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Trip from Sardinia, NY to Hempstead, NY

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 26, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

7h 44m

Distance

371.5 mi

598 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$60

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

24 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min
4 AM
7h 35m ★
6 AM
7h 45m
8 AM
8h 3m
10 AM
7h 51m
12 PM
7h 49m
3 PM
7h 52m
5 PM
8h 2m
8 PM
7h 39m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Sardinia, NY, NY

Sardinia, NY

Efrem Efre

Downtown Hempstead, NY, NY

Hempstead, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Sardinia, NY to Hempstead, NY is 371.5 miles and takes about 7h 44m via Southern Tier Expressway, Keystone Shortway, and I-81, with a fuel budget near $60 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within New York, taking you from the state's western region to the Long Island area. Given its mostly highway profile, it's a straightforward trip for a single day, though you'll want to be aware of the longest stretch without services. Consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to traverse the state.

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

185.7 miles from Sardinia, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 53m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Southern Tier Expressway 104.5 mi 2h 2m
Keystone Shortway 80 mi 1h 37m
I 81 53.4 mi 1h 3m
I 380 23.6 mi 25m
Genesee Expressway 22.2 mi 25m
State Highway 39 18.2 mi 25m
Nunda-Dansville Road 12.4 mi 16m
Cross Bronx Expressway 6.6 mi 8m
Longest stretch: Southern Tier Expressway — 104.5 mi, about 2h 2m

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

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

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 Sardinia, NY and Hempstead, NY.

1

Start on CR 225

0.1 mi · 23 sec · Savage Road
2

Turn sharp left onto NY 39

0.2 mi · 10 sec · State Highway 39
3

Continue on NY 39

1.4 mi · 1 min · Schutt Road
4

Turn right onto NY 16; NY 39

0.6 mi · 56 sec · State Highway 16
5

Continue on NY 16; NY 39

0.2 mi · 26 sec · Olean Road
6

Turn left onto NY 39

1.1 mi · 2 min · State Route 39
7

Continue on NY 39

2.3 mi · 5 min · West Main Street
8

Continue on NY 39

18 mi · 25 min · State Highway 39
9

Turn right onto NY 436

1.8 mi · 2 min · Denton Corners Road
10

Turn right onto NY 19A; NY 436

2.2 mi · 3 min · NY 19A; NY 436
11

Turn left onto NY 436

0.3 mi · 46 sec · Hamilton Street
12

Turn left onto NY 436

360 ft · 8 sec · Main Street
13

Continue on NY 436

5.6 mi · 8 min · Portage Street
14

Continue on NY 436

1.0 mi · 1 min · Mill Street
15

Continue on NY 436

12 mi · 16 min · Nunda-Dansville Road
16

Continue on NY 436

0.7 mi · 1 min · Ossian Street
17

Turn right onto Spruce Street

0.1 mi · 32 sec · Spruce Street
18

Turn slight right onto NY 36

0.9 mi · 1 min · Clara Barton Street
19

Continue on NY 36

0.1 mi · 11 sec · Hornell Road
20

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 33 sec
21

Merge onto I 390

22 mi · 25 min · Genesee Expressway
22

Merge onto I 86

105 mi · 2 hr 2 min · Southern Tier Expressway
23

Keep slight right at fork onto I 81

53 mi · 1 hr 3 min · I 81
Toward I 81 South: Scranton Use the straight lane.
24

Keep slight right at fork onto US 6

0.8 mi · 1 min · US 6
Exit 187 Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
25

Continue on I 84; I 380

3.7 mi · 4 min · I 84; I 380
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, Milford Use the straight lane.
26

Keep slight right at fork onto I 380

24 mi · 25 min · I 380
Exit 4 Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
27

Keep slight left at fork

1.0 mi · 1 min
Exit 1B Toward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
28

