Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
53m
Distance
39.8 mi
64 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
5 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Port Jefferson Station, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Spanning 39.8 miles across Long Island, this journey from Hempstead to Port Jefferson Station typically takes about 53 minutes. Because of the manageable distance, it is perfect for a one-day round trip, requiring no overnight stays. You will navigate a mix of parkways and highways, making it a straightforward drive for commuters or casual travelers. With a fuel budget of approximately $6, the trip is quite economical. Since both locations are within the Northeast, you will experience a familiar regional landscape throughout the entire transit. It is a practical, efficient route that connects two distinct parts of the island without demanding too much of your time behind the wheel.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southern State Parkway | 16 mi | 19m |
| Nesconset Highway | 7.7 mi | 9m |
| Sagtikos State Parkway | 4.1 mi | 5m |
| Jerusalem Avenue | 2.7 mi | 4m |
| Nesconset-Port Jefferson Highway | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| Long Island Expressway | 2.2 mi | 2m |
| Wheeler Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Express Drive South | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Hempstead, NY and Port Jefferson Station, 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 straight onto Express Drive South
Continue on Express Drive South
Turn left onto NY 111
Continue on NY 111
Turn left onto NY 111
Turn slight right onto NY 347
Continue on NY 347
Continue on NY 347
Turn left onto Jayne Boulevard
Turn right
Turn right onto NY 112
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 39.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 19.9 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 26.3 — 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 NY 111: Smithtown, Islip
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$6.55 one way
$13.10 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $7.08 | $14.17 |
| premium | $4.92 | $7.71 | $15.43 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.79 | $17.57 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.9 | 0 | $4.18 | $1.91 |
| Efficient EV | 10 | 0 | $3.48 | $1.59 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.9 | 0 | $5.57 | $2.55 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Morning in Hempstead on Sunday
Local time
11:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Sunny
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 1:11AM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Destination
Morning in Port Jefferson Station on Sunday
Local time
11:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Sunny
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 1:11AM 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
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
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 varied driving experience as you transition between major arteries like the Southern State Parkway, the Sagtikos State Parkway, and the Nesconset Highway. With highways accounting for 56% of your total mileage, you will spend over half the trip on faster, controlled-access roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the Southern State Parkway, covering 16 miles of the journey. As you move away from Hempstead, the character of the road shifts from busy parkway corridors to the more suburban feel of the Nesconset Highway. This mixed-profile route requires you to stay alert as you navigate the different traffic patterns inherent in these varied road types.
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 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 16 decision points packed into just 39.8 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 53m.
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
203 ft
Total Descent
83 ft
Highest Point
176 ft
~39.8 mi in
Elevation Range
145 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hempstead, NY and Port Jefferson Station, NY, road signs point toward So East: East Islip, Kings Park and Islip.
So East: East Islip
Kings Park
Islip
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 53m. Total distance: 39.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
53m 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.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
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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