Orchard Park, NY to Hempstead, NY is 385.4 miles and takes about 8h 7m via Southern Tier Expressway, Keystone Shortway, and I 81, with a fuel budget near $63 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip primarily stays within the Northeast region, moving across New York State. Given the duration, it's a solid option for an overnight drive, especially if you prefer to break up longer stretches. You'll be on highways for most of the way, making for a straightforward transit.
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
192.7 miles from Orchard Park, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 8m into the drive
.
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 Orchard Park, NY and Hempstead, NY.
1
Start on NY 240; NY 277
37 ft·9 sec·North Buffalo Street
2
Turn left onto US 20A
0.6 mi·57 sec·East Quaker Street
3
Continue on US 20A
5.2 mi·8 min·Quaker Road
4
Continue on US 20A
0.3 mi·43 sec·Hamburg Street
5
Enter roundabout onto US 20A; NY 16; NY 78
35 ft·0 sec·Hamburg Street
6
Continue on US 20A; NY 16; NY 78
99 ft·1 sec·Hamburg Street
7
Continue on US 20A; NY 16; NY 78
1.8 mi·4 min·Main Street
8
Continue on US 20A; NY 78
11 mi·15 min·Big Tree Road
9
Continue on US 20A
11 mi·15 min·Varysburg Road
10
Continue on US 20A
1.7 mi·2 min·West Buffalo Road
11
Continue on US 20A
4.6 mi·8 min·West Buffalo Street
12
Continue on US 20A
7.4 mi·10 min·Perry Center Road
13
Continue on CR 64
2.3 mi·3 min·Perry Road
14
Turn right onto NY 36
1.3 mi·1 min·Mount Morris Road
15
Continue on NY 36
1.8 mi·4 min·North Main Street
16
Continue on NY 36
4.1 mi·7 min·Sonyea Road
17
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
18
Merge onto I 390
33 mi·37 min·Genesee Expressway
19
Merge onto I 86
105 mi·2 hr 2 min·Southern Tier Expressway
20
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
53 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 81
Toward I 81 South: ScrantonUse the straight lane.
21
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.
22
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.
23
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
24 mi·25 min·I 380
Exit 4Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
24
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 1BToward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
25
Merge onto I 80
80 mi·1 hr 37 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
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.
27
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.
28
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 70A-BToward Leonia, TeaneckUse the slight right lane.
29
Turn right
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 70AToward LeoniaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Turn straight onto CR 56
454 ft·9 sec·Degraw Avenue
31
Continue on CR 56
1.1 mi·2 min·Fort Lee Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
32
Continue on CR 56
469 ft·13 sec·Main Street
33
Take the ramp
472 ft·12 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge
34
Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46
0.3 mi·28 sec·Bergen Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Take the exit
312 ft·4 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level
36
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.3 mi·20 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
38
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
40
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi·6 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41
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.
42
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi·58 sec·Throgs Neck Expressway
43
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
44
Continue on I 295
5.0 mi·5 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
45
Turn left onto NY 25
0.7 mi·1 min·Hillside Avenue
Use the left lane.
46
Turn right onto NY 25
1.1 mi·2 min·Braddock Avenue
47
Turn left onto NY 25
0.2 mi·34 sec·Jamaica Avenue
48
Continue on NY 25
0.5 mi·56 sec·Jericho Turnpike
49
Turn slight right onto Tulip Avenue
2.0 mi·3 min·Tulip Avenue
Use the right lane.
50
Turn right onto New Hyde Park Road
0.4 mi·56 sec·New Hyde Park Road
51
Turn left onto NY 24
2.0 mi·3 min·Hempstead Turnpike
Use the left lane.
52
Turn slight right onto NY 102
0.8 mi·1 min·Front Street
Use the right lane.
53
Turn right onto Greenwich Street
0.1 mi·11 sec·Greenwich Street
Use the right lane.
54
Turn left onto Peninsula Boulevard
0.2 mi·26 sec·Peninsula Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
55
Arrive at destination
Peninsula Boulevard
Trip Plan
With an 8-hour drive time, this route is best split over two days to avoid fatigue. Aim to depart early in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for leisurely stops. You'll have a total of 2 planned stops, so consider one for lunch and another for a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $63 and it's wise to refuel before the longest stretch of 104.5 miles on the Southern Tier Expressway.
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 192.7 miles from Orchard Park, NY, or about 4h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.5 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 85 miles or 2h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 192.7 miles or 4h 8m 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 192.7 miles or 4h 8m
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 45m
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 Orchard Park, 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 Orchard Park, NY
Aim for roughly 193 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Hempstead, NY
Aim for roughly 193 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 85 miles from Orchard Park, 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 Southern Tier Expressway for about 104.5 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 30
5 decision points cluster between mile 190 and 367.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
190 mi into trip|~4h 5m in|I 81
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81 toward I 81 South: Scranton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 81 South: Scranton
9
243.4 mi into trip|~5h 8m 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
357.9 mi into trip|~7h 24m 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
358.2 mi into trip|~7h 24m 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
367.6 mi into trip|~7h 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
$62.64 one way
$125.27 round trip
$4.13/gal25.4 MPG avg135 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.47
$67.79
$135.59
premium
$4.87
$73.83
$147.67
diesel
$5.40
$81.98
$163.96
Estimated Tolls: $22.73
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
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
$63
Tolls
$23
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$215–$325
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 134.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
115.6
1
$40.47
$18.50
Efficient EV
96.4
1
$33.72
$15.42
EV Truck/SUV
154.2
1
$53.96
$24.67
Gas CO2
135 kg
EV CO2
45 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 25, 2026
Origin
Orchard Park, NY
Afternoon
in Orchard Park on Sunday
Local time
1:43 PM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
E 12 mph82% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 24 at 11:36AM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Destination
Hempstead, NY
Afternoon
in Hempstead on Sunday
Local time
1:43 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Mostly Cloudy
SE 6 to 9 mph14% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 24 at 11:36AM 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.
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
1 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 7m 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...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 358.8
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...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 358.8
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
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 358.8
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...
11 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 358.8
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
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 358.8
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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 358.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 61% of your time on highways. The longest continuous stretch without a significant break is 104.5 miles along the Southern Tier Expressway. Expect a mostly highway profile for this drive. As you transition from highway to other roads, be aware of an increase in exits and local traffic.
61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
55 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 104.5 mi on Southern Tier Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern Tier Expressway and Keystone Shortway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 190 miles in near I 81.
Driving Effort9/10
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 30 significant decision points across 385.4 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 190 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 243.4 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 357.9 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 Orchard Park, NY and Hempstead, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford, New York City, Leonia, Teaneck and George Washington Bridge Upper Level.
Orchard Park is a village and town in the Southtowns of Erie County, New York. Orchard Park is one of the "Southtowns" of Erie County and is best known as the site of Highmark Stadium, home of the National Football League's Buffalo Bills.
Top landmarks
•Orchard Park — train station in Orchard Park, 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
The longest stretch is about 104.5 miles on Southern Tier Expressway. 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 193 miles on day one.
Expect about $22.73 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 34 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 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. There are 34 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 190 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 243.4 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 357.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 8.1 hours each way, a round trip means 16.2 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.
