Planning a trip from Gowanda, NY to Hempstead, NY? This journey covers 397 miles and will take you about 8 hours and 23 minutes of driving time. You'll primarily be on the Southern Tier Expressway, Keystone Shortway, and I-81. Given the duration and distance, this is best split over two days, with an estimated fuel cost of $65. The route offers a highway-focused experience as you travel within the Northeast region. Planning for two recommended days will allow for a more relaxed pace and time to make your two planned stops.
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
198.5 miles from Gowanda, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 17m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Gowanda, NY and Hempstead, NY.
1
Start on NY 39
265 ft·6 sec·West Main Street
2
Turn straight onto US 62; NY 39
382 ft·7 sec·East Main Street
3
Turn left onto US 62; NY 39
0.7 mi·1 min·Buffalo Street
4
Turn right onto US 62; NY 39
1.8 mi·2 min·Sand Hill Road
5
Turn right onto NY 39
8.7 mi·14 min·Main Street
6
Continue on NY 39
4.2 mi·5 min·State Highway 39
7
Continue on NY 39
2.5 mi·6 min·West Main Street
8
Continue on NY 39
7.7 mi·8 min·Springville Sardinia Highway
9
Continue on NY 39
0.2 mi·10 sec·State Highway 39
10
Continue on NY 39
1.4 mi·1 min·Schutt Road
11
Turn right onto NY 16; NY 39
0.6 mi·56 sec·State Highway 16
12
Continue on NY 16; NY 39
0.2 mi·26 sec·Olean Road
13
Turn left onto NY 39
1.1 mi·2 min·State Route 39
14
Continue on NY 39
2.3 mi·5 min·West Main Street
15
Continue on NY 39
18 mi·25 min·State Highway 39
16
Turn right onto NY 436
1.8 mi·2 min·Denton Corners Road
17
Turn right onto NY 19A; NY 436
2.2 mi·3 min·NY 19A; NY 436
18
Turn left onto NY 436
0.3 mi·46 sec·Hamilton Street
19
Turn left onto NY 436
360 ft·8 sec·Main Street
20
Continue on NY 436
5.6 mi·8 min·Portage Street
21
Continue on NY 436
1.0 mi·1 min·Mill Street
22
Continue on NY 436
12 mi·16 min·Nunda-Dansville Road
23
Continue on NY 436
0.7 mi·1 min·Ossian Street
24
Turn right onto Spruce Street
0.1 mi·32 sec·Spruce Street
25
Turn slight right onto NY 36
0.9 mi·1 min·Clara Barton Street
26
Continue on NY 36
0.1 mi·11 sec·Hornell Road
27
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
28
Merge onto I 390
22 mi·25 min·Genesee Expressway
29
Merge onto I 86
105 mi·2 hr 2 min·Southern Tier Expressway
30
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
53 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 81
Toward I 81 South: ScrantonUse the straight lane.
31
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
0.8 mi·1 min·US 6
Exit 187Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt PoconoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
32
Continue on I 84; I 380
3.7 mi·4 min·I 84; I 380
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, MilfordUse the straight lane.
33
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
24 mi·25 min·I 380
Exit 4Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
34
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 1BToward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
35
Merge onto I 80
80 mi·1 hr 37 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
36
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.
37
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.
38
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 70A-BToward Leonia, TeaneckUse the slight right lane.
39
Turn right
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 70AToward LeoniaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
40
Turn straight onto CR 56
454 ft·9 sec·Degraw Avenue
41
Continue on CR 56
1.1 mi·2 min·Fort Lee Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
42
Continue on CR 56
469 ft·13 sec·Main Street
43
Take the ramp
472 ft·12 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge
44
Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46
0.3 mi·28 sec·Bergen Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
45
Take the exit
312 ft·4 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level
46
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.3 mi·20 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
47
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
48
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
49
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
50
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi·6 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
51
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.
