Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 2, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
48m
Distance
35.1 mi
56 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hempstead, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Holbrook, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
The drive from Hempstead, NY to Holbrook, NY covers 35.1 miles and takes about 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Southern State Parkway, Long Island Expressway, Sagtikos State Parkway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 16 miles on Southern State Parkway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.89 one way before food or hotel costs.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southern State Parkway | 16 mi | 19m |
| Long Island Expressway | 9.7 mi | 12m |
| Sagtikos State Parkway | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| Jerusalem Avenue | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Union Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| William Street | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Patchogue-Holbrook Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Avenue A | 0.2 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Hempstead, NY and Holbrook, NY.
Start on Peninsula Boulevard
Turn slight right onto NY 102
Turn slight right
Turn straight onto William Street
At end of road, turn left onto Jerusalem Avenue
Keep slight right at fork onto Jerusalem Avenue
Turn slight right onto Merrick Avenue North
Take the ramp
Merge onto SO
Keep slight left at fork onto SO
Keep slight left at fork onto SA
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 495
Take the exit
Turn slight left onto Express Drive South
Turn right onto CR 19
Turn slight left onto Union Avenue
Turn right onto Avenue A
Continue on Avenue A
Turn left onto Union Avenue
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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.
A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 17.5 miles from Hempstead, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 33.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
At end of road, turn left onto Jerusalem Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto SO / Southern State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 495 East: Riverhead
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 East: Riverhead
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward CR 19: Holbrook, Patchogue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$5.89 one way
$11.77 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.63 | $6.39 | $12.79 |
| premium | $5.05 | $6.98 | $13.97 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $7.74 | $15.47 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.69 | $1.68 |
| Efficient EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.07 | $1.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14 | 0 | $4.91 | $2.25 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (67% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Hempstead on Wednesday
Local time
3:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in Holbrook on Wednesday
Local time
3:17 AM
EDT
Current temp
80°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
35.1 mi in 48m, mostly highway — 16 mi of that is on Southern State Parkway.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern State Parkway and Long Island Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near Jerusalem Avenue.
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 17 decision points packed into just 35.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 48m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (Jerusalem Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 18.8 miles (SO / Southern State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 23.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
165 ft
Total Descent
102 ft
Highest Point
142 ft
~27.6 mi in
Elevation Range
103 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hempstead, NY and Holbrook, NY, road signs point toward So East: East Islip and Kings Park.
So East: East Islip
Kings Park
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 48m. Total distance: 35.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
48m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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