Greenwood Lake, NY to Hempstead, NY is 64.4 miles and takes about 1 hour 35 minutes via NJ 208 and NJ 4, with a fuel budget near $10 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, making it a straightforward drive between New York and New Jersey. Expect a route that is primarily on highways, offering a relatively quick transit. Given its short duration and modest fuel cost, it's a manageable trip for a single day.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
32.2 miles from Greenwood Lake, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NJ 208
10 mi
11m
Greenwood Lake Turnpike
8.1 mi
12m
NJ 4
8 mi
11m
Cross Bronx Expressway
6.6 mi
8m
Skyline Drive
5.1 mi
7m
Clearview Expressway
5 mi
5m
Jersey Avenue
3.5 mi
6m
Lakeside Road
2.6 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
NJ 208
— 10 mi, about 11m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 13 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~4,026 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~1,234 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
3.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 21 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 Greenwood Lake, NY and Hempstead, NY.
1
Start on NY 210
3.5 mi·6 min·Jersey Avenue
2
Continue on CR 511
2.6 mi·4 min·Lakeside Road
3
Turn left onto CR 511
8.1 mi·12 min·Greenwood Lake Turnpike
Use the straight lane.
4
Turn left onto CR 692
5.1 mi·7 min·Skyline Drive
5
Turn left onto CR S-91
0.5 mi·1 min·West Oakland Avenue
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·32 sec
Toward I 287 North, NJ 208 South
7
Merge onto I 287
0.8 mi·58 sec·I 287
8
Keep slight right at fork onto NJ 208
5.5 mi·6 min·NJ 208
Toward NJ 208 South: Franklin LakesUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
9
Turn straight onto NJ 208
1.5 mi·2 min·NJ 208
Use the right lane.
10
Continue on NJ 208
0.9 mi·1 min·NJ 208
11
Continue on NJ 208
0.6 mi·41 sec·NJ 208
12
Continue on NJ 208
1.5 mi·1 min·NJ 208
13
Continue on NJ 4
0.6 mi·50 sec·NJ 4
Use the slight right lane.
14
Continue on NJ 4
1.0 mi·1 min·NJ 4
Use the slight right lane.
15
Continue on NJ 4
6.4 mi·8 min·NJ 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington BridgeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
17
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.7 mi·54 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
19
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
21
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi·6 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
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.
23
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi·58 sec·Throgs Neck Expressway
24
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Continue on I 295
5.0 mi·5 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Turn left onto NY 25
0.7 mi·1 min·Hillside Avenue
Use the left lane.
27
Turn right onto NY 25
1.1 mi·2 min·Braddock Avenue
28
Turn left onto NY 25
0.2 mi·34 sec·Jamaica Avenue
29
Continue on NY 25
0.5 mi·56 sec·Jericho Turnpike
30
Turn slight right onto Tulip Avenue
2.0 mi·3 min·Tulip Avenue
Use the right lane.
31
Turn right onto New Hyde Park Road
0.4 mi·56 sec·New Hyde Park Road
32
Turn left onto NY 24
2.0 mi·3 min·Hempstead Turnpike
Use the left lane.
33
Turn slight right onto NY 102
0.8 mi·1 min·Front Street
Use the right lane.
34
Turn right onto Greenwich Street
0.1 mi·11 sec·Greenwich Street
Use the right lane.
35
Turn left onto Peninsula Boulevard
0.2 mi·26 sec·Peninsula Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Arrive at destination
Peninsula Boulevard
Trip Plan
Since this is a shorter drive of under two hours, you have a lot of flexibility with departure times. Leaving mid-morning can help you avoid the worst of rush hour traffic in both New York and New Jersey. With only one recommended day, you won't need to plan for overnight stops, and your fuel cost is estimated at just $10. Keep an eye out for the transition from more rural highway driving to the busier suburban landscape as you get closer to Hempstead.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 32.2 miles from Greenwood Lake, NY, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 10 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 14 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 32.2 miles or 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 18m
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 Greenwood Lake, NY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Greenwood Lake, NY
This is one driving day of about 64.4 miles and 1h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Greenwood Lake, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on NJ 208 for about 10 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.1 and 46.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
6.1 mi into trip|~10m in|CR 511 / Greenwood Lake Turnpike
Turn left onto CR 511 / Greenwood Lake Turnpike
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
19.3 mi into trip|~30m in|CR S-91 / West Oakland Avenue
Turn left onto CR S-91 / West Oakland Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
19.8 mi into trip|~31m in
Take the ramp toward I 287 North, NJ 208 South
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 287 North, NJ 208 South
7
20.9 mi into trip|~33m in|NJ 208
Keep slight right at fork onto NJ 208 toward NJ 208 South: Franklin Lakes
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward NJ 208 South: Franklin Lakes
8
46.7 mi into trip|~1h 7m 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
$10.47 one way
$20.93 round trip
$4.13/gal25.4 MPG avg23 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.47
$11.33
$22.66
premium
$4.87
$12.34
$24.67
diesel
$5.40
$13.70
$27.40
Estimated Tolls: $23.30
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
Greenwood Lake Turnpike
(8.1 mi)$0.57
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
$10
Tolls
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
19.3
0
$6.76
$3.09
Efficient EV
16.1
0
$5.64
$2.58
EV Truck/SUV
25.8
0
$9.02
$4.12
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 25, 2026
Origin
Greenwood Lake, NY
Late night
in Greenwood Lake on Sunday
Local time
12:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hempstead, NY
Late night
in Hempstead on Sunday
Local time
12:24 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Rain Showers
SE 13 mph87% 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.
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
5 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
1h 35m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly highway, with 68% of the route utilizing higher-speed roads. You'll experience a stretch of 10 miles on NJ 208 before transitioning to other main roads like NJ 4. As you approach your destination, anticipate more frequent exits and merging traffic typical of a more developed area.
68% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 10 mi on NJ 208.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NJ 208 and Greenwood Lake Turnpike. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.1 miles in near CR 511 / Greenwood Lake Turnpike.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 64.4 miles you will encounter 20 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.1 miles (CR 511 / Greenwood Lake Turnpike): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.3 miles (CR S-91 / West Oakland Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 1h 35m. Total distance: 64.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (68%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 10 miles on NJ 208. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $23.30 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 1 rest area or service plaza 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.
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: at 6.1 miles (CR 511 / Greenwood Lake Turnpike): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.3 miles (CR S-91 / West Oakland Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 19.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hempstead, NY before heading back.
