Spanning 61.7 miles across New York, this drive from Babylon to Upper Nyack typically takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Given the manageable duration, it functions perfectly as a straightforward day trip, meaning you won't need to worry about booking overnight accommodations. You can expect to spend approximately $10 on fuel for the journey, making it a budget-friendly option for your schedule. The route transitions through the Northeast region, utilizing a combination of the Southern State Parkway, the Clearview Expressway, and the New York State Thruway. Whether you are heading out for business or a change of pace, this trip provides a practical connection between these two points without the need for multiple stops.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
30.8 miles from Babylon, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 43m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Southern State Parkway
17.9 mi
22m
New York State Thruway
14.9 mi
20m
Clearview Expressway
5 mi
5m
Farmingdale Road
3.6 mi
5m
Throgs Neck Expressway
2.5 mi
3m
South Columbus Avenue
2.3 mi
3m
New England Thruway
2 mi
3m
Throgs Neck Bridge
2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Southern State Parkway
— 17.9 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Babylon, NY and Upper Nyack, 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 BridgeUse 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 26BToward NY 24: UBS Arena-Belmont ParkUse the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
437 ft·12 sec
Toward NY 24 West: Hempstead AvenueUse 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 WestUse 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 BridgeUse 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 right at fork onto I 695
1.8 mi·2 min·Throgs Neck Expressway
Exit 10Toward I 695 North: New HavenUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Merge onto I 95
1.0 mi·1 min·Bruckner Expressway
23
Continue on I 95
2.0 mi·3 min·New England Thruway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
24
Take the exit
351 ft·16 sec
Exit 13Toward Conner StreetUse the slight right lane.
25
Turn left onto Tillotson Avenue
0.1 mi·22 sec·Tillotson Avenue
26
Turn left onto Conner Street
0.3 mi·30 sec·Conner Street
27
Continue on NY 22
0.3 mi·59 sec·Provost Avenue
28
Continue on NY 22
0.2 mi·17 sec·South 3rd Avenue
29
Turn slight right onto NY 22
2.3 mi·3 min·South Columbus Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
30
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward Cross County Parkway WestUse the left lane.
31
Merge onto Cross County Parkway
0.8 mi·1 min·Cross County Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Keep slight right at fork onto Cross County Parkway (local lanes)
0.6 mi·56 sec·Cross County Parkway (local lanes)
Toward Exits 5 - 4N - 4SUse the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 4NToward Central Park Avenue NorthUse the slight right lane.
34
Turn straight onto Central Park Avenue
0.2 mi·32 sec·Central Park Avenue
35
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 87 North, New York State Thruway North: Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, Albany
36
Merge onto I 87
15 mi·20 min·New York State Thruway
Use the slight right lane.
37
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 11Toward US 9W: Nyack
38
Continue on High Avenue
0.1 mi·16 sec·High Avenue
39
Turn left onto US 9W
1.1 mi·1 min·North Highland Avenue
40
Turn right onto Christian Herald Road
437 ft·11 sec·Christian Herald Road
41
Continue on Old Mountain Road North
0.3 mi·44 sec·Old Mountain Road North
42
Continue on Old Mountain Road
185 ft·11 sec·Old Mountain Road
43
Turn left
99 ft·7 sec
44
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short 1.5-hour journey, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though avoiding peak traffic hours is always a wise strategy. You will not need to plan for any formal stops, allowing you to complete the 61.7-mile distance in one efficient push. Keep your $10 fuel budget in mind as you prepare, and ensure your vehicle is ready for the transition between the Southern State Parkway and the New York State Thruway. Because the route is compact, you can easily adapt your itinerary if you encounter unexpected delays on the Clearview Expressway. Focus on maintaining a steady pace through the highway portions to keep your arrival time predictable.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 30.8 miles from Babylon, NY, or about 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 17.9 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 14 miles or 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 30.8 miles or 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 16m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Upper Nyack, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Babylon, NY
This is one driving day of about 61.7 miles and 1h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Babylon, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Southern State Parkway for about 17.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 31
5 decision points cluster between mile 23 and 34.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
23 mi into trip|~31m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone B...
7
24.6 mi into trip|~33m in
Take the exit toward NY 24: UBS Arena-Belmont Park
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 26B
Toward NY 24: UBS Arena-Belmont Park
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
34.5 mi into trip|~48m in|I 695 / Throgs Neck Expressway
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 10
Toward I 695 North: New Haven
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.16 one way
$20.31 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg22 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$10.98
$21.96
premium
$4.92
$11.96
$23.92
diesel
$5.61
$13.62
$27.25
Estimated Tolls: $7.43
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
New York State Thruway
(14.9 mi)$0.74
New England Thruway
(2 mi)$0.14
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
$10
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 21.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
18.5
0
$6.48
$2.96
Efficient EV
15.4
0
$5.40
$2.47
EV Truck/SUV
24.7
0
$8.64
$3.95
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Babylon, NY
Late night
in Babylon on Sunday
Local time
4:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Scattered Rain Showers then Partly Cloudy
NE 3 to 7 mph33% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Upper Nyack, NY
Late night
in Upper Nyack on Sunday
Local time
4:46 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°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
4 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 30m on the road
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
7 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 36.1
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 36.1
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...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
Free
near mile 31.9
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...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 31.9
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...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 29.8
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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 29.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip features a mixed drive profile, balancing fast-paced highway segments with transitioning local road conditions. With 47% of your travel occurring on highways, you will experience a variety of road types as you navigate toward your destination. Your longest uninterrupted stretch covers 17.9 miles while traveling along the Southern State Parkway, providing a steady rhythm before the route shifts. Expect the character of the road to change as you transition between the parkways and the Thruway. It is not an monotonous interstate grind, but rather a dynamic drive that requires you to stay alert as you move through different traffic environments.
47% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
44 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.9 mi on Southern State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 23 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 61.7 miles you will encounter 31 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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.
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 Upper Nyack, NY, road signs point toward So West: New York, Cross Island Parkway North, Hempstead Avenue West, Grandstand, Cross County Parkway West and Exits 5 - 4N - 4S - among others.
So West: New York
5 mi in|~8m
Cross Island Parkway North
23 mi in|~31m
Hempstead Avenue West
24.8 mi in|~34m
Grandstand
24.9 mi in|~34m
Cross County Parkway West
42.6 mi in|~1h 2m
Exits 5 - 4N - 4S
43.7 mi in|~1h 3m|via Cross County Parkway (local lanes)
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 30m. Total distance: 61.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (47%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17.9 miles on Southern State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $7.43 in tolls one way, starting with Throgs Neck 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.
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 Upper Nyack, NY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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.
Yes — General Grant National Memorial, Hamilton Grange National Memorial and African Burial Ground National Monument (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Upper Nyack, NY before heading back.
