De Kalb to Babylon is 384.8 miles and takes about 7h 54m via New York State Thruway, with a fuel budget near $63 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast. You'll spend a good portion of your time on the New York State Thruway before transitioning to more local roads. It's a solid single-day drive if you're looking to cover ground efficiently.
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
192.4 miles from De Kalb, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New York State Thruway
201.9 mi
3h 53m
State Highway 12
22.8 mi
31m
Bea Luck Road
19.6 mi
23m
State Highway 812
19.1 mi
23m
Southern State Parkway
18 mi
22m
Indian River Road
16.1 mi
19m
NJ 17
14.1 mi
18m
US 11
11.5 mi
13m
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 201.9 mi, about 3h 53m
Traffic on I-95
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 26 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~4,026 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~1,234 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
3.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 21 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 De Kalb, NY and Babylon, NY.
1
Start on CR 17
79 ft·9 sec·County Road 17
2
Turn left onto NY 812
2.4 mi·2 min·State Highway 812
3
At end of road, turn right onto US 11; NY 812
11 mi·13 min·US 11; NY 812
4
Turn left onto NY 58; NY 812
0.6 mi·40 sec·William Street
5
Continue on NY 58; NY 812
5.5 mi·6 min·State Highway 58
6
Turn right onto NY 812
2.1 mi·2 min·Balmat-Fowler Road
7
Continue on NY 812
7.9 mi·9 min·State Highway 812
8
At end of road, turn right onto NY 3; NY 812
0.3 mi·33 sec·State Highway 812
9
Continue on NY 3; NY 812
0.4 mi·59 sec·State Street
10
Continue on NY 3; NY 812
0.8 mi·1 min·Main Street
11
Continue on NY 3; NY 812
2.9 mi·4 min·State Route 3
12
Turn left onto NY 812
5.7 mi·6 min·Indian River Road
13
Continue on NY 812
10 mi·12 min·Indian River Road
14
Continue on NY 812
0.8 mi·1 min·Main Street
15
Continue on NY 812
8.4 mi·10 min·State Highway 812
16
Turn left onto East State Street
1.5 mi·3 min·East State Street
17
Continue on Ross Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Ross Road
18
Turn left onto NY 12
20 mi·23 min·Bea Luck Road
19
Continue on NY 12
0.8 mi·51 sec·State Highway 12
20
Continue on NY 12
9.7 mi·11 min·Erwin Parkway
21
Continue on NY 12
22 mi·30 min·State Highway 12
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
23
Merge onto NY 49
0.4 mi·26 sec·State Route 49
24
Continue on I 790; NY 5
0.2 mi·13 sec·I 790; NY 5
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Toward Genesee Street South
26
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Toward I 90
27
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 90 East
28
Merge onto I 90
84 mi·1 hr 36 min·New York State Thruway
29
Keep slight right at fork onto New York State Thruway
118 mi·2 hr 16 min·New York State Thruway
Toward I 87 South: New York, BostonUse the slight right lane.
30
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.
31
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
0.5 mi·39 sec·I 287; NJ 17
32
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.
33
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
34
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
35
Merge onto NJ 4
0.3 mi·24 sec·NJ 4
Use the right lane.
36
Continue on NJ 4
6.4 mi·8 min·NJ 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington BridgeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
38
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.7 mi·54 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
40
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
42
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi·6 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
43
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.
44
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi·58 sec·Throgs Neck Expressway
45
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
46
Continue on I 295
5.0 mi·5 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
47
Continue on NY 24
0.7 mi·1 min·Hollis Court Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
48
At end of road, turn left onto NY 24
0.2 mi·35 sec·Jamaica Avenue
Use the left lane.
49
Turn right onto Hempstead Avenue
0.9 mi·2 min·Hempstead Avenue
50
Turn right onto 225th Street
228 ft·9 sec·225th Street
Use the right lane.
