Embark on a 344.5-mile journey from Cumberland Head, NY, to Babylon, NY, which will take approximately 7 hours to complete. This drive is primarily on major highways like the Adirondack Northway and I-87, with a portion on the Southern State Parkway as you approach your destination. With 51% of the route on highways, it's a manageable one-day trip, though you'll want to factor in about two stops along the way. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $56. This route offers a mixed driving experience as you travel south through the Northeast region of New York.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
172.2 miles from Cumberland Head, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Adirondack Northway
156.1 mi
3h 2m
I 87
118.6 mi
2h 17m
Southern State Parkway
18 mi
22m
NJ 17
14.1 mi
18m
NJ 4
6.7 mi
9m
Cross Bronx Expressway
6.6 mi
8m
Clearview Expressway
5 mi
5m
Farmingdale Road
3.5 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
Adirondack Northway
— 156.1 mi, about 3h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cumberland Head, NY and Babylon, NY.
1
Start on Tioga Lane
0.1 mi·33 sec·Tioga Lane
2
At end of road, turn right onto Mohawk Road
436 ft·20 sec·Mohawk Road
3
At end of road, turn right onto Oswego Lane
323 ft·18 sec·Oswego Lane
4
Turn left onto Seneca Drive
208 ft·9 sec·Seneca Drive
5
Turn slight right onto Cayuga Road
491 ft·22 sec·Cayuga Road
6
Turn right onto Cumberland Head Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Cumberland Head Road
7
Turn left onto Firehouse Lane
208 ft·11 sec·Firehouse Lane
8
Continue on Firehouse Lane
514 ft·26 sec·Firehouse Lane
9
Turn straight onto Commodore Thomas Macdonough Highway
0.9 mi·1 min·Commodore Thomas Macdonough Highway
10
Continue on NY 314
0.4 mi·43 sec·Moffitt Road
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·36 sec
12
Merge onto I 87
156 mi·3 hr 2 min·Adirondack Northway
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87
0.3 mi·31 sec·I 87
Exit 1E-WToward I 87 South, I 90: Boston, Albany, New York, BuffaloUse the slight right lane.
14
Continue on I 87
0.5 mi·51 sec·I 87
Exit 1WToward I 87 South, I 90 West: New York, Buffalo
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87
118 mi·2 hr 16 min·I 87
Toward I 87 South: New YorkUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17
0.9 mi·59 sec·NY 17
Exit 15Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New JerseyUse the slight right lane.
17
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
0.5 mi·39 sec·I 287; NJ 17
18
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17
14 mi·18 min·NJ 17
Exit 66Toward NJ 17 South: MahwahUse the slight left / straight lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
21
Merge onto NJ 4
0.3 mi·24 sec·NJ 4
Use the right lane.
22
Continue on NJ 4
6.4 mi·8 min·NJ 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington BridgeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
24
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.7 mi·54 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
26
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
28
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi·6 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
2.0 mi·2 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Exit 6BToward I 295 South: Throgs Neck BridgeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
30
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi·58 sec·Throgs Neck Expressway
31
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Continue on I 295
5.0 mi·5 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Continue on NY 24
0.7 mi·1 min·Hollis Court Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
34
At end of road, turn left onto NY 24
0.2 mi·35 sec·Jamaica Avenue
Use the left lane.
35
Turn right onto Hempstead Avenue
0.9 mi·2 min·Hempstead Avenue
36
Turn right onto 225th Street
228 ft·9 sec·225th Street
Use the right lane.
37
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward Cross Island Parkway South, Verrazano Bridge
38
Merge onto CI
1.3 mi·1 min·Cross Island Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 25AToward Southern State Parkway East, Eastern Long IslandUse the slight left / straight lanes.
40
Merge onto SO
18 mi·22 min·Southern State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 33Toward NY 109 East: BabylonUse the slight right lane.
42
Turn slight right onto NY 109
3.5 mi·5 min·Farmingdale Road
Use the left lane.
