How far is Watson, NY from Hempstead, NY?
The driving distance from Watson, NY to Hempstead, NY is about 304.8 miles (490.6 km), with a travel time of about 06h 18m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 231.6 miles (372.7 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 12h 36m 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 18m.
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 Rensselaer County, New York, United States of America
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Partly Cloudy
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Watson and Hempstead.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Watson and Hempstead.
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1
Start on Number Four Road
1558 ft · 49 sec · Number Four Road
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2
Turn left onto East Martinsburg Road
2957 ft · 2 min · East Martinsburg Road
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3
Turn right onto Bealuk Road
1 mi · 4 min · Bealuk Road
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4
Turn sharp left onto Bea Luck Road
18.4 mi · 22 min · Bea Luck Road
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5
Continue on State Highway 12
1.2 km · 52 sec · State Highway 12
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6
Continue on Erwin Parkway
9.7 mi · 11 min · Erwin Parkway
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7
Continue on State Highway 12
22 mi · 31 min · State Highway 12
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8
Take the exit slight right
1572 ft · 38 sec
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9
Merge slight left onto State Route 49
2039 ft · 27 sec · State Route 49
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10
Continue straight
998 ft · 13 sec
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11
Take the exit slight right toward Genesee Street South
840 ft · 18 sec
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12
Keep slight left to continue on I 90
1.2 km · 2 min
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13
Keep slight right to continue on I 90 East
1766 ft · 43 sec
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14
Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway
83.7 mi · 1 hr 37 min · New York State Thruway
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15
Keep slight right to continue on New York State Thruway
118.2 mi · 2 hr 16 min · New York State Thruway
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16
Keep slight right to continue on I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
1.5 km · 60 sec
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17
Continue straight
2496 ft · 39 sec
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18
Keep slight left to continue on NJ 17 South: Mahwah
14.1 mi · 19 min
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19
Take the exit slight right toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
566 ft · 19 sec
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20
Keep slight left to continue on NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
2455 ft · 1 min
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21
Merge slight left
1417 ft · 24 sec
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22
Continue straight
6.4 mi · 9 min
-
23
Take the exit slight left toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge
1124 ft · 18 sec
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24
Merge slight left
1.2 km · 55 sec
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25
Keep slight left
1.3 km · 1 min
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26
Continue on George Washington Bridge (upper level)
3174 ft · 1 min · George Washington Bridge (upper level)
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27
Continue on Trans-Manhattan Expressway
1.2 km · 1 min · Trans-Manhattan Expressway
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28
Continue on Cross Bronx Expressway
4.7 mi · 6 min · Cross Bronx Expressway
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29
Keep slight right to continue on Cross Bronx Expressway
2 mi · 3 min · Cross Bronx Expressway
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30
Merge slight left onto Throgs Neck Expressway
3271 ft · 58 sec · Throgs Neck Expressway
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31
Continue on Throgs Neck Bridge
2 mi · 3 min · Throgs Neck Bridge
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32
Continue on Clearview Expressway
5 mi · 6 min · Clearview Expressway
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33
Turn left onto Hillside Avenue
1.2 km · 1 min · Hillside Avenue
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34
Turn right onto Braddock Avenue
1.1 mi · 2 min · Braddock Avenue
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35
Turn left onto Jamaica Avenue
934 ft · 34 sec · Jamaica Avenue
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36
Continue on Jericho Turnpike
2886 ft · 57 sec · Jericho Turnpike
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37
Turn slight right onto Tulip Avenue
2 mi · 4 min · Tulip Avenue
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38
Turn right onto New Hyde Park Road
2197 ft · 56 sec · New Hyde Park Road
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39
Turn left onto Hempstead Turnpike
2 mi · 4 min · Hempstead Turnpike
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40
Turn slight right onto Front Street
1.3 km · 2 min · Front Street
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41
Turn right onto Greenwich Street
548 ft · 11 sec · Greenwich Street
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42
Turn left onto Peninsula Boulevard
1041 ft · 26 sec · Peninsula Boulevard
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43
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Peninsula Boulevard
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Watson and Hempstead.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
New York State Thruway
Keep slight right to continue on New York State Thruway
118 mi · 02h 16m
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.
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Watson 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 Watson to Hempstead?
The road trip is about 304.8 miles (490.6 km) and usually takes 06h 18m 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?
Castleton-on-Hudson is a useful midpoint, sitting about 152.4 miles from Watson and 152.5 miles from Hempstead.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 231.6 miles (372.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 73.2 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 $43.14 one way or $86.27 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 95.6 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Watson and Partly Cloudy near Hempstead.
Stop Ideas Near Castleton-on-Hudson
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 Castleton-on-Hudson.
Albany–Rensselaer
Hudson
Schenectady
Joseph Scelsi Intermodal Transportation Center
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Watson and Hempstead. Straight-line distance: 231.55 mi (372.65 km).
#1 Watson
Town in New York, United States
| Population | 1,780 |
| Coordinates | 43.7759000, -75.4360200 |
| Altitude | 228 |
| Country | United States |
#2 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 |
End: Hempstead (-73.61874, 40.70621)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 491 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 10h 09m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 07h 37m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 05m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 04m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 21m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 48m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.01 | $43.14 | $86.27 |
| Mid-grade | $4.48 | $48.22 | $96.43 |
| Premium | $4.86 | $52.30 | $104.61 |
| Diesel | $4.69 | $50.51 | $101.01 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.