This 97.1-mile drive from Lloyd, NY to Hempstead, NY is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 8 minutes. The route primarily utilizes the New York State Thruway, NJ 17, and NJ 4, offering a mixed driving experience. With a projected fuel cost of around $16, this journey is quite budget-friendly for a day out. Given its relatively short distance and straightforward path through the Northeast region, you can expect a convenient transit. It's a practical option if you're looking for an efficient way to cover ground between these two New York locations without needing an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48.6 miles from Lloyd, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 58m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New York State Thruway
44.9 mi
51m
NJ 17
14.1 mi
18m
NJ 4
6.7 mi
9m
Cross Bronx Expressway
6.6 mi
8m
Clearview Expressway
5 mi
5m
NY 299
2.4 mi
3m
Tulip Avenue
2 mi
3m
Throgs Neck Bridge
2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 44.9 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lloyd, NY and Hempstead, NY.
1
Start on CR 12
0.6 mi·1 min·New Paltz Road
2
At end of road, turn left onto NY 299
2.4 mi·3 min·NY 299
Use the straight / right lanes.
3
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·13 sec
Use the left lane.
4
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·22 sec·this road
Toward I 87
5
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 87 South: New York City
6
Merge onto I 87
45 mi·51 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17
0.9 mi·59 sec·NY 17
Exit 15Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New JerseyUse the slight right lane.
8
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
0.5 mi·39 sec·I 287; NJ 17
9
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17
14 mi·18 min·NJ 17
Exit 66Toward NJ 17 South: MahwahUse the slight left / straight lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
12
Merge onto NJ 4
0.3 mi·24 sec·NJ 4
Use the right lane.
13
Continue on NJ 4
6.4 mi·8 min·NJ 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington BridgeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
15
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.7 mi·54 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
17
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
19
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi·6 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
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.
21
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi·58 sec·Throgs Neck Expressway
22
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on I 295
5.0 mi·5 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Turn left onto NY 25
0.7 mi·1 min·Hillside Avenue
Use the left lane.
25
Turn right onto NY 25
1.1 mi·2 min·Braddock Avenue
26
Turn left onto NY 25
0.2 mi·34 sec·Jamaica Avenue
27
Continue on NY 25
0.5 mi·56 sec·Jericho Turnpike
28
Turn slight right onto Tulip Avenue
2.0 mi·3 min·Tulip Avenue
Use the right lane.
29
Turn right onto New Hyde Park Road
0.4 mi·56 sec·New Hyde Park Road
30
Turn left onto NY 24
2.0 mi·3 min·Hempstead Turnpike
Use the left lane.
31
Turn slight right onto NY 102
0.8 mi·1 min·Front Street
Use the right lane.
32
Turn right onto Greenwich Street
0.1 mi·11 sec·Greenwich Street
Use the right lane.
33
Turn left onto Peninsula Boulevard
0.2 mi·26 sec·Peninsula Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Arrive at destination
Peninsula Boulevard
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour, 97.1-mile trip, leaving early can help you avoid the bulk of traffic, especially as you approach more populated areas. Since it's a relatively short drive with a $16 fuel cost, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience. You won't need to plan for extensive stops, but consider a brief pause to stretch your legs if needed. Be mindful of potential tolls on the New York State Thruway. A specific tip for this route: keep an eye on your GPS as you transition from the Thruway to NJ 17, as this is where the road character changes most noticeably.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 48.6 miles from Lloyd, NY, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44.9 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 21 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48.6 miles or 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 41m
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 Lloyd, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lloyd, NY
This is one driving day of about 97.1 miles and 2h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Lloyd, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on New York State Thruway for about 44.9 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 79.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|NY 299
At end of road, turn left onto NY 299
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
48.9 mi into trip|~58m in|NY 17
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17 toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 15
Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
8
50.3 mi into trip|~1h in|NJ 17
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17 toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 66
Toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
6
64.5 mi into trip|~1h 19m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
8
79.4 mi into trip|~1h 40m 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
$15.98 one way
$31.97 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$17.28
$34.57
premium
$4.92
$18.82
$37.64
diesel
$5.61
$21.44
$42.88
Estimated Tolls: $24.98
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
New York State Thruway
(44.9 mi)$2.25
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
$16
Tolls
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.1
0
$10.20
$4.66
Efficient EV
24.3
0
$8.50
$3.88
EV Truck/SUV
38.8
0
$13.59
$6.21
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Lloyd, NY
Late night
in Lloyd on Sunday
Local time
3:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hempstead, NY
Late night
in Hempstead on Sunday
Local time
3:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
83°F
Partly Sunny
S 12 mph2% chanceLive forecast
49°F
Ramapo, NY
49 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.
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
42 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
2h 8m on the road
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.
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...
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...
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 73.7
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 73.7
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...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 73.7
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 73.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a driving experience that's largely highway-focused, with 43% of the journey on high-speed roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 44.9 miles along the New York State Thruway, providing a good opportunity to make steady progress. The drive transitions between the expansive Thruway and the more direct paths of NJ 17 and NJ 4. This mixed profile means you'll experience both the efficiency of long-distance highway travel and the quicker pace of major arterial roads, creating a dynamic feel behind the wheel.
43% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
34 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 44.9 mi on New York State Thruway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 0.6 miles in near NY 299.
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 22 significant decision points across 97.1 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 0.6 miles (NY 299): Lane positioning matters here; at 48.9 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.3 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lloyd, NY and Hempstead, NY, road signs point toward Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee and 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
•Mitchel Air Force Base — US Air Force base in Long Island, New York
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 8m. Total distance: 97.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (43%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 44.9 miles on New York State Thruway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $24.98 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.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (NY 299): Lane positioning matters here; at 48.9 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.3 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial and Stonewall National Monument (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hempstead, NY before heading back.