43
Continue on NY 109
0.9 mi·1 min·Little East Neck Road North
44
Turn left onto NY 27A
0.5 mi·49 sec·West Main Street
45
Turn right onto South Carll Avenue
68 ft·2 sec·South Carll Avenue
46
Arrive at destination
South Carll Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 7-hour drive, consider an early morning departure from Cumberland Head to maximize daylight and minimize traffic, especially as you approach the Long Island area. With two recommended stops, plan to take breaks roughly every 2.5 to 3 hours to stay refreshed. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 156.1 miles on the Adirondack Northway, so ensure you have sufficient fuel before starting this segment. Given the predominantly highway nature of the route, keeping an eye on your fuel gauge and knowing your next potential refueling point will be key.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 172.2 miles from Cumberland Head, NY, or about 3h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 156.1 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 76 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 172.2 miles or 3h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Babylon, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Cumberland Head, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Cumberland Head, NY
This is one driving day of about 344.5 miles and 7h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 miles from Cumberland Head, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Adirondack Northway for about 156.1 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 159 and 320.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
159 mi into trip|~3h 9m in|I 87
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87 toward I 87 South, I 90: Boston, Albany, New York, Buffalo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1E-W
Toward I 87 South, I 90: Boston, Albany, New Yo...
9
277.5 mi into trip|~5h 27m in|NY 17
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17 toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 15
Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
8
278.9 mi into trip|~5h 28m in|NJ 17
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17 toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 66
Toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
8
308 mi into trip|~6h 8m in|I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 6B
Toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge
8
320.9 mi into trip|~6h 27m in
Take the exit toward Southern State Parkway East, Eastern Long Island
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 25A
Toward Southern State Parkway East, Eastern Lon...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$56.71 one way
$113.41 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg121 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$61.32
$122.64
premium
$4.92
$66.77
$133.54
diesel
$5.61
$76.06
$152.12
Estimated Tolls: $22.55
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge
$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
$57
Tolls
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$104–$129
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 120.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
103.4
1
$36.17
$16.54
Efficient EV
86.1
0
$30.14
$13.78
EV Truck/SUV
137.8
1
$48.23
$22.05
Gas CO2
121 kg
EV CO2
40 kg (67% 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 Apr 14, 2026
Origin
Cumberland Head, NY
Afternoon
in Cumberland Head on Sunday
Local time
4:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Babylon, NY
Afternoon
in Babylon on Sunday
Local time
4:23 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Cloudy
W 6 to 10 mph9% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:26AM EDT until April 15 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
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
1 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
7h on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 296.9
Caution: Lower Crypt Access Subject to Safe Conditions
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...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 308.8
In 1777, a large British invasion force met an equally large American army here at Saratoga. After two intense battles, an eight-mile retreat, and a three-day siege, British General John Burgoyne surr...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
Free
near mile 130.7
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 308.8
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
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 308.8
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
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 308.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive presents a mixed character, with over half of the 344.5 miles, specifically 51%, spent on highways like I-87. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 156.1 miles on the Adirondack Northway, offering a consistent pace. As you transition, the drive incorporates parkway driving, suggesting a change in scenery and speed. Expect a blend of efficient travel on major arteries and potentially more varied conditions on the parkway sections, making for a dynamic driving experience.
51% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
46 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 156.1 mi on Adirondack Northway.
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 159 miles in near I 87.
Driving Effort10/10
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 31 significant decision points across 344.5 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 159 miles (I 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 277.5 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 278.9 miles (NJ 17): 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 Cumberland Head, NY and Babylon, NY, road signs point toward Albany, New York, Buffalo, Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee and Cross Island Parkway South - among others.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h. Total distance: 344.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 156.1 miles on Adirondack Northway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $22.55 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 Babylon, 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 159 miles (I 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 277.5 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 278.9 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — General Grant National Memorial, Hamilton Grange National Memorial and Saratoga National Historical Park (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.0 hours each way, a round trip means 14.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Babylon, NY before the return drive.
