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Trip from Babylon, NY to Moravia, NY

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 22, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 51m

Distance

278 mi

447 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$49

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
5h 38m ★
6 AM
5h 51m
8 AM
6h 17m
10 AM
6h 0m
12 PM
5h 58m
3 PM
6h 2m
5 PM
6h 16m
8 PM
5h 43m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

town in Long Island, New York, United States

Babylon, NY

Wikimedia Commons

town in Cayuga County, New York

Moravia, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Babylon, NY to Moravia, NY is 278 miles and takes about 5h 51m via I 81 and I 380, with a fuel budget near $46 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within New York, connecting the Northeast region from Long Island to the Finger Lakes area. With 64% of the route on highways, you'll find a fairly straightforward drive for most of the way. It's a manageable distance for a single day, making it a good option if you want to get to your destination without an overnight stop.

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

139 miles from Babylon, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 58m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 81 98.7 mi 1h 56m
Christopher Columbus Highway 68.2 mi 1h 20m
I 380 27.7 mi 30m
Southern State Parkway 17.9 mi 22m
Keystone Shortway 17.3 mi 24m
State Highway 90 12.8 mi 20m
Cross Bronx Expressway 6.6 mi 8m
Clearview Expressway 5 mi 5m
Longest stretch: I 81 — 98.7 mi, about 1h 56m

Traffic on I-80

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 336 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

3 PM

~4,190 veh/hr typical · worst 4,979

Quietest

1 AM

~446 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

9.4×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 103 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 Moravia, 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 left at fork

0.4 mi · 29 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
29

Merge onto I 95; NJTP

2.0 mi · 2 min · New Jersey Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30

Take the exit

0.8 mi · 1 min
Exit 69 Toward I 80 West: Paterson, Hackensack Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31

Continue on I 80

68 mi · 1 hr 20 min · Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

5.5 mi · 8 min · Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33

Keep slight left at fork onto I 80

12 mi · 15 min · Keystone Shortway
34

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 46 sec
Exit 293 Toward I 380 North: Scranton
35

Continue on I 380

28 mi · 30 min · I 380
Use the straight lane.
36

Merge onto I 81

58 mi · 1 hr 9 min · I 81
Use the straight lane.
37

Keep slight right at fork onto I 81

1.8 mi · 2 min · I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse, Albany
38

Keep slight left at fork onto I 81

39 mi · 45 min · I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse
39

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 1 min
Exit 54 Toward US 11, NY 281: Homer
40

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
41

Turn slight right

252 ft · 6 sec
42

Continue on NY 281

0.4 mi · 59 sec · South West Street
43

Turn left onto NY 90

331 ft · 9 sec · Cayuga Street
44

Continue on NY 90

13 mi · 20 min · State Highway 90
45

Turn right onto NY 38

0.8 mi · 1 min · Main Street
46

Continue on NY 38

2.1 mi · 2 min · State Highway 38
47

Continue on NY 38

0.8 mi · 2 min · South Main Street
48

Turn left onto Central Street

8 ft · 0 sec · Central Street
49

Arrive at destination

Central Street

Trip Plan

To make the most of this 5h 51m drive, consider leaving Babylon, NY in the morning to arrive in Moravia, NY with plenty of daylight. The route has only one recommended stop, so plan your breaks strategically, perhaps around the halfway point or before you begin the longest 98.7-mile stretch on I 81. With a fuel cost estimated at $46, it's a good idea to fill up before heading out. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility in your timing, but aim to avoid peak traffic leaving the New York City metropolitan area if possible.

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 139 miles from Babylon, NY, or about 2h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.7 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 61 miles or 1h 22m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 139 miles or 2h 58m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 42m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Moravia, 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 278 miles and 5h 51m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 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 I 81 for about 98.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

most populous city in the United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

New York City, NY

139 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

New York City, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 61 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Greene, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 139 miles from Babylon, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 81 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 98.7 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Broome Gateway Rest Area

0 mi from route

Rest Area

0 mi from route

Penn-Can Travel Plaza

0 mi from route

Rest area

0.1 mi from route

Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Whitney Point Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Pennsylvania Welcome Center

0.1 mi from route

Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Onvo Travel Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Crescent Lake Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Onvo Travel Plaza

0.1 mi from route

TA

0.1 mi from route

Pennsylvania Welcome Center

0.1 mi from route

Rest Area

0.1 mi from route

Flying J Travel Center

0.2 mi from route

Onvo Travel Plaza

0.2 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.3 mi from route

TA

0.5 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.6 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.7 mi from route