52
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi·58 sec·Throgs Neck Expressway
53
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
54
Continue on I 295
5.0 mi·5 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
55
Turn left onto NY 25
0.7 mi·1 min·Hillside Avenue
Use the left lane.
56
Turn right onto NY 25
1.1 mi·2 min·Braddock Avenue
57
Turn left onto NY 25
0.2 mi·34 sec·Jamaica Avenue
58
Continue on NY 25
0.5 mi·56 sec·Jericho Turnpike
59
Turn slight right onto Tulip Avenue
2.0 mi·3 min·Tulip Avenue
Use the right lane.
60
Turn right onto New Hyde Park Road
0.4 mi·56 sec·New Hyde Park Road
61
Turn left onto NY 24
2.0 mi·3 min·Hempstead Turnpike
Use the left lane.
62
Turn slight right onto NY 102
0.8 mi·1 min·Front Street
Use the right lane.
63
Turn right onto Greenwich Street
0.1 mi·11 sec·Greenwich Street
Use the right lane.
64
Turn left onto Peninsula Boulevard
0.2 mi·26 sec·Peninsula Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
65
Arrive at destination
Peninsula Boulevard
Trip Plan
To best manage this 8-hour drive, consider departing early to maximize daylight hours and break up the 397 miles. Splitting this trip over two days is recommended to avoid excessive driving fatigue. Plan for your two stops strategically, perhaps around the halfway point or where you find convenient rest areas. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 104.5-mile stretch on the Southern Tier Expressway, as services might be less frequent in certain sections. The estimated fuel cost is around $65, so budget accordingly.
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 198.5 miles from Gowanda, NY, or about 4h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.5 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 87 miles or 2h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 198.5 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 198.5 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 7h 2m
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 Gowanda, 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 Gowanda, NY
Aim for roughly 199 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Hempstead, NY
Aim for roughly 199 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 87 miles from Gowanda, 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 Southern Tier Expressway for about 104.5 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 38
5 decision points cluster between mile 201.6 and 379.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
201.6 mi into trip|~4h 21m in|I 81
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81 toward I 81 South: Scranton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 81 South: Scranton
9
255 mi into trip|~5h 25m in|US 6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6 toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 187
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbo...
8
369.6 mi into trip|~7h 41m 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
369.8 mi into trip|~7h 41m 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
379.3 mi into trip|~7h 55m 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
$65.35 one way
$130.70 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg139 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$70.66
$141.33
premium
$4.92
$76.95
$153.89
diesel
$5.61
$87.65
$175.31
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
$65
Tolls
$23
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$218–$328
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 138.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
119.1
1
$41.68
$19.06
Efficient EV
99.3
1
$34.74
$15.88
EV Truck/SUV
158.8
1
$55.58
$25.41
Gas CO2
139 kg
EV CO2
46 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 18, 2026
Origin
Gowanda, NY
Night
in Gowanda on Saturday
Local time
10:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hempstead, NY
Night
in Hempstead on Saturday
Local time
10:46 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Partly Cloudy
NE 5 to 8 mph6% chanceLive 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.
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
7 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
8h 23m 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 369.6
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...
5 mi from route
~12 min detour
Free
near mile 369.6
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 369.6
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 369.6
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 369.6
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 369.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is largely highway-focused, with 63% of the route utilizing major interstates and expressways. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 104.5 miles along the Southern Tier Expressway, offering a consistent pace. The character of the drive is primarily that of efficient highway travel, designed for making good time across the state. Expect a steady rhythm as you navigate these main arteries for the majority of your journey.
63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
65 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 104.5 mi on Southern Tier Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern Tier Expressway and Keystone Shortway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 201.6 miles in near I 81.
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 38 significant decision points across 397 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 201.6 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 255 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 369.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Between Gowanda, NY and Hempstead, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford, 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
The longest stretch is about 104.5 miles on Southern Tier Expressway. 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 199 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.
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 201.6 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 255 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 369.6 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 8.4 hours each way, a round trip means 16.8 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.
