Spanning 68.3 miles, this trek from Tuckahoe to Hempstead is a manageable journey that fits easily into a single day. You should anticipate roughly 1 hour and 32 minutes of time behind the wheel, making it a straightforward excursion across the Northeast. Because the route avoids highways entirely, you will be navigating local roads for the duration of the trip. With fuel costs estimated at $11, it is a budget-friendly way to travel between these two New York locations. This drive is ideal for those who prefer local roads over fast-paced interstates, providing a steady pace without the need for an overnight stay.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
34.1 miles from Tuckahoe, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Sunrise Highway
38.8 mi
51m
Southern State Parkway
17.5 mi
21m
Heckscher State Parkway
6 mi
7m
Sebonac Road
2.2 mi
4m
Nassau Road
0.8 mi
1m
County Road 39
0.8 mi
1m
Shrubland Road
0.6 mi
1m
Greenwich Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Sunrise Highway
— 38.8 mi, about 51m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tuckahoe, NY and Hempstead, NY.
1
Start on this road
67 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Sebonac Road
1.4 mi·2 min·Sebonac Road
3
Keep slight left at fork onto Sebonac Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Sebonac Road
4
Continue on Shrubland Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Shrubland Road
5
At end of road, turn right onto NY 27; CR 39
0.8 mi·1 min·County Road 39
6
Continue on NY 27
38 mi·50 min·Sunrise Highway
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Turn slight right onto Sunrise Highway
0.7 mi·1 min·Sunrise Highway
Exit 46Toward SO, H: New York, Hekscher ParkUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward SO West: New York
9
Merge onto H
6.0 mi·7 min·Heckscher State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on SO
0.1 mi·9 sec·Southern State Parkway
11
Keep slight left at fork onto SO
17 mi·21 min·Southern State Parkway
Use the slight left lane.
12
Take the exit
0.1 mi·25 sec
Exit 21Toward Nassau Road, Hempstead, FreeportUse the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
163 ft·5 sec
Toward UniondaleUse the right lane.
14
Turn right onto Nassau Road
0.8 mi·1 min·Nassau Road
Use the right lane.
15
Continue on Greenwich Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Greenwich Street
16
Turn right onto Henry Street
0.5 mi·56 sec·Henry Street
Use the right lane.
17
Turn right onto Peninsula Boulevard
64 ft·1 sec·Peninsula Boulevard
18
Arrive at destination
Peninsula Boulevard
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of these local roads can make the 1 hour and 32 minute duration feel longer than a highway drive, so plan for a steady, focused pace. You do not need to worry about complex refueling strategies given the low $11 fuel cost, but it is always wise to ensure your tank is set before leaving Tuckahoe. Because there are no scheduled stops in this itinerary, take advantage of the local route to pull over safely if you need a break. Pay close attention to signage on County Road 39, as the transition between local roads requires careful navigation.
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 34.1 miles from Tuckahoe, NY, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.8 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 15 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 34.1 miles or 47m 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 18m
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 Tuckahoe, NY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Tuckahoe, NY
This is one driving day of about 68.3 miles and 1h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 15 miles from Tuckahoe, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Sunrise Highway for about 38.8 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 41.7 and 66.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
41.7 mi into trip|~57m 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
5
42.7 mi into trip|~59m in|H / Heckscher State Parkway
Merge onto H / Heckscher State Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
48.8 mi into trip|~1h 6m 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
66.2 mi into trip|~1h 28m 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
66.4 mi into trip|~1h 28m 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
$11.24 one way
$22.49 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg24 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$12.16
$24.31
premium
$4.92
$13.24
$26.48
diesel
$5.61
$15.08
$30.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
20.5
0
$7.17
$3.28
Efficient EV
17.1
0
$5.98
$2.73
EV Truck/SUV
27.3
0
$9.56
$4.37
Gas CO2
24 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (67% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Tuckahoe, NY
Morning
in Tuckahoe on Sunday
Local time
9:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Hempstead, NY
Morning
in Hempstead on Sunday
Local time
9:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
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
14 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 32m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate grind, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will primarily traverse Sebonac Road, Shrubland Road, and County Road 39 throughout the 68.3-mile distance. Because the path relies exclusively on local streets, the experience is defined by constant navigation rather than long, uninterrupted stretches of road. The technical nature of these roads requires your full attention, as the lack of highway miles means you will be managing frequent turns and varying local traffic patterns. It is a practical drive that demands engagement from the driver at every intersection.
34% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38.8 mi on Sunrise Highway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 41.7 miles in near Sunrise Highway.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 68.3 miles you will encounter 12 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 41.7 miles (Sunrise Highway): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 42.7 miles (H / Heckscher State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 48.8 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.
Between Tuckahoe, NY and Hempstead, NY, road signs point toward H: New York, Hekscher Park and So West: 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 1h 32m. Total distance: 68.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (34%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 38.8 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 41.7 miles (Sunrise Highway): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 42.7 miles (H / Heckscher State Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 48.8 miles (SO / Southern State Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hempstead, NY before heading back.
