Traveling from Warsaw to Hempstead covers 353 miles across New York State, typically requiring about 7 hours and 15 minutes of drive time. Because this journey stays entirely within the Northeast region, you will experience a consistent transition from the rural landscapes near Warsaw toward the dense infrastructure of the New York City metro area. Budgeting around $57 for fuel is a smart move for this highway-heavy trek. While the trip is manageable as a single-day push, it remains a significant commitment behind the wheel. Use this route if you prefer a direct, highway-focused approach to reaching Long Island, but keep in mind that the total duration can fluctuate depending on traffic density as you approach your destination.
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
176.5 miles from Warsaw, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 35m into the drive
.
Step-by-step road directions between Warsaw, NY and Hempstead, NY.
1
Start on NY 19
60 ft·5 sec·South Main Street
2
Turn right onto US 20A
3.3 mi·5 min·East Buffalo Street
3
Continue on US 20A
7.4 mi·10 min·Perry Center Road
4
Continue on CR 64
2.3 mi·3 min·Perry Road
5
Turn right onto NY 36
1.3 mi·1 min·Mount Morris Road
6
Continue on NY 36
1.8 mi·4 min·North Main Street
7
Continue on NY 36
4.1 mi·7 min·Sonyea Road
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
9
Merge onto I 390
33 mi·37 min·Genesee Expressway
10
Merge onto I 86
105 mi·2 hr 2 min·Southern Tier Expressway
11
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
53 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 81
Toward I 81 South: ScrantonUse the straight lane.
12
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.
13
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.
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
24 mi·25 min·I 380
Exit 4Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
15
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 1BToward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
16
Merge onto I 80
80 mi·1 hr 37 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
17
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.
18
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.
19
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 70A-BToward Leonia, TeaneckUse the slight right lane.
20
Turn right
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 70AToward LeoniaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Turn straight onto CR 56
454 ft·9 sec·Degraw Avenue
22
Continue on CR 56
1.1 mi·2 min·Fort Lee Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
23
Continue on CR 56
469 ft·13 sec·Main Street
24
Take the ramp
472 ft·12 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge
25
Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46
0.3 mi·28 sec·Bergen Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
312 ft·4 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level
27
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.3 mi·20 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
29
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
31
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi·6 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
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.
33
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi·58 sec·Throgs Neck Expressway
34
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Continue on I 295
5.0 mi·5 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
36
Turn left onto NY 25
0.7 mi·1 min·Hillside Avenue
Use the left lane.
37
Turn right onto NY 25
1.1 mi·2 min·Braddock Avenue
38
Turn left onto NY 25
0.2 mi·34 sec·Jamaica Avenue
39
Continue on NY 25
0.5 mi·56 sec·Jericho Turnpike
40
Turn slight right onto Tulip Avenue
2.0 mi·3 min·Tulip Avenue
Use the right lane.
41
Turn right onto New Hyde Park Road
0.4 mi·56 sec·New Hyde Park Road
42
Turn left onto NY 24
2.0 mi·3 min·Hempstead Turnpike
Use the left lane.
43
Turn slight right onto NY 102
0.8 mi·1 min·Front Street
Use the right lane.
44
Turn right onto Greenwich Street
0.1 mi·11 sec·Greenwich Street
Use the right lane.
45
Turn left onto Peninsula Boulevard
0.2 mi·26 sec·Peninsula Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
46
Arrive at destination
Peninsula Boulevard
Trip Plan
To keep your 7-hour and 15-minute drive manageable, plan for at least two intentional stops to stretch your legs and refresh. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid the heavier traffic volumes often encountered when navigating toward Hempstead later in the day. Given the length of the trip, staying flexible with your schedule allows you to adjust your pace if you hit unexpected slowdowns on the interstate. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge throughout the journey, particularly before transitioning between the Southern Tier Expressway and the other major arteries. Since this is a long, highway-focused haul, prioritizing these brief, periodic breaks will help you arrive at your destination feeling much more alert.
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 176.5 miles from Warsaw, NY, or about 3h 35m 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 78 miles or 1h 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 176.5 miles or 3h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 53m
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 Warsaw, 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 Warsaw, NY
This is one driving day of about 353 miles and 7h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 miles from Warsaw, 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 29
5 decision points cluster between mile 157.6 and 335.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
157.6 mi into trip|~3h 13m 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
211 mi into trip|~4h 16m 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
325.5 mi into trip|~6h 32m 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
325.8 mi into trip|~6h 33m 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
335.2 mi into trip|~6h 47m 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
$58.11 one way
$116.21 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg124 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$62.83
$125.66
premium
$4.92
$68.42
$136.84
diesel
$5.61
$77.94
$155.88
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
$58
Tolls
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$106–$131
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 123.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
105.9
1
$37.07
$16.94
Efficient EV
88.3
1
$30.89
$14.12
EV Truck/SUV
141.2
1
$49.42
$22.59
Gas CO2
124 kg
EV CO2
41 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 17, 2026
Origin
Warsaw, NY
Late night
in Warsaw on Sunday
Local time
12:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Chance Rain Showers
W 6 mph48% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 16 at 9:03PM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 16 at 9:01PM EDT until April 16 at 9:45PM EDT by NWS Albany NY
Destination
Hempstead, NY
Late night
in Hempstead on Sunday
Local time
12:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Ramapo, NY
177 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
6 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 15m 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
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
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 328.6
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
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 328.6
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 328.6
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 328.6
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 328.6
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 328.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a trip dominated by high-speed transit, with 67% of the journey spent on major highways. Your path relies on a combination of the Southern Tier Expressway, the Keystone Shortway, and I-81 to maintain momentum. You will settle into a steady rhythm during the longest uninterrupted stretch, which spans 104.5 miles along the Southern Tier Expressway. The character of the road shifts from open, expansive highway stretches to more complex traffic patterns as you move closer to the Hempstead area. This is a practical, utilitarian drive designed for efficiency rather than leisurely exploration, so be prepared for a consistent, interstate-focused experience.
67% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
46 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 157.6 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 29 significant decision points across 353 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 157.6 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 211 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 325.5 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 Warsaw, NY and Hempstead, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford, New York City, Leonia, Teaneck and George Washington Bridge Upper Level.
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 7h 15m. Total distance: 353 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 15m 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 157.6 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 211 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 325.5 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 7.3 hours each way, a round trip means 14.5 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.
