Origin
Babylon, NY
Evening in Babylon on Sunday
Local time
5:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Babylon, NY to Charleston, NY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 26, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 33m
Distance
218.9 mi
352 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 20m
★
6 AM
4h 33m
8 AM
5h 0m
10 AM
4h 43m
12 PM
4h 40m
3 PM
4h 44m
5 PM
4h 59m
8 PM
4h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Babylon, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Charleston, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Trip Overview
Babylon, NY to Charleston, NY is 218.9 miles and takes about 4h 33m via NY 17 and Southern State Parkway, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York State, so you won't encounter border crossings or different state regulations. The route is predominantly highway driving, making it a straightforward option for a single-day trip. It's a practical choice if you need to cover ground efficiently without extensive planning, offering a predictable travel experience.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
109.4 miles from Babylon, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 21m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NY 17 | 117.5 mi | 2h 15m |
| Southern State Parkway | 17.9 mi | 22m |
| NJ 17 | 14.7 mi | 18m |
| New York State Thruway | 11 mi | 12m |
| Western Turnpike | 6.8 mi | 10m |
| NJ 4 | 6.7 mi | 9m |
| Cross Bronx Expressway | 6.6 mi | 8m |
| I 88 | 5 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
NY 17
— 117.5 mi, about 2h 15m
Traffic on I-95
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
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 21 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Babylon, NY and Charleston, NY.
1
Start on South Carll Avenue
68 ft
·
11 sec
·
South Carll Avenue
2
Turn left onto NY 27A
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
West Main Street
3
Turn right onto NY 109
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Little East Neck Road North
4
Continue on NY 109
3.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Farmingdale Road
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
Toward SO West: New York
6
Merge onto SO
18 mi
·
22 min
·
Southern State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Toward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone Bridge
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto CI
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Cross Island Parkway
9
Take the exit
317 ft
·
9 sec
Exit 26B
Toward NY 24: UBS Arena-Belmont Park
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
437 ft
·
12 sec
Toward NY 24 West: Hempstead Avenue
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
Toward Cross Island Parkway North, Hempstead Avenue West
12
Keep slight right at fork
266 ft
·
8 sec
Toward Hempstead Avenue West
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
this road
Toward Grandstand, Hempstead Avenue West
14
Keep slight left at fork
100 ft
·
4 sec
Toward Hempstead Avenue
15
Turn right onto NY 24
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Hempstead Avenue
Use the right lane.
16
Turn left onto Jamaica Avenue
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Jamaica Avenue
17
Turn right onto NY 24
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
212th Street
18
Continue on I 295
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Clearview Expressway
Toward I 295 North: Clearview Expressway, Through Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Throgs Neck Bridge
20
Continue on I 295
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Throgs Neck Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295
6.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; US 1
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Trans-Manhattan Expressway
Toward Upper Level
23
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
George Washington Bridge (upper level)
24
Continue on I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
25
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
0.6 mi
·
39 sec
·
I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; NJTP
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
I 95 EXPR; NJTP
27
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 72A
Toward NJ 4 West: Paramus
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
29
Merge onto NJ 4
6.7 mi
·
9 min
·
NJ 4
Use the slight right lane.
30
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward GSP South, NJ 17 South, GSP North, NJ 17 North: Grand State Plaza, Newark, Mahwah
Use the straight lane.
31
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
Toward NJ 17 North: Mahwah
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Merge onto NJ 17
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
NJ 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Continue on NJ 17
7.3 mi
·
9 min
·
NJ 17
Use the straight / right lanes.
