Hempstead, NY to Lakewood, NY is 391.8 miles and takes about 8h 21m via Keystone Shortway, with a fuel budget near $72 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, entirely within New York State. With a recommended two days for this drive, you'll experience a route that's mostly surface roads, offering a more grounded travel experience. Plan for a relaxed pace, with two suggested stops to break up the 391.8 miles.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
195.9 miles from Hempstead, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
200 mi
3h 44m
Christopher Columbus Highway
68.2 mi
1h 20m
Jackson Run Road
12.5 mi
17m
US 219
12.3 mi
18m
Montmorenci Road
8.8 mi
13m
PA 948
8.6 mi
12m
State Park Road
7.5 mi
13m
Grand Army of the Republic Highway
7.4 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 200 mi, about 3h 44m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 194 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,076 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,665
Quietest
1 AM
~346 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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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 Lakewood, NY.
1
Start on Peninsula Boulevard
77 ft·1 sec·Peninsula Boulevard
2
Turn left onto Clinton Street
359 ft·17 sec·Clinton Street
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto NY 102
1.1 mi·1 min·Front Street
4
Turn slight left onto NY 24
2.0 mi·3 min·Hempstead Turnpike
5
Turn right onto New Hyde Park Road
0.4 mi·53 sec·New Hyde Park Road
6
Turn left onto Tulip Avenue
2.0 mi·3 min·Tulip Avenue
Use the left lane.
7
Turn left onto NY 25
0.7 mi·1 min·Jamaica Avenue
8
Turn slight right onto NY 25
1.2 mi·2 min·Braddock Avenue
9
Turn left onto NY 25
0.7 mi·1 min·Hillside Avenue
10
Turn right onto I 295
5.0 mi·5 min·Clearview Expressway
Toward I 295 North: Clearview Expressway, Through Neck BridgeUse the straight / right lanes.
11
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
12
Continue on I 295
0.7 mi·1 min·Throgs Neck Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295
6.6 mi·8 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
Toward Upper Level
15
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.6 mi·59 sec·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
16
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
17
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.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; NJTP
0.1 mi·8 sec·I 95 EXPR; NJTP
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: HackensackUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·29 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: HackensackUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
21
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
2.0 mi·2 min·New Jersey Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 69Toward I 80 West: Paterson, HackensackUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on I 80
68 mi·1 hr 20 min·Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·8 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
195 mi·3 hr 35 min·Keystone Shortway
26
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward PA 153: Clearfield, Penfield
27
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·32 sec
28
Turn straight onto PA 153
7.5 mi·13 min·State Park Road
29
Continue on PA 153
5.0 mi·8 min·Hoovertown Road
30
Continue on PA 153
3.7 mi·6 min·Penfield Road
31
At end of road, turn right onto US 219
12 mi·18 min·US 219
32
Turn right onto PA 948
1.0 mi·2 min·Montmorenci Avenue
33
Continue on PA 948
8.8 mi·13 min·Montmorenci Road
34
Continue on PA 948
5.4 mi·7 min·Highland Road
35
At end of road, turn left onto PA 66
2.7 mi·3 min·Kane-Russell City Road
36
Take the exit onto PA 948
8.6 mi·12 min·PA 948
37
Continue on PA 666
2.3 mi·4 min·PA 666
38
At end of road, turn left onto US 6
1.2 mi·2 min·West Main Street
39
Continue on US 6
4.5 mi·6 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
40
Continue on US 6
1.4 mi·2 min·South Main Street
41
Continue on US 6
2.9 mi·4 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
42
Continue on US 6
0.2 mi·35 sec·Main Street
43
Continue on US 6
1.8 mi·3 min·Crescent Park
Use the straight lane.
44
Continue on Crescent Park
0.4 mi·1 min·Crescent Park
Use the right lane.
45
Turn right onto Hickory Bridge
0.1 mi·17 sec·Hickory Bridge
Use the right lane.
