Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
59m
Distance
40.1 mi
65 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
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
Melrose, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Babylon, NY to Melrose, NY is 40.1 miles and takes about 59 minutes via Southern State Parkway and Clearview Expressway, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within New York, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Expect a predominantly highway-focused experience for this relatively short trip. It's a straightforward journey well-suited for a quick transit, making it ideal if you're looking to cover ground efficiently without a significant time commitment.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southern State Parkway | 17.9 mi | 22m |
| Clearview Expressway | 5 mi | 5m |
| Farmingdale Road | 3.6 mi | 5m |
| Bruckner Expressway | 2 mi | 3m |
| Throgs Neck Bridge | 2 mi | 3m |
| Cross Island Parkway | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Cross Bronx Expressway | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| East 163rd Street | 1.1 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between Babylon, NY and Melrose, 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 left at fork onto I 295
Take the exit
Merge onto I 278
Take the exit
Turn straight onto Bruckner Boulevard
Keep slight right at fork onto Bruckner Boulevard
Continue on East 163rd Street
Turn right onto Reverend James A. Polite Avenue
Keep slight left at fork onto East 163rd Street
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 20 miles from Babylon, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 23 and 38.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone Bridge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward NY 24: UBS Arena-Belmont Park
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
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
Take the exit toward Bruckner Boulevard West, Hunts Point Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$6.60 one way
$13.20 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $7.14 | $14.27 |
| premium | $4.92 | $7.77 | $15.54 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.85 | $17.71 |
Estimated Tolls: $6.55
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$7
Total
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 14 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12 | 0 | $4.21 | $1.92 |
| Efficient EV | 10 | 0 | $3.51 | $1.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16 | 0 | $5.61 | $2.57 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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
Morning in Babylon on Sunday
Local time
6:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Morning in Melrose on Sunday
Local time
6:10 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
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.
This route is largely a highway-focused drive, with about 70% of the journey on major roadways. You'll experience the longest uninterrupted stretch of 17.9 miles on the Southern State Parkway. Expect a consistent pace on these main roads, including Farmingdale Road, as you navigate through the landscape. The character of the drive remains focused on efficient travel for the majority of its 40.1 miles.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern State Parkway and Clearview Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 23 miles in.
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 22 decision points packed into just 40.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 59m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 23 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.7 miles: 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 Babylon, NY and Melrose, NY, road signs point toward So West: New York, Cross Island Parkway North, Hempstead Avenue West, Grandstand and Manhattan.
So West: New York
Cross Island Parkway North
Hempstead Avenue West
Grandstand
Manhattan
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 59m. Total distance: 40.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). 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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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