Origin
Alexandria Bay, NY
Late night in Alexandria Bay on Sunday
Local time
5:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 26, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 50m
Distance
380.3 mi
612 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$62
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alexandria Bay, NY
Muhammed Fatih Beki
Babylon, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Alexandria Bay, NY to Babylon, NY is 380.3 miles and takes about 7h 50m via New York State Thruway, State Highway 12, and Bea Luck Road, with a fuel budget near $62 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, taking you from the Northeast region down towards the southern part of the state. Expect a mix of highway cruising and surface roads as you make your way south. With a recommended one-day drive, this route is best suited for those looking for an efficient trip with minimal overnight stays.
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
190.1 miles from Alexandria Bay, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 54m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New York State Thruway | 201.9 mi | 3h 53m |
| State Highway 12 | 35.1 mi | 46m |
| Bea Luck Road | 19.8 mi | 23m |
| Southern State Parkway | 18 mi | 22m |
| State Route 37 | 15.9 mi | 18m |
| NJ 17 | 14.1 mi | 18m |
| Erwin Parkway | 9.7 mi | 11m |
| Van Allen Road | 8.4 mi | 9m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 13 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~4,026 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~1,234 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
3.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 21 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between Alexandria Bay, NY and Babylon, NY.
Start on Church Street
Continue on NY 26
Continue on NY 26
At end of road, turn right onto NY 26; NY 37
Continue on NY 37
Merge onto US 11
Enter roundabout onto US 11
Continue on US 11
Continue on NY 3; NY 12
Continue on NY 3; NY 12
Turn right onto NY 12
Continue on NY 12
Continue on NY 12
Continue on NY 12
Continue on NY 12
Continue on NY 12
Continue on NY 12
Continue on NY 12
Turn right onto NY 12; NY 26
Continue on NY 12
Continue on NY 12
Continue on NY 12
Continue on NY 12
Continue on NY 12
Take the exit
Merge onto NY 49
Continue on I 790; NY 5
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 90
Keep slight right at fork onto New York State Thruway
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto NJ 4
Continue on NJ 4
Take the exit
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
Continue on I 95; US 1
Continue on I 95; US 1
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
Merge onto I 295
Continue on I 295
Continue on I 295
Continue on NY 24
At end of road, turn left onto NY 24
Turn right onto Hempstead Avenue
Turn right onto 225th Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto CI
Take the exit
Merge onto SO
Take the exit
Turn slight right onto NY 109
Continue on NY 109
Turn left onto NY 27A
Turn right onto South Carll Avenue
Arrive at destination
Starting your drive from Alexandria Bay early in the morning will give you ample time to reach Babylon before evening. With a total driving time of under 8 hours, this is comfortably a one-day trip, but plan for your two recommended stops to stretch your legs and refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before entering longer stretches where services might be less frequent. Given the mix of highway and surface roads, be ready to adjust your speed and be aware of local traffic patterns.
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.
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 84 miles or 1h 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 190.1 miles or 3h 54m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Babylon, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Alexandria Bay, 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 Alexandria Bay, NY
This is one driving day of about 380.3 miles and 7h 50m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
190 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 84 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 190.1 miles from Alexandria Bay, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before New York State Thruway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 201.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 195.2 and 356.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight right at fork onto New York State Thruway toward I 87 South: New York, Boston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17 toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17 toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Take the exit toward Southern State Parkway East, Eastern Long Island
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$61.81 one way
$123.61 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.47 | $66.90 | $133.79 |
| premium | $4.87 | $72.86 | $145.71 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $80.90 | $161.79 |
Estimated Tolls: $32.64
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
$62
Tolls
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$119–$144
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 133.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 114.1 | 1 | $39.93 | $18.25 |
| Efficient EV | 95.1 | 1 | $33.28 | $15.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 152.1 | 1 | $53.24 | $24.34 |
Gas CO2
133 kg
EV CO2
44 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Alexandria Bay on Sunday
Local time
5:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
38°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Babylon on Sunday
Local time
5:30 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
42°F
Pleasant Valley, NY
190 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This drive is primarily surface roads, with the New York State Thruway accounting for 34% of the total mileage. You'll experience a significant stretch of 201.9 miles on the New York State Thruway before transitioning to other roads. Be prepared for more frequent exits and potential traffic as you approach more populated areas on the latter half of the trip.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 195.2 miles in near New York State Thruway.
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 33 significant decision points across 380.3 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 195.2 miles (New York State Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 313.4 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 314.8 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Alexandria Bay, NY and Babylon, NY, road signs point toward Genesee Street South, Boston, Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York and Cross Island Parkway South - among others.
Genesee Street South
Boston
Gsp South: Paterson
Fort Lee
New York
Cross Island Parkway South
Southern State Parkway East
Eastern Long Island
Alexandria Bay is a village in the Town of Alexandria in the Thousand Islands region of New York.
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 50m. Total distance: 380.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 50m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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