Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 36m
Distance
159.8 mi
257 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Babylon, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Chatham, NY
Peter Olexa
This 159.8-mile drive from Babylon, NY, to Chatham, NY, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 3 hours and 36 minutes. You'll spend about 91% of your time on highways, primarily utilizing the Southern State Parkway, I-684, and the Taconic State Parkway. With an estimated fuel cost of $26, this route focuses on efficient travel between these two New York locations. It's a straightforward journey that allows you to cover significant ground without needing an overnight stop, making it ideal for a quick trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
79.9 miles from Babylon, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 46m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Taconic State Parkway | 62.1 mi | 1h 24m |
| I 684 | 27 mi | 31m |
| Southern State Parkway | 17.9 mi | 22m |
| I 84 | 15.4 mi | 18m |
| Hutchinson River Parkway | 13.5 mi | 19m |
| Clearview Expressway | 5 mi | 5m |
| Farmingdale Road | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| Throgs Neck Expressway | 2.5 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Babylon, NY and Chatham, NY.
Start on South Carll Avenue
Turn left onto NY 27A
Turn right onto NY 109
Continue on NY 109
Take the ramp
Merge onto SO
Take the exit
Merge onto CI
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Continue on this road
Keep slight left at fork
Turn right onto NY 24
Turn left onto Jamaica Avenue
Turn right onto NY 24
Continue on I 295
Continue on I 295
Continue on I 295
Keep slight right at fork onto I 695
Merge onto I 95
Continue on I 95
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto HR
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 684
Continue on I 684
Take the exit
Merge onto I 84
Take the exit
Merge onto Taconic State Parkway
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto NY 203
Turn right onto CR 61
Continue on Austerlitz Street
Arrive at destination
Given the 3-hour and 36-minute duration, this 159.8-mile trip is comfortably manageable in a single day. Aim to depart Babylon in the morning to take advantage of lighter traffic and maximize daylight hours. With only one recommended stop and a $26 fuel estimate, you can plan your journey with minimal disruptions. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before embarking on the 62.1-mile stretch on the Taconic State Parkway, as services can be spaced out.
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.
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 35 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.9 miles or 1h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chatham, NY than in the middle of the route.
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 159.8 miles and 3h 36m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
80 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 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 79.9 miles from Babylon, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Taconic State Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 62.1 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 24.7 and 37.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight left at fork toward NY 24 West: Hempstead Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward Hempstead Avenue West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto I 695 / Throgs Neck Expressway toward I 695 North: New Haven
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Hutchinson Parkway North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork toward Hutchinson River Parkway North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$26.30 one way
$52.61 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $28.44 | $56.89 |
| premium | $4.92 | $30.97 | $61.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $35.28 | $70.56 |
Estimated Tolls: $6.55
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
$26
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.9 | 0 | $16.78 | $7.67 |
| Efficient EV | 40 | 0 | $13.98 | $6.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 63.9 | 0 | $22.37 | $10.23 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Afternoon in Babylon on Tuesday
Local time
12:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Patchy Fog then Partly Sunny
Destination
Afternoon in Chatham on Tuesday
Local time
12:10 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
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
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 159.8-mile trip, with 91% of the drive on major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 62.1 miles along the Taconic State Parkway, offering a consistent pace. While the initial part of the journey may involve parkways, the overall profile suggests a smooth, relatively uninterrupted flow, minimizing complex navigation. This route is built for covering distance efficiently, prioritizing steady progress over frequent scenic detours.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Taconic State Parkway and I 684. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 24.7 miles in.
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 29 significant decision points across 159.8 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 34.5 miles (I 695 / Throgs Neck Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
1,287 ft
Total Descent
829 ft
Highest Point
818 ft
~91.3 mi in
Elevation Range
811 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Babylon, NY and Chatham, NY, road signs point toward Cross Island Parkway North, Hempstead Avenue West, Grandstand, Hutchinson Parkway North, Hutchinson River Parkway North and Taconic State Parkway North - among others.
Cross Island Parkway North
Hempstead Avenue West
Grandstand
Hutchinson Parkway North
Hutchinson River Parkway North
Taconic State Parkway North
Albany
Founded 1795
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 36m. Total distance: 159.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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