Merge onto I 80

80 mi · 1 hr 37 min · Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
29

Keep slight right at fork onto I 80

5.5 mi · 5 min · Christopher Columbus Highway
Toward I 95: George Washington Bridge Lower Level Use the slight right lane.
30

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 23 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York City Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 38 sec
Exit 70A-B Toward Leonia, Teaneck Use the slight right lane.
32

Turn right

0.2 mi · 35 sec
Exit 70A Toward Leonia Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33

Turn straight onto CR 56

454 ft · 9 sec · Degraw Avenue
34

Continue on CR 56

1.1 mi · 2 min · Fort Lee Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
35

Continue on CR 56

469 ft · 13 sec · Main Street
36

Take the ramp

472 ft · 12 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge
37

Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46

0.3 mi · 28 sec · Bergen Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38

Take the exit

312 ft · 4 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level
39

Merge onto I 95 EXPR

0.3 mi · 20 sec · I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
40

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR

0.8 mi · 1 min · I 95 EXPR
41

Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9

0.6 mi · 1 min · George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
42

Continue on I 95; US 1

0.7 mi · 1 min · Trans-Manhattan Expressway
43

Continue on I 95; US 1

4.7 mi · 6 min · Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
44

Keep slight right at fork onto I 295

2.0 mi · 2 min · Cross Bronx Expressway
Exit 6B Toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge Use the straight / slight left lanes.
45

Merge onto I 295

0.6 mi · 58 sec · Throgs Neck Expressway
46

Continue on I 295

2.0 mi · 3 min · Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
47

Continue on I 295

5.0 mi · 5 min · Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
48

Turn left onto NY 25

0.7 mi · 1 min · Hillside Avenue
Use the left lane.
49

Turn right onto NY 25

1.1 mi · 2 min · Braddock Avenue
50

Turn left onto NY 25

0.2 mi · 34 sec · Jamaica Avenue
51

Continue on NY 25

0.5 mi · 56 sec · Jericho Turnpike
52

Turn slight right onto Tulip Avenue

2.0 mi · 3 min · Tulip Avenue
Use the right lane.
53

Turn right onto New Hyde Park Road

0.4 mi · 56 sec · New Hyde Park Road
54

Turn left onto NY 24

2.0 mi · 3 min · Hempstead Turnpike
Use the left lane.
55

Turn slight right onto NY 102

0.8 mi · 1 min · Front Street
Use the right lane.
56

Turn right onto Greenwich Street

0.1 mi · 11 sec · Greenwich Street
Use the right lane.
57

Turn left onto Peninsula Boulevard

0.2 mi · 26 sec · Peninsula Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
58

Arrive at destination

Peninsula Boulevard

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 7h 44m drive, aim to depart early in the morning to avoid any potential rush hour congestion on Long Island. With only 2 recommended stops and a longest stretch of over 100 miles, plan your breaks strategically, perhaps around the midway point or before you begin the final leg. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer highway segments, and utilize the estimated $60 fuel cost to budget accordingly. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but prioritizing an early start will ensure a smoother arrival.

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 185.7 miles from Sardinia, NY, or about 3h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.5 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 82 miles or 1h 52m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 185.7 miles or 3h 53m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 6h 22m

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 Sardinia, 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 Sardinia, NY

This is one driving day of about 371.5 miles and 7h 44m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 82 miles from Sardinia, 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 Southern Tier Expressway for about 104.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown City of Scranton, PA, PA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

City of Scranton, PA

186 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

Clyde, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 82 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Clarks Summit, PA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 185.7 miles from Sardinia, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Southern Tier Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 104.5 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 36

5 decision points cluster between mile 176.1 and 353.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7
176.1 mi into trip | ~3h 42m 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
229.5 mi into trip | ~4h 45m 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
344 mi into trip | ~7h 1m 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
344.3 mi into trip | ~7h 2m 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
353.7 mi into trip | ~7h 16m 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

$60.38 one way

$120.75 round trip

$4.13/gal 25.4 MPG avg 130 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.47 $65.35 $130.70
premium $4.87 $71.17 $142.34
diesel $5.40 $79.02 $158.05

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

$60

Tolls

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$108–$133

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 130 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.

