Trip from Hempstead, NY to Little Valley, NY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
8h 3m
Distance
396.2 mi
638 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$64
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hempstead, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Little Valley, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Hempstead, NY to Little Valley, NY is 396.2 miles and takes about 8h 3m via Keystone Shortway and US 219, with a fuel budget near $64 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within New York, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. Expect a trip composed mostly of surface roads, suggesting a more scenic and potentially slower pace than a pure interstate cruise. With a recommended two days for this route, you'll have ample time to enjoy the drive without feeling rushed.
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
198.1 miles from Hempstead, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 58m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Keystone Shortway | 200 mi | 3h 44m |
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 68.2 mi | 1h 20m |
| US 219 | 46.5 mi | 53m |
| Bennetts Valley Highway | 10.5 mi | 16m |
| Southern Tier Expressway | 8.6 mi | 9m |
| Million Dollar Highway | 8.3 mi | 12m |
| State Park Road | 7.5 mi | 13m |
| Cross Bronx Expressway | 6.6 mi | 8m |
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
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 Little Valley, NY.
Start on Peninsula Boulevard
Turn left onto Clinton Street
Turn left onto NY 102
Turn slight left onto NY 24
Turn right onto New Hyde Park Road
Turn left onto Tulip Avenue
Turn left onto NY 25
Turn slight right onto NY 25
Turn left onto NY 25
Turn right onto I 295
Continue on I 295
Continue on I 295
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; US 1
Continue on I 95; US 1
Continue on I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; NJTP
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
Take the exit
Continue on I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto PA 153
Turn right onto PA 255
Continue on PA 255
Continue on PA 255
Turn straight onto PA 255
Continue on PA 120; PA 255
Turn right onto PA 120; PA 255
Turn left onto PA 120; PA 255
Continue on PA 255
Turn left onto PA 255
Continue on PA 255
Continue on PA 255
Continue on PA 255
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto US 219
Keep slight right at fork onto US 219
Take the exit onto US 219
Merge onto I 86; US 219; NY 17
Take the exit
Turn right onto NY 417
Continue on NY 417
Turn left onto NY 353
Continue on NY 353
Continue on NY 353; NY 242
Continue on NY 353; NY 242
Continue on NY 353
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 8-hour drive time, splitting this trip over two days is a good idea. Aim to depart early in the morning on your first day to cover roughly half the distance. Plan for two stops to break up the drive and allow for fuel and rest. The majority of this trip is on surface roads, so be mindful of local speed limits and potential traffic lights, especially as you approach your destination. Keep an eye on your fuel levels as services might be less frequent on the non-highway portions.
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.
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 87 miles or 1h 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 198.1 miles or 3h 58m 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 198.1 miles or 3h 58m
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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Little Valley, 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 198 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Little Valley, NY
Aim for roughly 198 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
198 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Waverly, NYOvernight Options
Night 1
198 mi · about 4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Waverly, NY after about 198 miles or 4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
A short stop after about 87 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 198.1 miles from Hempstead, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 200 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 198 miles or 4 hours on the road.
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.
Rest Area
Montour County Rest Area Westbound
Rest area
Rest Area
Rest Area
Love's Travel Stop
TA
Pilot Travel Center
Pilot Travel Center
Crescent Lake Rest Area
Clinton County Rest Area Eastbound
Centre County Rest Area Eastbound
Luzerne County Rest Area Eastbound
TA
Pennsylvania Welcome Center
Onvo Travel Plaza
Rest Area
Flying J Travel Center
Flying J Travel Center
Sapp Brothers Travel Center
Hickory Run Truck Plaza
Clinton County Rest Area Westbound
Montour County Rest Area Eastbound
Columbia County Rest Area Eastbound
Columbia County Rest Area Westbound
TA
TA
Service Plaza
Service Plaza
Service Plaza
Service Plaza
Onvo Travel Plaza
Blue Ridge Travel Plaza
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 305 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.
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
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
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
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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$64.09 one way
$128.19 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.46 | $69.55 | $139.11 |
| premium | $4.85 | $75.62 | $151.24 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $74.81 | $149.62 |
Estimated Tolls: $22.97
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
$64
Tolls
$23
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$217–$327
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 138.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 118.9 | 1 | $41.60 | $19.02 |
| Efficient EV | 99.1 | 1 | $34.67 | $15.85 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 158.5 | 1 | $55.47 | $25.36 |
Gas CO2
139 kg
EV CO2
46 kg (67% 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.
Origin
Hempstead, NY
Morning in Hempstead on Sunday
Local time
11:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
72°F
Smoke
Destination
Little Valley, NY
Morning in Little Valley on Sunday
Local time
11:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Smoke
85°F
Waverly, NY
198 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
15 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
8h 3m 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...
Hamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
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...
Stonewall National Monument
National Monument
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...
African Burial Ground National Monument
National Monument
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...
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...
Castle Clinton National Monument
National Monument
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly surface roads, with only about 20% on highways. You'll experience a longest stretch of 200 miles on the Keystone Shortway before transitioning to other roads. Expect a less developed driving environment, with fewer exits and more opportunities for cruising through varied terrain. The shift from highway to surface roads will likely be noticeable as you encounter more local traffic and traffic signals.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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.
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 30 significant decision points across 396.2 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
Total Climb
3,244 ft
Total Descent
1,702 ft
Highest Point
1,660 ft
~283 mi in
Elevation Range
1,605 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Little Valley, NY, road signs point toward Upper Level, Njtp South: Hackensack, Hackensack and Penfield.
Upper Level
Njtp South: Hackensack
Hackensack
Penfield
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 Little Valley, NY
Full guide →Little Valley is the county seat of Cattaraugus County, New York.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Solo Traveler
8h 3m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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