Origin
Riverhead, NY
Late night in Riverhead on Tuesday
Local time
4:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Riverhead, NY to Hempstead, NY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 17m
Distance
57 mi
92 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Fair
3 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 11m
★
6 AM
1h 17m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 20m
3 PM
1h 22m
5 PM
1h 29m
8 PM
1h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Riverhead, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 57-mile drive from Riverhead, NY, to Hempstead, NY, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, typically taking around 1 hour and 17 minutes. The route utilizes a mix of major roadways including Sunrise Highway, Southern State Parkway, and Heckscher State Parkway, with 41% of the drive on highways. With an estimated fuel cost of $9, this trip is budget-friendly. The overall feel is a practical journey through the Northeast region of New York, suitable for a quick commute or a short excursion. No overnight stays are recommended, and with zero designated stops, you have the flexibility to tailor your journey.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sunrise Highway | 23.1 mi | 31m |
| Southern State Parkway | 17.5 mi | 21m |
| Heckscher State Parkway | 6 mi | 7m |
| East Moriches-Riverhead Road | 5.3 mi | 7m |
| Center Drive South | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Nassau Road | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| Greenwich Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Henry Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Sunrise Highway
— 23.1 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Riverhead, NY and Hempstead, NY.
1
Start on NY 25
140 ft
·
10 sec
·
East Main Street
2
Turn left onto CR 63
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Peconic Avenue
3
Turn right onto CR 94
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Nugent Drive
Use the right lane.
4
Take the exit
290 ft
·
6 sec
Toward CR 51 south: Suffolk County Offices, Criminal/Surrogate/Family Courts, Suffolk County Community College - Riverhead Campus, East Moriches
Use the left lane.
5
Merge onto CR 51
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Center Drive South
6
Continue on CR 51
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
East Moriches-Riverhead Road
7
Take the ramp
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Toward NY 27 West: New York
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto NY 27
22 mi
·
30 min
·
Sunrise Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
9
Turn slight right onto Sunrise Highway
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Sunrise Highway
Exit 46
Toward SO, H: New York, Hekscher Park
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward SO West: New York
11
Merge onto H
6.0 mi
·
7 min
·
Heckscher State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on SO
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
Southern State Parkway
13
Keep slight left at fork onto SO
17 mi
·
21 min
·
Southern State Parkway
Use the slight left lane.
14
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
Exit 21
Toward Nassau Road, Hempstead, Freeport
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
163 ft
·
5 sec
Toward Uniondale
Use the right lane.
16
Turn right onto Nassau Road
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
Nassau Road
Use the right lane.
17
Continue on Greenwich Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Greenwich Street
18
Turn right onto Henry Street
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
Henry Street
Use the right lane.
19
Turn right onto Peninsula Boulevard
64 ft
·
1 sec
·
Peninsula Boulevard
20
Arrive at destination
Peninsula Boulevard
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.5 miles from Riverhead, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 55.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
Take the exit toward CR 51 south: Suffolk County Offices, Criminal/Surrogate/Family Courts, Suffolk County Community College - Riverhead Campus, East Moriches
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward CR 51 south: Suffolk County Offices, Cri...
6
30.4 mi into trip
|
~42m in
|
Sunrise Highway
Turn slight right onto Sunrise Highway toward SO, H: New York, Hekscher Park
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 46
Toward SO, H: New York, Hekscher Park
6
37.5 mi into trip
|
~51m in
|
SO / Southern State Parkway
Keep slight left at fork onto SO / Southern State Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
8
54.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward Nassau Road, Hempstead, Freeport
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 21
Toward Nassau Road, Hempstead, Freeport
8
55.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Uniondale
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward Uniondale
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.38 one way
$18.77 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $10.15 | $20.29 |
| premium | $4.92 | $11.05 | $22.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.58 | $25.17 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.1 | 0 | $5.98 | $2.74 |
| Efficient EV | 14.3 | 0 | $4.99 | $2.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.8 | 0 | $7.98 | $3.65 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (65% 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.
Destination
Hempstead, NY
Late night in Hempstead on Tuesday
Local time
4:06 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Mostly Cloudy then Slight Chance Rain Showers
W 6 to 12 mph
18% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 16 at 6:57PM EDT until April 16 at 8:00PM EDT by NWS Albany NY
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 16 at 6:56PM EDT until April 16 at 7:30PM EDT by NWS Burlington VT
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
17 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
1h 17m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed driving experience on this route, blending parkway cruising with highway travel. While 41% of the journey is on highways, the longest uninterrupted stretch is 23.1 miles on Sunrise Highway, offering a sustained period of driving. The profile suggests a varied road personality, moving between faster parkway sections and potentially busier arterial roads as you approach Hempstead. This isn't a monotonous interstate grind; rather, it's a drive that shifts character as you progress through Long Island.
41% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 23.1 mi on Sunrise Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 0.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 57 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.4 miles (Sunrise Highway): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.5 miles (SO / Southern State Parkway): 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Riverhead, NY and Hempstead, NY, road signs point toward H: New York, Hekscher Park and So West: New York.
H: New York
30.4 mi in
|
~42m
|
via Sunrise Highway
Hekscher Park
30.4 mi in
|
~42m
|
via Sunrise Highway
So West: New York
31.1 mi in
|
~43m
About the Cities
Starting in Riverhead, NY
Full guide →Riverhead is a town on Long Island in New York. It is the western half of Long Island's North Fork. The town of Riverhead includes the following communities: Aquebogue, Baiting Hollow, Calverton, Jamesport, Northville, & Riverhead (hamlet).
Top landmarks
- • Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center — aquarium in Riverhead, New York, United States
- • Vail-Leavitt Music Hall — theater and former movie theater in Riverhead, New York, United States
- • Jamesport Meeting House — historic meetinghouse in New York, United States
Arriving 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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 17m. Total distance: 57 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (41%). 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 23.1 miles on Sunrise Highway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.4 miles (Sunrise Highway): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37.5 miles (SO / Southern State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Fire Island National Seashore, Gateway National Recreation Area and General Grant National Memorial (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.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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