How far is Hempstead, NY from Shelter Island, NY?

The driving distance from Hempstead, NY to Shelter Island, NY is about 83.5 miles (134.3 km), with a travel time of about 02h 17m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 71.4 miles (114.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 04h 34m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
83.46 mi
02h 17m
Flight
71.38 mi
114.88 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Hempstead.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
71.38 mi
Kilometers
114.88 km
Flight Time
00h 08m

Driving Distance

Road route
83.46 mi
Kilometers
134.31 km
Drive Time
02h 17m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 02h 17m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Shelter Island
Sun, Apr 19, 3:45 AM EDT
Return by in Hempstead
Sun, Apr 19, 6:02 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Hempstead
2026-04-19T01:28
Arrive Shelter Island
Sun, Apr 19, 3:45 AM EDT
Route Timing
02h 17m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:17 AM to 12:17 PM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
1:56 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Hempstead
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Yaphank
NY

Census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York

From Hempstead
41.7 mi
01h 08m
To Shelter Island
41.8 mi
01h 08m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
62°F
Sunday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 14 mph SW
Destination
55°F
Sunday

Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Sun, Apr 19 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 13 mph SW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Hempstead and Shelter Island.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Hempstead and Shelter Island.

  1. 1

    Start on Peninsula Boulevard

    566 ft · 12 sec · Peninsula Boulevard

  2. 2

    Turn slight right onto Front Street

    860 ft · 15 sec · Front Street

  3. 3

    Turn slight right

    34 m · 4 sec

  4. 4

    Turn straight onto William Street

    2138 ft · 1 min · William Street

  5. 5

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Jerusalem Avenue

    2 mi · 3 min · Jerusalem Avenue

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on Jerusalem Avenue

    1 km · 1 min · Jerusalem Avenue

  7. 7

    Turn slight right onto Merrick Avenue North

    682 ft · 16 sec · Merrick Avenue North

  8. 8

    Take the ramp slight right toward SO East: East Islip

    676 ft · 17 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto Southern State Parkway

    15.2 mi · 18 min · Southern State Parkway

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on Southern State Parkway

    1.3 km · 1 min · Southern State Parkway

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on Sagtikos State Parkway

    4.1 mi · 5 min · Sagtikos State Parkway

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward I 495 East: Riverhead

    1145 ft · 28 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight left to continue on I 495 East: Riverhead

    1131 ft · 28 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left onto Long Island Expressway

    30.8 mi · 42 min · Long Island Expressway

  15. 15

    Keep slight left to continue on CR 58 East: Old Country Road, Greenport, Orient

    1.2 km · 1 min

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on CR 58 east: Greenport, Orient

    150 m · 14 sec

  17. 17

    Turn straight onto Old Country Road

    2.3 mi · 5 min · Old Country Road

  18. 18

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Old Country Road

    33 m · 6 sec · Old Country Road

  19. 19

    Exit the roundabout onto Old Country Road

    1.4 km · 2 min · Old Country Road

  20. 20

    Turn left onto Northville Turnpike

    2.3 mi · 4 min · Northville Turnpike

  21. 21

    Turn right onto Sound Avenue

    5.4 mi · 9 min · Sound Avenue

  22. 22

    Continue on Middle Road

    11.8 mi · 18 min · Middle Road

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Chapel Lane

    2090 ft · 1 min · Chapel Lane

  24. 24

    Turn left onto Main Road

    1.5 km · 2 min · Main Road

  25. 25

    Continue on Front Street

    2646 ft · 1 min · Front Street

  26. 26

    Turn right onto Third Street

    148 m · 14 sec · Third Street

  27. 27

    Turn right onto Shelter Island North Ferry

    871 ft · 16 sec · Shelter Island North Ferry

  28. 28

    Continue on Shelter Island North Ferry

    53 m · 3 sec · Shelter Island North Ferry

  29. 29

    Continue on North Ferry

    1.6 km · 15 min · North Ferry

  30. 30

    Continue on Summerfield Place

    611 ft · 22 sec · Summerfield Place

  31. 31

    Turn right onto Grand Avenue

    1390 ft · 50 sec · Grand Avenue

  32. 32

    Turn left onto Chase Avenue

    156 m · 17 sec · Chase Avenue

  33. 33

    Continue on North Ferry Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · North Ferry Road

  34. 34

    Continue on North Ferry Road

    2561 ft · 1 min · North Ferry Road

  35. 35

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward North Ferry Road

    25 m · 5 sec · North Ferry Road

  36. 36

    Exit the roundabout onto North Ferry Road

    11 m · 2 sec · North Ferry Road

  37. 37

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Ferry Road

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Hempstead and Shelter Island.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
37 steps
18 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
2 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
44.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Long Island Expressway
30.8 mi · 37%
Southern State Parkway
16 mi · 19%
Middle Road
11.8 mi · 14%
Sound Avenue
5.35 mi · 6%
Sagtikos State Parkway
4.06 mi · 5%
Old Country Road
3.13 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

Long Island Expressway

Merge slight left onto Long Island Expressway

30.8 mi · 00h 42m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 17m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
04h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+12.1 mi
71.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Yaphank
01h 08m from Hempstead
Leave By
1:56 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Rain Showers Likely leaving Hempstead and Rain Showers Likely near Shelter Island.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Hempstead to Shelter Island?

The road trip is about 83.5 miles (134.3 km) and usually takes 02h 17m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Yaphank is a useful midpoint, sitting about 41.7 miles from Hempstead and 41.8 miles from Shelter Island.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 71.4 miles (114.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 12.1 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:56 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $11.83 one way or $23.65 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 26.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Rain Showers Likely around Hempstead and Rain Showers Likely near Shelter Island.

Stop Ideas Near Yaphank

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Yaphank, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Yaphank.

RAIL

Bridgeport

44 mi away
525 Water St.
RAIL

Union Station

51 mi away
50 Union Avenue
RAIL

Stamford Transportation Center

57 mi away
Washington Blvd and South State St.
RAIL

Old Saybrook station

69 mi away
455 Boston Post Road

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Hempstead and Shelter Island. Straight-line distance: 71.38 mi (114.88 km).

Hempstead

#1 Hempstead

Located in Nassau County, New York, this hamlet and village is a major commercial and transportation hub.

Population764,055
Coordinates40.7062100, -73.6187400
Altitude17
CountryUnited States
Shelter Island

#2 Shelter Island

Town of New York, USA

Population2,408
Coordinates41.0681500, -72.3386900
Altitude16
CountryUnited States
Start: Hempstead (-73.61874, 40.70621)
End: Shelter Island (-72.33869, 41.06815)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 134 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)02h 46m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 05m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)01h 40m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 23m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 11m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 02m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
2.95 gal
11.15 L · about $11.83
Round trip
$23.65
5.9 gal · 22.3 L
Estimated CO2
26.2 kg one way
Round trip: 52.4 kg / 116 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.01 $11.83 $23.65
Mid-grade $4.48 $13.22 $26.44
Premium $4.86 $14.34 $28.68
Diesel $4.69 $13.85 $27.69

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in New York · Apr 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Hempstead and Shelter Island. The current time is 01:28:19.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.