46
Continue on Hickory Street
0.2 mi·25 sec·Hickory Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
47
Turn right onto US 62
0.2 mi·23 sec·West 4th Avenue
48
Turn left onto US 62
2.1 mi·2 min·Market Street
49
Turn left onto PA 69
8.8 mi·12 min·Jackson Run Road
50
Continue on PA 69
0.2 mi·23 sec·Main Street
51
Continue on PA 69
3.6 mi·5 min·Jackson Run Road
52
Continue on PA 69
0.3 mi·38 sec·Mechanic Street
53
At end of road, turn right onto PA 69; PA 957
403 ft·13 sec·Main Street
54
Turn left onto PA 69
0.6 mi·1 min·Forrest Street
55
Continue on PA 69
1.0 mi·1 min·Big Tree Road
56
Continue on CR 69
3.9 mi·6 min·Big Tree-Sugar Grove Road
57
Continue on CR 69
2.6 mi·3 min·Big Tree Road
58
Continue on West Summit Street
0.9 mi·3 min·West Summit Street
59
Arrive at destination
West Summit Street
Trip Plan
Given the 8h 21m estimated drive time, splitting this trip over two days is a good idea. Aim to leave Hempstead in the morning, giving you ample time to reach your first stopping point. With 391.8 miles to cover, plan for two stops to manage fatigue and enjoy the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you move onto the surface roads where stations might be less frequent; the estimated fuel cost is around $72. The longest highway stretch is 200 miles on the Keystone Shortway, so be prepared for a change in scenery and speed as you transition off it.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 195.9 miles from Hempstead, NY, or about 3h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 200 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 86 miles or 1h 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 195.9 miles or 3h 55m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 195.9 miles or 3h 55m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lakewood, 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.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hempstead, NY
Aim for roughly 196 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Lakewood, NY
Aim for roughly 196 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 86 miles from Hempstead, NY.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Keystone Shortway for about 200 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 31
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.
7
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...
6
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.
8
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
8
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
8
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
$63.38 one way
$126.76 round trip
$4.11/gal25.4 MPG avg137 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$68.78
$137.56
premium
$4.85
$74.78
$149.56
diesel
$4.80
$73.98
$147.96
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
$63
Tolls
$23
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$216–$326
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 137.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
117.5
1
$41.14
$18.81
Efficient EV
98
1
$34.28
$15.67
EV Truck/SUV
156.7
1
$54.85
$25.08
Gas CO2
137 kg
EV CO2
46 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Hempstead, NY
Late night
in Hempstead on Sunday
Local time
5:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Smoke
NW 5 to 9 mph8% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Lakewood, NY
Late night
in Lakewood on Sunday
Local time
5:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
84°F
Barton, NY
196 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
9 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
8h 21m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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
The final resting place of President Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, Julia, is the largest mausoleum in North America. It testifies to a people’s gratitude for the man who ended the bloodiest conflict...
5 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 27
Caution: Lower Crypt Access Subject to Safe Conditions
Merchant’s clerk, Revolutionary War soldier, first Secretary Treasury of the United States: Alexander Hamilton’s life is memorialized at The Grange, the home he built on a country estate in uptown Man...
Before the 1960s, almost everything about living authentically as a lesbian, a bisexual person or a gay man was illegal. The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969 is a milestone in the quest for civil r...
The African Burial Ground stands as the oldest and largest known excavated burial site in North America for both free and enslaved Africans. It offers a profound testament to the enduring legacy of Af...
Located at the southern tip of Manhattan, Castle Clinton marks the place where New York City began and reflects the growth of both the city and the nation. Built to defend the harbor during the War of...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily surface roads, with only 11% of the drive on highways. You'll encounter the longest stretch of highway at 200 miles on the Keystone Shortway. After that, expect to transition to local roads and the Christopher Columbus Highway and Jackson Run Road. The drive will feel more like cruising through towns and countryside rather than high-speed travel.
Only 11% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
59 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 200 mi on Keystone Shortway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. 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 Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 31 significant decision points across 391.8 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
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
1,720 ft21 ft
Total Climb
3,311 ft
Total Descent
2,039 ft
Highest Point
1,720 ft
~335.9 mi in
Elevation Range
1,699 ft
Notable High Points
1,569 ft at ~223.9 miles+538 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 Lakewood, NY, road signs point toward Upper Level, Njtp South: Hackensack, Hackensack and Penfield.
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
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 200 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 196 miles on day one.
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 33 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 Lakewood, 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. There are 33 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
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 8.4 hours each way, a round trip means 16.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Lakewood, NY before the return drive.