34
Continue on NJ 17
0.7 mi
·
50 sec
·
NJ 17
35
Continue on NJ 17
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
NJ 17
36
Continue on I 287; NY 17
0.2 mi
·
10 sec
·
I 287; NY 17
37
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 17
118 mi
·
2 hr 15 min
·
NY 17
Toward I 87 North, NY 17 North, New York State Thruway North: Albany
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
11 mi
·
12 min
·
New York State Thruway
Toward I 90 West: Buffalo
39
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 25A
Toward I 88, NY 7: Schenectady, Binghamton
40
Continue on this road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
41
Continue on I 88
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
I 88
42
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 24
Toward US 20, NY 7: Duanesburg
43
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
44
At end of road, turn left onto NY 7
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Schenectady Duanesburg Road
45
Continue on NY 7
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Duanesburg Road
46
Turn slight right onto US 20
6.8 mi
·
10 min
·
Western Turnpike
47
Continue on US 20
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
United States Highway 20
48
Turn right onto NY 30A; NY 162
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 30A
49
Continue on NY 30A
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 30A
50
Continue on NY 30A
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Oak Ridge Road
51
Continue on NY 30A
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Oak Ridge Road
52
Arrive at destination
NY 30A
Trip Plan
For this relatively short, single-day drive, leaving early in the morning is your best bet to avoid the worst of any potential traffic, especially on the parkway sections. You have flexibility with stops since the total duration is under five hours. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, particularly during the 117.5-mile stretch on NY 17, as services might be less frequent. The estimated fuel cost of $36 should help you budget accordingly for this trip.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 109.4 miles from Babylon, NY, or about 2h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 117.5 miles.
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 48 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.4 miles or 2h 21m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Charleston, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Babylon, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Babylon, NY
This is one driving day of about 218.9 miles and 4h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Babylon, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on NY 17 for about 117.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
109 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 109.4 miles from Babylon, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before NY 17 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 117.5 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 325 decision points cluster between mile 24.7 and 50.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
24.7 mi into trip
|
~33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NY 24 West: Hempstead Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward NY 24 West: Hempstead Avenue
8
24.9 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Hempstead Avenue West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Hempstead Avenue West
8
43.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
9
43.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 4 West: Paramus
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 72A
Toward NJ 4 West: Paramus
8
50.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 17 North: Mahwah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NJ 17 North: Mahwah
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.58 one way
$71.15 round trip
$4.13/gal
25.4 MPG avg
77 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.47 | $38.51 | $77.01 |
| premium | $4.87 | $41.94 | $83.87 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $46.56 | $93.13 |
Estimated Tolls: $23.58
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
New York State Thruway
(11 mi)
$0.55
Western Turnpike
(6.8 mi)
$0.48
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
$36
Tolls
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$84–$109
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 65.7 | 0 | $22.98 | $10.51 |
| Efficient EV | 54.7 | 0 | $19.15 | $8.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 87.6 | 1 | $30.65 | $14.01 |
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Charleston, NY
Evening in Charleston on Sunday
Local time
5:38 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
18 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 33m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is mostly highway, with 88% of the 218.9 miles on high-speed roads like NY 17 and the Southern State Parkway. You'll experience a long stretch of 117.5 miles on NY 17, which means extended periods of consistent cruising. Expect dense traffic and frequent exits as you navigate the parkway system and approach your destination.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
52 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 117.5 mi on NY 17.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NY 17 and Southern State Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 24.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 32 significant decision points across 218.9 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 24.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Babylon, NY and Charleston, NY, road signs point toward Cross Island Parkway North, Hempstead Avenue West, Grandstand, Upper Level, Njtp South: Hackensack and Gsp South - among others.
Cross Island Parkway North
23 mi in
|
~31m
Hempstead Avenue West
24.8 mi in
|
~34m
Grandstand
24.9 mi in
|
~34m
Upper Level
41.2 mi in
|
~57m
|
via I 95; US 1
Njtp South: Hackensack
43.7 mi in
|
~1h 1m
Gsp South
50.8 mi in
|
~1h 11m
Gsp North
50.8 mi in
|
~1h 11m
Newark
50.8 mi in
|
~1h 11m
Mahwah
50.8 mi in
|
~1h 11m
New York State Thruway North: Albany
66 mi in
|
~1h 31m
|
via NY 17
Binghamton
194.5 mi in
|
~3h 59m
About the Cities
Starting in Babylon, NY
Full guide →Arriving in Charleston, NY
Full guide →City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 33m. Total distance: 218.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 117.5 miles on NY 17. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $23.58 in tolls one way, starting with George Washington Bridge. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Charleston, NY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 24.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Charleston, NY, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
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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