How far is Potsdam, NY from Hempstead, NY?

The driving distance from Potsdam, NY to Hempstead, NY is about 358.5 miles (577 km), with a travel time of about 07h 50m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 282.5 miles (454.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 15h 41m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
358.54 mi
07h 50m
Flight
282.45 mi
454.56 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Potsdam.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
282.45 mi
Kilometers
454.56 km
Flight Time
00h 34m

Driving Distance

Road route
358.54 mi
Kilometers
577.01 km
Drive Time
07h 50m

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 07h 50m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Hempstead
Thu, Apr 16, 2:04 AM EDT
Return by in Potsdam
Thu, Apr 16, 9:55 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Potsdam
2026-04-15T18:13
Arrive Hempstead
Thu, Apr 16, 2:04 AM EDT
Route Timing
07h 50m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
1:51 PM to 3:21 PM EDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
8:18 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Potsdam
8:00 PM EDT
Overnight-style route

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
Clifton Park
NY

Town in Saratoga County, New York state, USA

From Potsdam
179.3 mi
03h 55m
To Hempstead
179.3 mi
03h 55m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
41°F
Overnight

Patchy Fog

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 5:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 mph NE
Destination
59°F
Overnight

Partly Cloudy

Starts
Wed, Apr 15 3:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 mph W

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Potsdam and Hempstead.

  1. 1

    Start on Elm Street

    86 m · 17 sec · Elm Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto Park Street

    76 m · 7 sec · Park Street

  3. 3

    Keep slight left to continue on Park Street

    60 m · 8 sec · Park Street

  4. 4

    Continue on Pierrepont Avenue

    1.5 km · 2 min · Pierrepont Avenue

  5. 5

    Continue on State Highway 56

    31.4 mi · 47 min · State Highway 56

  6. 6

    At the end of the road, turn left onto State Route 3

    14.8 mi · 20 min · State Route 3

  7. 7

    Continue on Main Street

    1 mi · 3 min · Main Street

  8. 8

    Continue on Demars Boulevard

    1.2 mi · 3 min · Demars Boulevard

  9. 9

    Continue on Lake Street

    791 ft · 31 sec · Lake Street

  10. 10

    Turn left onto Mill Street

    86 m · 12 sec · Mill Street

  11. 11

    Turn right onto East Park Street

    911 ft · 33 sec · East Park Street

  12. 12

    Turn left onto Wawbeek Avenue

    1.9 mi · 4 min · Wawbeek Avenue

  13. 13

    Continue on Adirondack Trail

    1.2 km · 1 min · Adirondack Trail

  14. 14

    Continue on Moody Road

    2469 ft · 47 sec · Moody Road

  15. 15

    Continue on Adirondack Trail

    18.1 mi · 25 min · Adirondack Trail

  16. 16

    Continue on Lake Street

    1746 ft · 43 sec · Lake Street

  17. 17

    Continue on Adirondack Trail

    2171 ft · 56 sec · Adirondack Trail

  18. 18

    At the end of the road, turn left onto State Highway 28N

    1.1 km · 1 min · State Highway 28N

  19. 19

    Continue on Newcomb Road

    2.5 mi · 3 min · Newcomb Road

  20. 20

    Continue on State Highway 28N

    29.6 mi · 42 min · State Highway 28N

  21. 21

    Turn slight left onto A P Morse Highway

    2.8 mi · 4 min · A P Morse Highway

  22. 22

    Keep slight left to continue on Donnelly Road

    3076 ft · 1 min · Donnelly Road

  23. 23

    Continue on County Highway 29

    1.2 mi · 2 min · County Highway 29

  24. 24

    Continue on Olmstedville Road

    4.8 mi · 7 min · Olmstedville Road

  25. 25

    Turn straight

    1157 ft · 39 sec

  26. 26

    Turn left onto Valley Farm Road

    1326 ft · 33 sec · Valley Farm Road

  27. 27

    Take the ramp right

    1282 ft · 31 sec

  28. 28

    Merge slight left onto Adirondack Northway

    77 mi · 1 hr 31 min · Adirondack Northway

  29. 29

    Keep slight right to continue on I 87 South, I 90: Boston, Albany, New York, Buffalo

    1694 ft · 32 sec

  30. 30

    Continue on I 87 South, I 90 West: New York, Buffalo

    2619 ft · 51 sec

  31. 31

    Keep slight right to continue on I 87 South: New York

    117.8 mi · 2 hr 17 min

  32. 32

    Keep slight right to continue on I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey

    1.5 km · 60 sec

  33. 33

    Continue straight

    2496 ft · 39 sec

  34. 34

    Keep slight left to continue on NJ 17 South: Mahwah

    14.1 mi · 19 min

  35. 35

    Take the exit slight right toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York

    566 ft · 19 sec

  36. 36

    Keep slight left to continue on NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York

    2455 ft · 1 min

  37. 37

    Merge slight left

    1417 ft · 24 sec

  38. 38

    Continue straight

    6.4 mi · 9 min

  39. 39

    Take the exit slight left toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge

