Trip from Hempstead, NY to Bennington, NY

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

7h 44m

Distance

372.6 mi

600 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$61

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min

4 AM

7h 35m ★

6 AM

7h 45m

8 AM

8h 3m

10 AM

7h 51m

12 PM

7h 49m

3 PM

7h 52m

5 PM

8h 2m

8 PM

7h 39m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Bennington, NY

Dom Bucci

Trip Overview

Embarking on a journey from Hempstead, NY, to Bennington, NY, covers 372.6 miles and is estimated to take around 7 hours and 44 minutes. This drive is primarily highway-focused, with 64% of the route utilizing major interstates like I-86 and I-81, as well as the Christopher Columbus Highway. Given its duration and highway-centric nature, it's feasible as a single-day trip, though you might consider an overnight stop if you prefer a more relaxed pace. The estimated fuel cost for this leg is approximately $61. You'll be navigating within the Northeast region for the entirety of this trip, staying within New York State.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

2 planned breaks

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

186.3 miles from Hempstead, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 51m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 86	100 mi	1h 56m
Christopher Columbus Highway	68.2 mi	1h 20m
I 81	58.1 mi	1h 9m
Genesee Expressway	32.9 mi	37m
I 380	27.7 mi	30m
Keystone Shortway	17.3 mi	24m
Varysburg Road	10.9 mi	15m
Leicester Road	7.4 mi	10m

Longest stretch: I 86 — 100 mi, about 1h 56m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Hempstead, NY and Bennington, NY.

Start on Peninsula Boulevard

77 ft · 1 sec · Peninsula Boulevard

Turn left onto Clinton Street

359 ft · 17 sec · Clinton Street

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto NY 102

1.1 mi · 1 min · Front Street

Turn slight left onto NY 24

2.0 mi · 3 min · Hempstead Turnpike

Turn right onto New Hyde Park Road

0.4 mi · 53 sec · New Hyde Park Road

Turn left onto Tulip Avenue

2.0 mi · 3 min · Tulip Avenue

Use the left lane.

Turn left onto NY 25

0.7 mi · 1 min · Jamaica Avenue

Turn slight right onto NY 25

1.2 mi · 2 min · Braddock Avenue

Turn left onto NY 25

0.7 mi · 1 min · Hillside Avenue

Turn right onto I 295

5.0 mi · 5 min · Clearview Expressway

Toward I 295 North: Clearview Expressway, Through Neck Bridge Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on I 295

2.0 mi · 3 min · Throgs Neck Bridge

Continue on I 295

0.7 mi · 1 min · Throgs Neck Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 295

6.6 mi · 8 min · Cross Bronx Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; US 1

0.7 mi · 1 min · Trans-Manhattan Expressway

Toward Upper Level

Continue on I 95; US 1

0.6 mi · 59 sec · George Washington Bridge (upper level)

Continue on I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR

0.5 mi · 48 sec · I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR

0.6 mi · 39 sec · I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; NJTP

0.1 mi · 8 sec · I 95 EXPR; NJTP

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec

Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 29 sec

Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 95; NJTP

2.0 mi · 2 min · New Jersey Turnpike

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 1 min

Exit 69 Toward I 80 West: Paterson, Hackensack Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 80

68 mi · 1 hr 20 min · Christopher Columbus Highway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

5.5 mi · 8 min · Keystone Shortway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

12 mi · 15 min · Keystone Shortway

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 46 sec

Exit 293 Toward I 380 North: Scranton

Continue on I 380

28 mi · 30 min · I 380

Use the straight lane.

Merge onto I 81

58 mi · 1 hr 9 min · I 81

Use the straight lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17

100 mi · 1 hr 56 min · I 86; NY 17

Toward I 86: Corning

Keep slight left at fork onto I 390

33 mi · 37 min · Genesee Expressway

Toward I 390: Rochester

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 23 sec

Exit 6 Toward NY 36: Mount Morris, Letchworth Park

Turn left onto NY 36

4.3 mi · 7 min · Sonyea Road

Continue on NY 36

1.8 mi · 4 min · Main Street

Continue on NY 36

1.3 mi · 1 min · Mount Morris Road

Turn left onto CR 64

2.3 mi · 3 min · Perry Road

Continue on US 20A

7.4 mi · 10 min · Leicester Road

Continue on US 20A

4.6 mi · 8 min · East Buffalo Street

Continue on US 20A

1.7 mi · 2 min · West Buffalo Road

Continue on US 20A

11 mi · 15 min · Varysburg Road

Turn right onto NY 77

0.8 mi · 1 min · State Highway 77

Continue on NY 77

4.0 mi · 5 min · Alleghany Road

Turn right

0.1 mi · 24 sec

Turn left onto NY 354

75 ft · 1 sec · Clinton Street

Arrive at destination

NY 354

Trip Plan

For this 7-hour, 44-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Hempstead to maximize daylight and minimize traffic. With two planned stops and a longest stretch of 100 miles, you can comfortably break up the journey. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before the 100-mile segment on I-86, as services can be spaced out. The estimated fuel cost of $61 should help you budget for this. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but planning your refueling stops around the major highway changes will ensure a smoother experience.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 186.3 miles from Hempstead, NY, or about 3h 51m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100 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 82 miles or 1h 46m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 186.3 miles or 3h 51m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 6h 18m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bennington, NY than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Hempstead, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Hempstead, NY

This is one driving day of about 372.6 miles and 7h 44m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 82 miles from Hempstead, NY.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on I 86 for about 100 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

town in Rockland County, New York, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ramapo, NY

186 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Ramapo, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 82 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Endicott, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 186.3 miles from Hempstead, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 86 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 100 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best meal stop · first break window

