge
0.1 mi·24 sec·Hickory Bridge
13
Turn left onto Crescent Park
0.4 mi·57 sec·Crescent Park
Use the left lane.
14
Turn left onto US 6
1.8 mi·3 min·Crescent Park
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
15
Continue on US 6
0.2 mi·35 sec·Main Street
Use the straight lane.
16
Continue on US 6
2.9 mi·4 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on US 6
1.4 mi·2 min·North Main Street
18
Continue on US 6
4.5 mi·6 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
19
Continue on US 6
1.1 mi·2 min·West Main Street
20
Take the exit
265 ft·9 sec
Toward PA 666 West
21
Merge onto PA 666
2.3 mi·4 min·South Main Street
22
Continue on PA 948
8.5 mi·12 min·PA 948
23
At end of road, turn left onto PA 66
2.9 mi·4 min·PA 66
24
Turn right onto PA 948
15 mi·22 min·PA 948
25
Turn left onto PA 948
1.0 mi·2 min·West Main Street
26
Continue on US 219; PA 948
11 mi·16 min·Boot Jack Road
27
Turn left onto PA 153
3.7 mi·6 min·Penfield Road
28
Continue on PA 153
5.0 mi·8 min·Hoovertown Road
29
Continue on PA 153
8.1 mi·14 min·State Park Road
30
Turn left
0.3 mi·40 sec
31
Merge onto I 80
263 mi·4 hr 57 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
32
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.
33
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.
34
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 70A-BToward Leonia, TeaneckUse the slight right lane.
35
Turn right
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 70AToward LeoniaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Turn straight onto CR 56
454 ft·9 sec·Degraw Avenue
37
Continue on CR 56
1.1 mi·2 min·Fort Lee Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
38
Continue on CR 56
469 ft·13 sec·Main Street
39
Take the ramp
472 ft·12 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge
40
Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46
0.3 mi·28 sec·Bergen Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41
Take the exit
312 ft·4 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level
42
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.3 mi·20 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
43
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
44
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
45
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
46
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi·6 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
47
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.
48
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi·58 sec·Throgs Neck Expressway
49
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
50
Continue on I 295
5.0 mi·5 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
51
Turn left onto NY 25
0.7 mi·1 min·Hillside Avenue
Use the left lane.
52
Turn right onto NY 25
1.1 mi·2 min·Braddock Avenue
53
Turn left onto NY 25
0.2 mi·34 sec·Jamaica Avenue
54
Continue on NY 25
0.5 mi·56 sec·Jericho Turnpike
55
Turn slight right onto Tulip Avenue
2.0 mi·3 min·Tulip Avenue
Use the right lane.
56
Turn right onto New Hyde Park Road
0.4 mi·56 sec·New Hyde Park Road
57
Turn left onto NY 24
2.0 mi·3 min·Hempstead Turnpike
Use the left lane.
58
Turn slight right onto NY 102
0.8 mi·1 min·Front Street
Use the right lane.
59
Turn right onto Greenwich Street
0.1 mi·11 sec·Greenwich Street
Use the right lane.
60
Turn left onto Peninsula Boulevard
0.2 mi·26 sec·Peninsula Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
61
Arrive at destination
Peninsula Boulevard
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 8-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Frewsburg to maximize daylight. While it's possible to complete in one day, splitting it over two days with two planned stops will allow for a more comfortable experience. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you move onto the surface road sections where services might be less frequent. The 262.7-mile stretch on Keystone Shortway is a good point to plan your first major break or refuel before transitioning to the more local roads.
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 191.2 miles from Frewsburg, NY, or about 4h 17m 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 84 miles or 2h 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 191.2 miles or 4h 17m 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 191.2 miles or 4h 17m
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 46m
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 Frewsburg, 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 Frewsburg, NY
Aim for roughly 191 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Hempstead, NY
Aim for roughly 191 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 84 miles from Frewsburg, 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 34
5 decision points cluster between mile 16 and 364.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
16 mi into trip|~24m in|Crescent Park
Turn left onto Crescent Park
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
349.5 mi into trip|~7h 16m 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
355 mi into trip|~7h 22m 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
355.3 mi into trip|~7h 23m 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
364.7 mi into trip|~7h 37m 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
$61.86 one way
$123.72 round trip
$4.11/gal25.4 MPG avg134 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$67.13
$134.26
premium
$4.85
$72.99
$145.97
diesel
$4.80
$72.20
$144.41
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
$62
Tolls
$23
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$215–$325
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 133.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
114.7
1
$40.15
$18.36
Efficient EV
95.6
1
$33.46
$15.30
EV Truck/SUV
153
1
$53.54
$24.47
Gas CO2
134 kg
EV CO2
45 kg (66% 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
Frewsburg, NY
Late night
in Frewsburg on Sunday
Local time
5:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Smoke
NW 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Hempstead, NY
Late night
in Hempstead on Sunday
Local time
5:03 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Smoke
NW 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
85°F
Waverly, NY
191 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 5m 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
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 356
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...
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...
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...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 356
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 356
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
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 356
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly surface roads, with only 11% on highways. You'll encounter the longest stretch of uninterrupted driving on the Keystone Shortway, covering 262.7 miles. After this, you'll transition to local roads like PA 948 and Boot Jack Road. Expect to navigate through towns and villages, with more frequent intersections and varied speed limits compared to a high-speed interstate.
Only 11% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
61 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 16 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 34 significant decision points across 382.4 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 16 miles (Crescent Park): Lane positioning matters here; at 349.5 miles (I 80 / Christopher Columbus Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 355 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,774 ft21 ft
Total Climb
2,194 ft
Total Descent
3,437 ft
Highest Point
1,774 ft
~163.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,753 ft
Notable High Points
1,774 ft at ~163.9 miles+884 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Frewsburg, 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 191 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 33 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 33 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 16 miles (Crescent Park): Lane positioning matters here; at 349.5 miles (I 80 / Christopher Columbus Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 355 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 8.1 hours each way, a round trip means 16.2 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.