EV Charging Along Route

24 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Dollar Tree - Tesla Supercharger

Painted Post, NY

Tesla

12 DCFC

Dandy Mini Mart - Tesla Supercharger

Elmira, NY

Tesla

12 DCFC

Oakdale Commons Shopping Mall - Tesla Supercharger

Johnson City, NY

Tesla

12 DCFC

125 Victory Hwy - Tesla Supercharger

Painted Post, NY

Tesla

10 DCFC

Tops Friendly Markets - Tesla Supercharger

Dansville, NY

Tesla

8 DCFC

Hampton Inn Owego

Owego, NY

EVGATEWAY

8 DCFC

Courtyard by Marriott Binghamton

Vestal, NY

EVGATEWAY

8 DCFC

The Spot Restaurant - Tesla Supercharger

Binghamton, NY

Tesla

8 DCFC

Tesla: 6 ChargePoint Network: 5 RED_E: 3 Electrify America: 3 Non-Networked: 2 EVGATEWAY: 2 EV Connect: 2 CHARGESMART_EV: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $39 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 111.5 1 $39.01 $17.83
Efficient EV 92.9 1 $32.51 $14.86
EV Truck/SUV 148.6 1 $52.01 $23.78

Gas CO2

130 kg

EV CO2

43 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

Sardinia, NY

Afternoon in Sardinia on Sunday

Local time

1:43 PM

EDT

Current temp

39°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Hempstead, NY

Afternoon in Hempstead on Sunday

Local time

1:43 PM

EDT

Current temp

57°F

Partly Sunny

NE 13 mph 20% chance Live forecast

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

18 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

7h 44m 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.

General Grant National Memorial

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...

3 mi from route ~9 min detour Free near mile 345.9
Caution: Lower Crypt Access Subject to Safe Conditions
View on nps.gov
Hamilton Grange National Memorial

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...

3 mi from route ~9 min detour Free near mile 345.9
View on nps.gov
Stonewall National Monument

Stonewall National Monument

National Monument

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 ~22 min detour Free near mile 345.9
View on nps.gov
African Burial Ground National Monument

African Burial Ground National Monument

National Monument

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 345.9
View on nps.gov
Castle Clinton National Monument

Castle Clinton National Monument

National Monument

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 345.9
View on nps.gov
Federal Hall National Memorial

Federal Hall National Memorial

National Memorial

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 ~27 min detour Free near mile 345.9
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This trip is mostly highway, with 66% of the 371.5 miles on major interstates. You'll experience a significant stretch of 104.5 miles on the Southern Tier Expressway, which is the longest segment without exiting. The final portion will involve transitioning from the open highway to more developed areas with denser traffic and more frequent exits as you approach Hempstead.

66% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
58 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 176.1 miles in near I 81.

Driving Effort 9/10

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 36 significant decision points across 371.5 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 176.1 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 229.5 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 344 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 Sardinia, NY and Hempstead, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford, New York City, Leonia, Teaneck and George Washington Bridge Upper Level.

Mt Pocono

229.5 mi in | ~4h 45m | via US 6

Milford

230.2 mi in | ~4h 46m | via I 84; I 380

New York City

344 mi in | ~7h 1m

Leonia

344.3 mi in | ~7h 2m

Teaneck

344.3 mi in | ~7h 2m

George Washington Bridge Upper Level

346.6 mi in | ~7h 6m

About the Cities

Starting in Sardinia, NY

Full guide →

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 7h 44m. Total distance: 371.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

7h 44m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 104.5 miles on Southern Tier Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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.

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 176.1 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 229.5 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 344 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Not recommended in a single day. At 7.7 hours each way, a round trip means 15.5 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.

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, NREL for EV charging, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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