    1124 ft · 18 sec

  40. 40

    Merge slight left

    1.2 km · 55 sec

  41. 41

    Keep slight left

    1.3 km · 1 min

  42. 42

    Continue on George Washington Bridge (upper level)

    3174 ft · 1 min · George Washington Bridge (upper level)

  43. 43

    Continue on Trans-Manhattan Expressway

    1.2 km · 1 min · Trans-Manhattan Expressway

  44. 44

    Continue on Cross Bronx Expressway

    4.7 mi · 6 min · Cross Bronx Expressway

  45. 45

    Keep slight right to continue on Cross Bronx Expressway

    2 mi · 3 min · Cross Bronx Expressway

  46. 46

    Merge slight left onto Throgs Neck Expressway

    3271 ft · 58 sec · Throgs Neck Expressway

  47. 47

    Continue on Throgs Neck Bridge

    2 mi · 3 min · Throgs Neck Bridge

  48. 48

    Continue on Clearview Expressway

    5 mi · 6 min · Clearview Expressway

  49. 49

    Turn left onto Hillside Avenue

    1.2 km · 2 min · Hillside Avenue

  50. 50

    Turn right onto Braddock Avenue

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Braddock Avenue

  51. 51

    Turn left onto Jamaica Avenue

    934 ft · 34 sec · Jamaica Avenue

  52. 52

    Continue on Jericho Turnpike

    2886 ft · 57 sec · Jericho Turnpike

  53. 53

    Turn slight right onto Tulip Avenue

    2 mi · 4 min · Tulip Avenue

  54. 54

    Turn right onto New Hyde Park Road

    2197 ft · 56 sec · New Hyde Park Road

  55. 55

    Turn left onto Hempstead Turnpike

    2 mi · 4 min · Hempstead Turnpike

  56. 56

    Turn slight right onto Front Street

    1.3 km · 2 min · Front Street

  57. 57

    Turn right onto Greenwich Street

    548 ft · 11 sec · Greenwich Street

  58. 58

    Turn left onto Peninsula Boulevard

    1041 ft · 26 sec · Peninsula Boulevard

  59. 59

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Peninsula Boulevard

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
59 steps
19 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
7
4 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
16.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 87 South
119 mi · 33%
Adirondack Northway
77 mi · 21%
State Highway 56
31.4 mi · 9%
State Highway 28N
30.3 mi · 8%
Adirondack Trail
19.3 mi · 5%
State Route 3
14.8 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

I 87 South

Keep slight right to continue on I 87 South: New York

118 mi · 02h 17m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
07h 50m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
15h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+76 mi
282.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Clifton Park
03h 55m from Potsdam
Leave By
8:18 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Patchy Fog leaving Potsdam and Partly Cloudy near Hempstead.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Potsdam to Hempstead?

The road trip is about 358.5 miles (577 km) and usually takes 07h 50m 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?

Clifton Park is a useful midpoint, sitting about 179.3 miles from Potsdam and 179.3 miles from Hempstead.

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

The direct path is about 282.5 miles (454.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 76 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 $50.71 one way or $101.43 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 112.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog around Potsdam and Partly Cloudy near Hempstead.

Stop Ideas Near Clifton Park

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

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Clifton Park and the surrounding midpoint area.
City Hall Lot
Scenic stop 9 mi away

City Hall Lot

Schenectady , NY
407 Liberty St, Schenectady, NY 12305
Rating 3.0/5 1 reviews Parking lot
Albany City Hall
Meeting point 14.4 mi away

Albany City Hall

Albany , NY
24 Eagle St, Albany, NY 12207
Rating 4.0/5 68 reviews City Hall,City government office

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Clifton Park.

RAIL

Schenectady

15 mi away
332 Erie Blvd.
BUS

Saratoga Springs, NY

23 mi away
267 Union Avenue
RAIL

Saratoga Springs station

24 mi away
26 Station Lane
RAIL

Albany–Rensselaer

25 mi away
525 East St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Potsdam and Hempstead. Straight-line distance: 282.45 mi (454.56 km).

Potsdam

#1 Potsdam

Village in New York

Population8,796
Coordinates44.6697800, -74.9813100
Altitude132
CountryUnited States
Hempstead

#2 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
Start: Potsdam (-74.98131, 44.66978)
End: Hempstead (-73.61874, 40.70621)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 577 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 56m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 57m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 10m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 58m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 07m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 28m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.65 gal
47.89 L · about $50.71
Round trip
$101.43
25.3 gal · 95.78 L
Estimated CO2
112.4 kg one way
Round trip: 224.8 kg / 496 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.01 $50.71 $101.43
Mid-grade $4.48 $56.68 $113.37
Premium $4.86 $61.49 $122.98
Diesel $4.69 $59.38 $118.76

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 15, 2026

There is no time difference between Potsdam and Hempstead. The current time is 18:13:29.

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.