How far is Hempstead, NY from Sterling, NY?
The driving distance from Hempstead, NY to Sterling, NY is about 310.3 miles (499.3 km), with a travel time of about 06h 26m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 238.5 miles (383.8 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 52m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 06h 26m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
City in Steuben County, New York, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Partly Sunny
Partly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Hempstead and Sterling.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hempstead and Sterling.
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1
Start on Peninsula Boulevard
24 m · 1 sec · Peninsula Boulevard
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2
Turn left onto Clinton Street
110 m · 18 sec · Clinton Street
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3
Turn left onto Front Street
1.1 mi · 2 min · Front Street
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4
Turn slight left onto Hempstead Turnpike
2 mi · 4 min · Hempstead Turnpike
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5
Turn right onto New Hyde Park Road
2197 ft · 53 sec · New Hyde Park Road
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6
Turn left onto Tulip Avenue
2 mi · 4 min · Tulip Avenue
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7
Turn left onto Jamaica Avenue
1.1 km · 1 min · Jamaica Avenue
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8
Turn slight right onto Braddock Avenue
1.2 mi · 2 min · Braddock Avenue
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9
Turn left onto Hillside Avenue
1.1 km · 1 min · Hillside Avenue
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10
Turn right onto Clearview Expressway
5 mi · 5 min · Clearview Expressway
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11
Continue on Throgs Neck Bridge
2 mi · 3 min · Throgs Neck Bridge
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12
Continue on Throgs Neck Expressway
1.1 km · 1 min · Throgs Neck Expressway
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13
Keep slight left to continue on Cross Bronx Expressway
6.6 mi · 9 min · Cross Bronx Expressway
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14
Keep slight left to continue on Trans-Manhattan Expressway
1.1 km · 1 min · Trans-Manhattan Expressway
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15
Continue on George Washington Bridge (upper level)
3167 ft · 60 sec · George Washington Bridge (upper level)
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16
Continue straight
2659 ft · 48 sec
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17
Keep slight left
3214 ft · 39 sec
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18
Keep slight left
559 ft · 9 sec
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19
Take the exit slight right toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
1270 ft · 23 sec
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20
Keep slight left to continue on I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
1884 ft · 29 sec
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21
Merge slight left onto New Jersey Turnpike
2 mi · 3 min · New Jersey Turnpike
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22
Take the exit slight right toward I 80 West: Paterson, Hackensack
1.3 km · 1 min
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23
Continue on Christopher Columbus Highway
68.2 mi · 1 hr 21 min · Christopher Columbus Highway
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24
Keep slight left to continue on Keystone Shortway
5.5 mi · 8 min · Keystone Shortway
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25
Keep slight left to continue on Keystone Shortway
11.9 mi · 16 min · Keystone Shortway
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26
Take the exit slight right toward I 380 North: Scranton
1.1 km · 46 sec
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27
Continue straight
27.7 mi · 31 min
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28
Merge slight right
58.1 mi · 1 hr 9 min
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29
Keep slight right to continue on I 81 North: Syracuse, Albany
1.8 mi · 2 min
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30
Keep slight left to continue on I 81 North: Syracuse
66.5 mi · 1 hr 17 min
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31
Keep slight left to continue on Syracuse
1159 ft · 18 sec
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32
Continue straight
2193 ft · 27 sec
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33
Continue straight
2.9 mi · 4 min
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34
Take the exit slight right toward I 690 West: Fairgrounds, Baldwinsville
1240 ft · 24 sec
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35
Merge slight right onto Fairgrounds, Baldwinsville
8.6 mi · 10 min
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36
Continue straight
7 mi · 8 min
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37
Continue on Oswego Road
8.7 mi · 13 min · Oswego Road
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38
Continue on West 1st Street South
1.3 mi · 2 min · West 1st Street South
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39
Turn left onto West Broadway
1856 ft · 31 sec · West Broadway
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40
Continue on West Broadway
1.2 km · 1 min · West Broadway
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41
Continue on State Route 3
6.7 mi · 10 min · State Route 3
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42
Continue on Fulton Street
1.2 km · 1 min · Fulton Street
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43
Continue on Church Street
2866 ft · 57 sec · Church Street
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44
Continue on State Route 3
2.3 mi · 4 min · State Route 3
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45
At the end of the road, turn left onto State Route 104A
52 m · 4 sec · State Route 104A
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46
Continue on State Highway 104A
1.4 km · 2 min · State Highway 104A
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47
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · State Highway 104A
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Hempstead and Sterling.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
Christopher Columbus Highway
Continue on Christopher Columbus Highway
68.2 mi · 01h 21m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Partly Sunny leaving Hempstead and Partly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers near Sterling.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Hempstead to Sterling?
The road trip is about 310.3 miles (499.3 km) and usually takes 06h 26m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Riverside is a useful midpoint, sitting about 155 miles from Hempstead and 155.2 miles from Sterling.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 238.5 miles (383.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 71.8 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 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $43.90 one way or $87.80 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 97.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Hempstead and Partly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers near Sterling.
Stop Ideas Near Riverside
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Riverside.
Scranton, PA
Wilkes-Barre, PA
White Haven, PA
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Hempstead and Sterling. Straight-line distance: 238.49 mi (383.81 km).
#1 Hempstead
Located in Nassau County, New York, this hamlet and village is a major commercial and transportation hub.
| Population | 764,055 |
| Coordinates | 40.7062100, -73.6187400 |
| Altitude | 17 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Sterling
Town in Cayuga County, New York, United States
| Population | 3,023 |
| Coordinates | 43.3259000, -76.6449500 |
| Altitude | 96 |
| Country | United States |
End: Sterling (-76.64495, 43.3259)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 499 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 20m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 45m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 12m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 10m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 25m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 52m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.01 | $43.90 | $87.80 |
| Mid-grade | $4.48 | $49.07 | $98.13 |
| Premium | $4.86 | $53.23 | $106.46 |
| Diesel | $4.69 | $51.40 | $102.80 |
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 18, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.