Rumba Cafe

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Leonia, New Jersey

Near the start, right off the route

First break · 33min in 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour $20 to $30

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+12013630008

Hapgoods Restaurant & Bar

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Mountain Lakes, New Jersey

1.4 mi

Bosphorus Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey

2.7 mi

Best coffee break · first break window

Lily and Liam

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Englewood, New Jersey

Near the start, right off the route

First break · 33min in 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

Hours: Closed

+12015675111

Visit website

Marimba Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Hackensack, New Jersey

2.9 mi

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

First break 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $10 to $20

Hackensack, New Jersey

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

+12018800669

Bite Food & Coffee Co

4.3 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~9 min detour

First break 3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour Moderately

Hackensack, New Jersey

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+12015602269

Visit website

Triplets Family Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, ~10 min detour

Early stretch 4.2 mi from route ~10 min detour $10 to $20

Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania

Hours: 5 am–9 pm

+15704216566

Visit website

Lily and Liam

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

First break 0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour

Englewood, New Jersey

Hours: Closed

+12015675111

Visit website

Marimba Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20

Hackensack, New Jersey

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+12012563010

Visit website

Wonderland Play and Party

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

First break 3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour

South Hackensack, New Jersey

Hours: 10 am–7 pm

+12014265898

Visit website

Duaa’s Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~9 min detour

First break 3.7 mi from route ~9 min detour $10 to $20

New York, New York

+19172614093

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour

Elmira, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Mercedes-Benz Charging Station

3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour

Elmira, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18555023851

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

First break 3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour

Denville, New Jersey

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

5 of 26

5 decision points cluster between mile 8.1 and 27.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

8.1 mi into trip | ~15m in | I 295 / Clearview Expressway

Turn right onto I 295 / Clearview Expressway toward I 295 North: Clearview Expressway, Through Neck Bridge

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / right lanes. Toward I 295 North: Clearview Expressway, Throu...

15.8 mi into trip | ~25m in | I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

24.9 mi into trip | ~37m in

Take the exit toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack

25.2 mi into trip | ~38m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack

27.5 mi into trip | ~41m in

Take the exit toward I 80 West: Paterson, Hackensack

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 69 Toward I 80 West: Paterson, Hackensack

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$61.33 one way

$122.66 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 130 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.52	$66.32	$132.64
premium	$4.92	$72.22	$144.43
diesel	$5.61	$82.27	$164.53

Estimated Tolls: $22.97

George Washington Bridge $16.00

Throgs Neck Bridge $6.55

New Jersey Turnpike (2 mi) $0.28

Hempstead Turnpike (2 mi) $0.14

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

$61

Tolls

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$109–$134

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 130.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	111.8	1	$39.12	$17.88
Efficient EV	93.2	1	$32.60	$14.90
EV Truck/SUV	149	1	$52.16	$23.85

Gas CO2

130 kg

EV CO2

44 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 Apr 14, 2026

Origin

Hempstead, NY

Late night in Hempstead on Tuesday

Local time

4:57 AM

EDT

Current temp

79°F

Mostly Sunny

S 8 to 13 mph 8% chance Live forecast

Destination

Bennington, NY

Late night in Bennington on Tuesday

Local time

4:57 AM

EDT

Current temp

60°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

63°F

Ramapo, NY

186 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.

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

19 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

7h 44m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

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

This route is largely a highway-focused drive, designed for covering distance efficiently. With 64% of the journey on major roads, expect mostly interstate driving. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is a significant 100 miles on I-86, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. While the majority is highway, the transitions between I-86, Christopher Columbus Highway, and I-81 will offer some variety in the road's feel as you progress across New York.

64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

44 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 100 mi on I 86.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 86 and Christopher Columbus Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.1 miles in near I 295 / Clearview Expressway.

Driving Effort 9/10

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 26 significant decision points across 372.6 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 8.1 miles (I 295 / Clearview Expressway): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.8 miles (I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.9 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.

Between Hempstead, NY and Bennington, NY, road signs point toward Upper Level, Njtp South: Hackensack, Hackensack and Letchworth Park.

Upper Level

22.4 mi in | ~34m | via I 95; US 1

Njtp South: Hackensack

24.9 mi in | ~37m

Hackensack

27.5 mi in | ~41m

Letchworth Park

333.2 mi in | ~6h 42m

About the Cities

Starting 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 7h 44m. Total distance: 372.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 44m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 100 miles on I 86. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $22.97 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 Bennington, 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.

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 7.7 hours each way, a round trip means 15.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Bennington, NY before the return drive.

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.

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Trip from Hempstead, NY to Bennington, NY

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Rumba Cafe

Lily and Liam

Rumba Cafe

Hapgoods Restaurant & Bar

Bosphorus Restaurant

Fasil Mediterranean Restaurant

Cafe HESED

Cafe Tropical Restaurant

Bite Food & Coffee Co

Triplets Family Restaurant

Lily and Liam

Marimba Cafe

Wonderland Play and Party

Duaa’s Cafe

C Squared Cafe

EV Connect Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

EVolve NY Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Mercedes-Benz Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

Red E Charging Station

Xtreme Energy

Overpeck County Park

Sunshine Pottery & Paint

Overpeck Park Playground

Veterans Memorial Park

Teaneck Creek Conservancy

Escape Room NJ

Bergen Performing Arts Center

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Hempstead, NY

Bennington, NY

Same local time

19 degrees cooler at arrival

7h 44m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

General Grant National Memorial

Hamilton Grange National Memorial

Stonewall National Monument

African Burial Ground National Monument

Federal Hall National Memorial

Castle Clinton National Monument

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Hempstead, NY

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

How do I pay the tolls on this route?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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