Service Plaza

1.2 mi from route

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 34

5 decision points cluster between mile 24.7 and 46.3 — 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
8
43.9 mi into trip | ~1h 1m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
8
46.3 mi into trip | ~1h 4m in

Take the exit toward I 80 West: Paterson, 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. Exit 69 Toward I 80 West: Paterson, Hackensack

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$48.66 one way

$97.32 round trip

$4.45/gal 25.4 MPG avg 97 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.82 $52.73 $105.46
premium $5.23 $57.24 $114.48
diesel $6.28 $68.69 $137.38

Estimated Tolls: $22.83

George Washington Bridge $16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge $6.55
New Jersey Turnpike (2 mi) $0.28

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

$49

Tolls

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$96–$121

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 97.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.

Driving Electric?

About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 83.4 1 $29.19 $13.34
Efficient EV 69.5 0 $24.33 $11.12
EV Truck/SUV 111.2 1 $38.92 $17.79

Gas CO2

97 kg

EV CO2

33 kg (66% 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Oct 19, 2026

Origin

Babylon, NY

Evening in Babylon on Thursday

Local time

5:12 PM

EDT

Current temp

61°F

Sunny

NE 7 to 12 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Destination

Moravia, NY

Evening in Moravia on Thursday

Local time

5:12 PM

EDT

Current temp

65°F

Sunny

W 3 mph 0% chance 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

4 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

5h 51m 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Hamilton Grange National Memorial

Hamilton Grange National Memorial

National Memorial

Merchant’s clerk, Revolutionary War soldier, first Secretary Treasury of the United States: Alexander Hamilton’s life is memorialized at The Grange, the home he built on a country estate in uptown Man...

4 mi from route ~10 min detour Free near mile 38.3
View on nps.gov
General Grant National Memorial

General Grant National Memorial

National Memorial

The final resting place of President Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, Julia, is the largest mausoleum in North America. It testifies to a people’s gratitude for the man who ended the bloodiest conflict...

5 mi from route ~12 min detour Free near mile 38.3
View on nps.gov
Stonewall National Monument

Stonewall National Monument

National Monument

Before the 1960s, almost everything about living authentically as a lesbian, a bisexual person or a gay man was illegal. The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969 is a milestone in the quest for civil r...

9 mi from route ~23 min detour Free near mile 47.9
View on nps.gov
African Burial Ground National Monument

African Burial Ground National Monument

National Monument

The African Burial Ground stands as the oldest and largest known excavated burial site in North America for both free and enslaved Africans. It offers a profound testament to the enduring legacy of Af...

11 mi from route ~27 min detour Free near mile 47.9
View on nps.gov
Castle Clinton National Monument

Castle Clinton National Monument

National Monument

Located at the southern tip of Manhattan, Castle Clinton marks the place where New York City began and reflects the growth of both the city and the nation. Built to defend the harbor during the War of...

11 mi from route ~28 min detour Free near mile 47.9
View on nps.gov
Federal Hall National Memorial

Federal Hall National Memorial

National Memorial

Here at Federal Hall, George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States, marking the beginning of the American constitutional republic. This historic site served as...

11 mi from route ~28 min detour Free near mile 47.9
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This drive is mostly highway, with 64% of the 278 miles on major roads like I 81 and I 380. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 98.7 miles on I 81, so expect long, uninterrupted cruising for a significant portion. Surface roads will come into play after these longer highway segments, offering a change of pace. You'll likely notice a good number of exits as you approach and leave populated areas.

64% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
49 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98.7 mi on I 81.

How Hard Is This Drive?

10/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 81 and Christopher Columbus Highway. 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 34 significant decision points across 278 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.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

1,951 ft 7 ft

Total Climb

2,612 ft

Total Descent

1,879 ft

Highest Point

1,951 ft

~139 mi in

Elevation Range

1,944 ft

Notable High Points

1,951 ft at ~139 miles +589 ft prominence

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 Moravia, NY, road signs point toward Cross Island Parkway North, Hempstead Avenue West, Grandstand, Upper Level, Njtp South: Hackensack and Hackensack - 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

Hackensack

46.3 mi in | ~1h 4m

Albany

219 mi in | ~4h 31m | via I 81

About the Cities

Starting in Babylon, NY

Full guide →

Arriving in Moravia, 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 5h 51m. Total distance: 278 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 98.7 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $22.83 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.

Yes — we found about 23 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.

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 Moravia, 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. There are 23 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

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.

Yes — Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial and Stonewall National Monument (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Not recommended in a single day. At 5.9 hours each way, a round trip means 11.7 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Moravia, NY before the return drive.

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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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