The drive from Lake Luzerne, NY to Babylon, NY covers 233.2 miles and takes about 4h 58m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 87, Adirondack Northway, Southern State Parkway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mostly highway.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 118.6 miles on I 87.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.90 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
116.6 miles from Lake Luzerne, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 87
118.6 mi
2h 17m
Adirondack Northway
23.8 mi
29m
Southern State Parkway
18 mi
22m
NJ 17
14.1 mi
18m
Route 9N
9.9 mi
13m
NJ 4
6.7 mi
9m
Cross Bronx Expressway
6.6 mi
8m
Clearview Expressway
5 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 87
— 118.6 mi, about 2h 17m
Traffic on I-87
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 13 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,385 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,146
Quietest
1 AM
~143 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
23.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 28 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 Lake Luzerne, NY and Babylon, NY.
1
Start on CR 16
4.9 mi·7 min·East River Drive
2
Continue on CR 9
345 ft·16 sec·River Street
3
Turn left onto NY 9N
457 ft·18 sec·Main Street
4
Turn right onto NY 9N
0.3 mi·33 sec·Maple Street
5
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 9N
1.3 mi·2 min·Saratoga Avenue
6
Continue on NY 9N
9.9 mi·13 min·Route 9N
7
Continue on NY 9N
2.3 mi·4 min·Church Street
8
Continue on NY 9N
0.4 mi·52 sec·Church Street
9
Turn right onto US 9; NY 29; NY 50
4.1 mi·6 min·Broadway
10
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 87 South
11
Merge onto I 87
24 mi·29 min·Adirondack Northway
Use the slight right lane.
12
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.
13
Continue on I 87
0.5 mi·51 sec·I 87
Exit 1WToward I 87 South, I 90 West: New York, Buffalo
14
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.
15
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.
16
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
0.5 mi·39 sec·I 287; NJ 17
17
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.
18
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
20
Merge onto NJ 4
0.3 mi·24 sec·NJ 4
Use the right lane.
21
Continue on NJ 4
6.4 mi·8 min·NJ 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington BridgeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
23
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.7 mi·54 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
25
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
27
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi·6 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
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.
29
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi·58 sec·Throgs Neck Expressway
30
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Continue on I 295
5.0 mi·5 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Continue on NY 24
0.7 mi·1 min·Hollis Court Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
33
At end of road, turn left onto NY 24
0.2 mi·35 sec·Jamaica Avenue
Use the left lane.
34
Turn right onto Hempstead Avenue
0.9 mi·2 min·Hempstead Avenue
35
Turn right onto 225th Street
228 ft·9 sec·225th Street
Use the right lane.
36
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward Cross Island Parkway South, Verrazano Bridge
37
Merge onto CI
1.3 mi·1 min·Cross Island Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 25AToward Southern State Parkway East, Eastern Long IslandUse the slight left / straight lanes.
39
Merge onto SO
18 mi·22 min·Southern State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
40
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 33Toward NY 109 East: BabylonUse the slight right lane.
41
Turn slight right onto NY 109
3.5 mi·5 min·Farmingdale Road
Use the left lane.
42
Continue on NY 109
0.9 mi·1 min·Little East Neck Road North
43
Turn left onto NY 27A
0.5 mi·49 sec·West Main Street
44
Turn right onto South Carll Avenue
68 ft·2 sec·South Carll Avenue
45
Arrive at destination
South Carll Avenue
Trip Plan
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 116.6 miles from Lake Luzerne, NY, or about 2h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 118.6 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 51 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.6 miles or 2h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 59m
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 Lake Luzerne, 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 Lake Luzerne, NY
This is one driving day of about 233.2 miles and 4h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Lake Luzerne, 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 87 for about 118.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 116.6 miles from Lake Luzerne, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 87 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 118.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 30
5 decision points cluster between mile 47.7 and 209.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
47.7 mi into trip|~1h 7m 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
166.3 mi into trip|~3h 25m 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
167.7 mi into trip|~3h 27m 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
196.8 mi into trip|~4h 7m 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
209.7 mi into trip|~4h 26m 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
$37.90 one way
$75.80 round trip
$4.13/gal25.4 MPG avg82 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.47
$41.02
$82.04
premium
$4.87
$44.68
$89.35
diesel
$5.40
$49.61
$99.21
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
$38
Tolls
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$85–$110
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
EV Charging Along Route
3 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: fair
Stewart's Shops - Tesla Supercharger
Ballston Spa, NY
Tesla
8 DCFC
Aldi Ballston Spa TUL 117
Ballston Spa, NY
RED_E
8 DCFC
Carrols Burger King #2086 (Saratoga Springs, NY)
Saratoga Springs, NY
Electrify America
6 DCFC
Electrify America: 1
Tesla: 1
RED_E: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
70
0
$24.49
$11.19
Efficient EV
58.3
0
$20.40
$9.33
EV Truck/SUV
93.3
1
$32.65
$14.92
Gas CO2
82 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 26, 2026
Origin
Lake Luzerne, NY
Afternoon
in Lake Luzerne on Sunday
Local time
12:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Sunny
NE 2 to 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 26 at 12:24AM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 8:05PM EDT until April 26 at 11:00AM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY
Destination
Babylon, NY
Afternoon
in Babylon on Sunday
Local time
12:06 PM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Partly Sunny
NE 13 mph26% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 26 at 12:24AM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 8:05PM EDT until April 26 at 11:00AM EDT by NWS Buffalo 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
8 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
4h 58m 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.
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...
3 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 193
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...
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
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 24.1
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 193
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 193
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
233.2 mi in 4h 58m, mostly highway — 118.6 mi of that is on I 87.
79% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
45 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 118.6 mi on I 87.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 87 and Adirondack Northway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 47.7 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 30 significant decision points across 233.2 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 47.7 miles (I 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 166.3 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 167.7 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 Lake Luzerne, 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 4h 58m. Total distance: 233.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 118.6 miles on I 87. 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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 47.7 miles (I 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 166.3 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 167.7 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 5.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 10.0 hours — manageable with a long break at Babylon, NY, but most travelers stay overnight.
