Henrietta, NY to Hempstead, NY is 336.9 miles and takes about 7h 7m via I 81, Keystone Shortway, and New York State Thruway, with a fuel budget near $55 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, primarily traveling through New York State. Given the estimated drive time, it's a manageable one-day trip, but consider starting early to account for potential traffic, especially as you approach the New York metropolitan area. The route offers a mix of highway driving and surface roads, so be prepared for varying road conditions.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
168.4 miles from Henrietta, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 37m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
98.8 mi
1h 57m
Keystone Shortway
80 mi
1h 37m
New York State Thruway
41.7 mi
48m
I 380
23.6 mi
25m
East Lake Road
9.9 mi
14m
State Highway 41
9.8 mi
13m
Clark Street Road
9.6 mi
11m
Cross Bronx Expressway
6.6 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 98.8 mi, about 1h 57m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 168 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,210 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,900
Quietest
1 AM
~430 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Henrietta, NY and Hempstead, NY.
1
Start on NY 253
1.5 mi·2 min·Lehigh Station Road
2
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·22 sec
Toward I 390 SouthUse the left lane.
3
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·28 sec
Exit 12BToward I 90: New York Thruway
4
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·6 sec·this road
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·32 sec
Toward I 90 East: AlbanyUse the slight left lane.
6
Merge onto I 90
42 mi·48 min·New York State Thruway
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi·58 sec
Exit 41Toward NY 414: Waterloo, ClydeUse the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
327 ft·7 sec
9
Continue on NY 414
0.3 mi·35 sec·State Route 414
10
Turn left onto NY 318
4.1 mi·7 min·NY 318
Use the left lane.
11
At end of road, turn left onto US 20; NY 5
1.9 mi·2 min·Auburn Road
12
Continue on US 20; NY 5
9.6 mi·11 min·Clark Street Road
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn right onto State Street
226 ft·12 sec·State Street
14
Turn left onto Dill Street
0.1 mi·21 sec·Dill Street
15
Continue on Loop Road
458 ft·16 sec·Loop Road
16
Turn left onto Genesee Street
5.5 mi·9 min·Genesee Street
17
Continue on US 20
2.2 mi·4 min·West Genesee Street Road
18
Turn right onto NY 41
0.5 mi·45 sec·East Lake Street
19
Continue on NY 41
9.4 mi·13 min·East Lake Road
20
Continue on NY 41
4.8 mi·7 min·State Route 41
21
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi·49 sec·East Lake Road
22
Continue on NY 41
9.8 mi·13 min·State Highway 41
23
Turn right onto NY 281
1.2 mi·2 min·North West Street
24
Take the ramp
0.7 mi·1 min
Use the left lane.
25
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 81 South: Binghamton
26
Merge onto I 81
45 mi·54 min·I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
53 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 81
Toward I 81 South: ScrantonUse the straight lane.
28
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
0.8 mi·1 min·US 6
Exit 187Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt PoconoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
29
Continue on I 84; I 380
3.7 mi·4 min·I 84; I 380
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, MilfordUse the straight lane.
30
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
24 mi·25 min·I 380
Exit 4Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
31
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 1BToward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
32
Merge onto I 80
80 mi·1 hr 37 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
33
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·5 min·Christopher Columbus Highway
Toward I 95: George Washington Bridge Lower LevelUse the slight right lane.
34
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·23 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 70A-BToward Leonia, TeaneckUse the slight right lane.
36
Turn right
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 70AToward LeoniaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Turn straight onto CR 56
454 ft·9 sec·Degraw Avenue
38
Continue on CR 56
1.1 mi·2 min·Fort Lee Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
39
Continue on CR 56
469 ft·13 sec·Main Street
40
Take the ramp
472 ft·12 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge
41
Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46
0.3 mi·28 sec·Bergen Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
42
Take the exit
312 ft·4 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level
43
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.3 mi·20 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
44
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
45
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
46
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
47
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi·6 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
48
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
2.0 mi·2 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Exit 6BToward I 295 South: Throgs Neck BridgeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
49
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi·58 sec·Throgs Neck Expressway
50
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
51
Continue on I 295
5.0 mi·5 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
52
Turn left onto NY 25
0.7 mi·1 min·Hillside Avenue
Use the left lane.
53
Turn right onto NY 25
1.1 mi·2 min·Braddock Avenue
54
Turn left onto NY 25
0.2 mi·34 sec·Jamaica Avenue
55
Continue on NY 25
0.5 mi·56 sec·Jericho Turnpike
56
Turn slight right onto Tulip Avenue
2.0 mi·3 min·Tulip Avenue
Use the right lane.