51
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward Cross Island Parkway South, Verrazano Bridge
52
Merge onto CI
1.3 mi·1 min·Cross Island Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
53
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 25AToward Southern State Parkway East, Eastern Long IslandUse the slight left / straight lanes.
54
Merge onto SO
18 mi·22 min·Southern State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
55
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 33Toward NY 109 East: BabylonUse the slight right lane.
56
Turn slight right onto NY 109
3.5 mi·5 min·Farmingdale Road
Use the left lane.
57
Continue on NY 109
0.9 mi·1 min·Little East Neck Road North
58
Turn left onto NY 27A
0.5 mi·49 sec·West Main Street
59
Turn right onto South Carll Avenue
68 ft·2 sec·South Carll Avenue
60
Arrive at destination
South Carll Avenue
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7h 54m drive, consider leaving early in the morning to avoid the worst of any potential traffic, especially as you approach Babylon. With two recommended stops, you can break up the driving comfortably. The longest stretch is over 200 miles on the Thruway, so plan your fuel accordingly before entering that section. Given it's a single-day trip, flexibility is on your side, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you move off the main highway towards the end.
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 192.4 miles from De Kalb, NY, or about 3h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 201.9 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 85 miles or 1h 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 192.4 miles or 3h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 30m
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 De Kalb, 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 De Kalb, NY
This is one driving day of about 384.8 miles and 7h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 85 miles from De Kalb, 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 New York State Thruway for about 201.9 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 36
5 decision points cluster between mile 199.7 and 361.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
199.7 mi into trip|~4h 5m in|New York State Thruway
Keep slight right at fork onto New York State Thruway toward I 87 South: New York, Boston
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 87 South: New York, Boston
9
317.8 mi into trip|~6h 21m 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
319.2 mi into trip|~6h 23m 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
348.3 mi into trip|~7h 3m 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
361.3 mi into trip|~7h 22m 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
$62.25 one way
$124.50 round trip
$4.11/gal25.4 MPG avg135 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$67.55
$135.10
premium
$4.85
$73.45
$146.89
diesel
$4.80
$72.66
$145.32
Estimated Tolls: $32.64
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
New York State Thruway
(201.9 mi)$10.09
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
$62
Tolls
$33
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$120–$145
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 134.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
115.4
1
$40.40
$18.47
Efficient EV
96.2
1
$33.67
$15.39
EV Truck/SUV
153.9
1
$53.87
$24.63
Gas CO2
135 kg
EV CO2
45 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
De Kalb, NY
Late night
in De Kalb on Tuesday
Local time
5:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Clear
W 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Babylon, NY
Late night
in Babylon on Tuesday
Local time
5:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Smoke
NW 5 to 9 mph11% chanceLive 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
17 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 54m 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.
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...
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...
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...
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...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 345
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
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 345
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 345
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
About a third of this drive, 33%, is on the New York State Thruway. You'll experience a continuous stretch of 201.9 miles on this highway. After the Thruway, you'll shift to surface roads, including State Highway 12 and Bea Luck Road, which likely means more local traffic and varied speed limits. Expect to notice the transition from high-speed cruising to more frequent intersections and town centers.
Only 33% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
60 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 201.9 mi on New York State Thruway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 199.7 miles in near New York State Thruway.
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 36 significant decision points across 384.8 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 199.7 miles (New York State Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 317.8 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 319.2 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,080 ft7 ft
Total Climb
1,163 ft
Total Descent
1,493 ft
Highest Point
1,080 ft
~82.5 mi in
Elevation Range
1,073 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between De Kalb, NY and Babylon, NY, road signs point toward Genesee Street South, Boston, Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York and Cross Island Parkway South - among others.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 54m. Total distance: 384.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 54m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 201.9 miles on New York State Thruway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $32.64 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 26 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 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. There are 26 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 199.7 miles (New York State Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 317.8 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 319.2 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 7.9 hours each way, a round trip means 15.8 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.
