Trip from Hempstead, NY to Elmira, NY

Pin this trip

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

Drive Time

5h 15m

Distance

256.7 mi

413 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$42

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

5h 2m ★

6 AM

5h 16m

8 AM

5h 42m

10 AM

5h 25m

12 PM

5h 22m

3 PM

5h 26m

5 PM

5h 41m

8 PM

5h 7m

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

Best Time

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Hempstead, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Elmira, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 256.7-mile journey from Hempstead, NY, to Elmira, NY, is designed for a single day of travel, taking approximately 5 hours and 15 minutes. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 62% of the drive on major roads, making it a straightforward trip through the Northeast region. Expect a fuel cost of around $42 for this drive. Given its manageable duration, it's an ideal day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing to break up the drive with an overnight stay. The overall feel is one of efficient travel between two points in New York.

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

1 planned break

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

Midpoint

128.3 miles from Hempstead, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 43m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Christopher Columbus Highway	68.2 mi	1h 20m
I 81	58.1 mi	1h 9m
I 86	54.7 mi	1h 4m
I 380	27.7 mi	30m
Keystone Shortway	17.3 mi	24m
Cross Bronx Expressway	6.6 mi	8m
Clearview Expressway	5 mi	5m
Tulip Avenue	2 mi	3m

Longest stretch: Christopher Columbus Highway — 68.2 mi, about 1h 20m

Traffic on I-80

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 336 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

3 PM

~4,210 veh/hr typical · worst 4,900

Quietest

1 AM

~430 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

9.8×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

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 Hempstead, NY and Elmira, 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

55 mi · 1 hr 4 min · I 86; NY 17

Toward I 86: Corning

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 27 sec

Exit 56 Toward NY 352: Elmira, Jerusalem Hill

Keep slight left at fork

103 ft · 6 sec

Turn left onto NY 352

1.3 mi · 2 min · East Water Street

Turn right onto North Main Street

0.2 mi · 18 sec · North Main Street

Turn right onto NY 352

128 ft · 2 sec · West Church Street

Arrive at destination

NY 352

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 5-hour and 15-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Hempstead to avoid potential traffic. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost of approximately $42, this trip is well-suited for a single-day adventure. Pay attention to the transitions between the main roads, particularly Christopher Columbus Highway, I-81, and I-86, as these are where the driving character will change most noticeably. The 68.2-mile longest stretch on Christopher Columbus Highway means you can cover a good distance before needing to pull over.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 128.3 miles from Hempstead, NY, or about 2h 43m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 68.2 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 56 miles or 1h 15m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 128.3 miles or 2h 43m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 20m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elmira, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Hempstead, NY

This is one driving day of about 256.7 miles and 5h 15m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Hempstead, NY.

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

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on Christopher Columbus Highway for about 68.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Mid-route town

Meal stop

New York City, NY

128 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

New York City, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 56 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

City of Scranton, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 128.3 miles from Hempstead, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

1.2 mi from route

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 24

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

$41.53 one way

$83.05 round trip

$4.11/gal 25.4 MPG avg 90 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.46	$45.06	$90.13
premium	$4.85	$49.00	$97.99
diesel	$4.80	$48.47	$96.94

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

$42

Tolls

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$90–$115

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 89.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	77	0	$26.95	$12.32
Efficient EV	64.2	0	$22.46	$10.27
EV Truck/SUV	102.7	1	$35.94	$16.43

Gas CO2

90 kg

EV CO2

30 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 20, 2026

Origin

Hempstead, NY

Night in Hempstead on Monday

Local time

9:20 PM

EDT

Current temp

80°F

Sunny

E 3 to 9 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Destination

Elmira, NY

Night in Elmira on Monday

Local time

9:20 PM

EDT

Current temp

81°F

Sunny

S 0 to 5 mph 0% chance Live 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

1 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

Federal Hall National Memorial

National Memorial

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...

12 mi from route ~29 min detour Free near mile 26.6

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This drive has a highway-focused profile, meaning you'll spend a significant portion of your time on major interstates. With 62% of the route on highways, expect a consistent pace for much of the trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 68.2 miles along Christopher Columbus Highway. While largely on high-speed roads, the character of the drive will shift as you transition between different major routes like Christopher Columbus Highway, I-81, and I-86, offering a varied but generally efficient driving experience.

62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

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

Longest single stretch: 68.2 mi on Christopher Columbus Highway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Christopher Columbus Highway and I 81. 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 10/10

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 24 significant decision points across 256.7 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.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

1,854 ft 16 ft

Total Climb

2,321 ft

Total Descent

1,519 ft

Highest Point

1,854 ft

~128.3 mi in

Elevation Range

1,838 ft

Notable High Points

1,854 ft at ~128.3 miles +767 ft prominence

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 Elmira, NY, road signs point toward Upper Level, Njtp South: Hackensack and Hackensack.

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

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

Arriving in Elmira, NY

Full guide →

Founded 1864

Elmira is the name of both a small city and a township in Chemung County in New York state. Visitors come to see the study where Mark Twain wrote parts of his novels.

Top landmarks

• F. M. Howell and Company — historic buildings in Elmira, New York, United States
• John Brand Jr. House — historic house in New York, United States
• Near Westside Historic District — historic district in Elmira, 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 5h 15m. Total distance: 256.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 68.2 miles on Christopher Columbus Highway. 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.

Yes — we found about 26 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 Elmira, 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 1 meaningful breaks. There are 26 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes — Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant 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 5.3 hours each way, a round trip means 10.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Elmira, 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Hempstead, NY or browse trips ending in Elmira, NY.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NY road trips.

Trip from Hempstead, NY to Elmira, NY

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-80

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Broome Gateway Rest Area

Rest Area

Penn-Can Travel Plaza

Rest area

Rest Area

Rest Area

Nichols Rest Area

Owego Rest Area

Pennsylvania Welcome Center

Rest Area

Rest Area

Onvo Travel Plaza

Crescent Lake Rest Area

Onvo Travel Plaza

TA

Service Plaza

Pennsylvania Welcome Center

Rest Area

Flying J Travel Center

Onvo Travel Plaza

Service Plaza

Love's Travel Stop

TA

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Hempstead, NY

Elmira, NY

Same local time

1 degrees warmer at arrival

5h 15m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Hamilton Grange National Memorial

General Grant National Memorial

Stonewall National Monument

African Burial Ground National Monument

Castle Clinton National Monument

Federal Hall National Memorial

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Hempstead, NY

Arriving in Elmira, 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

Continue From Elmira, NY

More from Hempstead, NY

More trips to Elmira, NY