57
Turn right onto New Hyde Park Road
0.4 mi·56 sec·New Hyde Park Road
58
Turn left onto NY 24
2.0 mi·3 min·Hempstead Turnpike
Use the left lane.
59
Turn slight right onto NY 102
0.8 mi·1 min·Front Street
Use the right lane.
60
Turn right onto Greenwich Street
0.1 mi·11 sec·Greenwich Street
Use the right lane.
61
Turn left onto Peninsula Boulevard
0.2 mi·26 sec·Peninsula Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
62
Arrive at destination
Peninsula Boulevard
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7-hour drive, aim to depart Henrietta, NY early in the morning to beat some of the potential traffic, especially once you enter the more populated areas of New York. With two planned stops, you can break up the drive effectively, perhaps at the 98.8-mile mark on I 81 or further along the New York State Thruway. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated $55 cost is based on current prices and your vehicle's efficiency. Being a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but the closer you get to Hempstead, the more you'll want to be aware of local traffic patterns.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 168.4 miles from Henrietta, NY, or about 3h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.8 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 74 miles or 1h 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 168.4 miles or 3h 37m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hempstead, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Henrietta, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Henrietta, NY
This is one driving day of about 336.9 miles and 7h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 74 miles from Henrietta, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 98.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 168.4 miles from Henrietta, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 81 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 98.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 41
5 decision points cluster between mile 44.6 and 319.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
44.6 mi into trip|~52m in
Take the exit toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 41
Toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
9
194.9 mi into trip|~4h 9m in|US 6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6 toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 187
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbo...
8
309.4 mi into trip|~6h 25m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, Ne...
9
309.7 mi into trip|~6h 25m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Leonia, Teaneck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 70A-B
Toward Leonia, Teaneck
8
319.1 mi into trip|~6h 39m in|I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 6B
Toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$54.75 one way
$109.51 round trip
$4.13/gal25.4 MPG avg118 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.47
$59.26
$118.53
premium
$4.87
$64.54
$129.08
diesel
$5.40
$71.66
$143.33
Estimated Tolls: $24.82
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
New York State Thruway
(41.7 mi)$2.09
Hempstead Turnpike
(2 mi)$0.14
Jericho Turnpike
(0.5 mi)$0.04
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
$55
Tolls
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$105–$130
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 117.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $35 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
101.1
1
$35.37
$16.17
Efficient EV
84.2
0
$29.48
$13.48
EV Truck/SUV
134.8
1
$47.17
$21.56
Gas CO2
118 kg
EV CO2
39 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.
Forecast as of Apr 26, 2026
Origin
Henrietta, NY
Late night
in Henrietta on Sunday
Local time
2:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy
E 6 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 8:05PM EDT until April 26 at 11:00AM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 1:03PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Destination
Hempstead, NY
Late night
in Hempstead on Sunday
Local time
2:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Rain Showers
E 12 mph98% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 8:05PM EDT until April 26 at 11:00AM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 1:03PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
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.
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
7h 7m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
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...
2 mi from route
~5 min detour
Free
near mile 313.6
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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 313.6
Harriet Tubman was guided by a deep faith and devotion to family, freedom, and community. After emancipating herself and members of her family, she moved them from Ontario, Canada to Fleming and Aubur...
Women’s Rights National Historical Park tells the story of the first Women’s Rights Convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York on July 19-20, 1848. It is a story of struggles for civil rights, human r...
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...
9 mi from route
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 313.6
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...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 313.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is about 48% highway, with the longest continuous highway stretch being 98.8 miles on I 81. You'll transition from substantial highway cruising to more surface roads as you progress. Expect to encounter dense exits and merging traffic as you get closer to your destination in Hempstead, which is typical for the approach to a major metropolitan area. The profile indicates mostly surface roads for a significant portion, so plan for slower speeds and more intersections.
Only 48% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
62 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98.8 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 44.6 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 41 significant decision points across 336.9 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 44.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 194.9 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 309.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Henrietta, NY and Hempstead, NY, road signs point toward Clyde, Mt Pocono, Milford, New York City, Leonia and Teaneck - among others.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 7m. Total distance: 336.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 7m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 98.8 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $24.82 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Hempstead, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 44.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 194.9 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 309.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.1 hours each way, a round trip means 14.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Hempstead, NY before the return drive.
