Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
35m
Distance
21.2 mi
34 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Fair
3 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kensington, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Spanning just 21.2 miles, this quick trip between Hempstead and Kensington, NY, is a straightforward journey typically taking about 35 minutes. Because the distance is so short, it serves perfectly as a simple day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via the Southern State Parkway, Belt Parkway, and Linden Boulevard. With a fuel budget of approximately $3, it is an incredibly cost-effective commute within the Northeast region. Whether you are traveling for business or a local visit, this route offers a practical, no-fuss connection between these two points in New York.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Belt Parkway | 6.5 mi | 9m |
| Southern State Parkway | 5.3 mi | 7m |
| Linden Boulevard | 3.8 mi | 6m |
| Church Avenue | 2.8 mi | 6m |
| Peninsula Boulevard | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| North Conduit Avenue | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Albemarle Road | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Westminster Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Hempstead, NY and Kensington, NY.
Start on Peninsula Boulevard
Continue on Peninsula Boulevard
Take the ramp
Merge onto SO
Continue on BP
Keep slight right at fork onto BP
Keep slight left at fork onto BP
Take the exit
Merge onto NY 27
Turn straight onto NY 27
Continue on NY 27
Turn slight left onto Church Avenue
Turn left onto Westminster Road
Turn right onto Albemarle Road
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.6 and 21 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Merge onto SO / Southern State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto BP / Belt Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto BP / Belt Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward North Conduit Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto Albemarle Road
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$3.49 one way
$6.98 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $3.77 | $7.55 |
| premium | $4.92 | $4.11 | $8.22 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.68 | $9.36 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.4 | 0 | $2.23 | $1.02 |
| Efficient EV | 5.3 | 0 | $1.85 | $0.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.5 | 0 | $2.97 | $1.36 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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 Tuesday
Local time
5:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Clear
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 2:05PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Destination
Late night in Kensington on Tuesday
Local time
5:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Clear
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 11 at 2:05PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
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.
Expect a mixed driving experience that balances high-speed parkway travel with necessary local navigation. Highways make up 56% of your total mileage, providing a consistent flow for the majority of the trip. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the Belt Parkway, covering 6.5 miles before you transition onto other roads. The character of the drive shifts from the suburban flow of the Southern State Parkway into the more urbanized environment of Linden Boulevard. You should be prepared for these changes in road density as you transition between the parkways and local streets.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.6 miles in near SO / Southern State Parkway.
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 10 decision points packed into just 21.2 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 35m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.6 miles (SO / Southern State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 8.2 miles (BP / Belt Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.6 miles (BP / Belt Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Hempstead, NY to Kensington, NY, road signs begin pointing toward So West: New York along the way.
So West: New York
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 35m. Total distance: 21.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (56%). 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore more options from Hempstead, NY or browse trips ending in Kensington, NY.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NY road trips.
