Trip from Machias, NY to Babylon, NY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jul 20, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
8h 7m
Distance
398.7 mi
642 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$65
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Machias, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Babylon, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Machias, NY to Babylon, NY is 398.7 miles and takes about 8h 7m via Southern Tier Expressway, Keystone Shortway, and I 81, with a fuel budget near $65 and enough daylight to finish in a day, though an overnight is recommended. This drive stays within the Northeast region, primarily traversing New York State. It's a predominantly highway route, making it efficient for covering ground. Consider this trip if you're looking for a straightforward way to get from Western New York towards Long Island.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
199.3 miles from Machias, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 59m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Tier Expressway | 164.5 mi | 3h 11m |
| Keystone Shortway | 80 mi | 1h 37m |
| I 81 | 53.4 mi | 1h 3m |
| I 380 | 23.6 mi | 25m |
| Southern State Parkway | 18 mi | 22m |
| State Highway 16 | 10.6 mi | 15m |
| Main Street | 7.8 mi | 11m |
| Cross Bronx Expressway | 6.6 mi | 8m |
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 336 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,210 veh/hr typical · worst 4,900
Quietest
1 AM
~430 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 52 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 Machias, NY and Babylon, NY.
Start on NY 16
Continue on NY 16
Continue on NY 16; NY 98
Continue on NY 16; NY 98
Continue on NY 16; NY 98
Continue on NY 16
Continue on NY 16
Turn left
Merge onto I 86; NY 17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
Continue on I 84; I 380
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Turn right
Turn straight onto CR 56
Continue on CR 56
Continue on CR 56
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46
Take the exit
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
Continue on I 95; US 1
Continue on I 95; US 1
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
Merge onto I 295
Continue on I 295
Continue on I 295
Continue on NY 24
At end of road, turn left onto NY 24
Turn right onto Hempstead Avenue
Turn right onto 225th Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto CI
Take the exit
Merge onto SO
Take the exit
Turn slight right onto NY 109
Continue on NY 109
Turn left onto NY 27A
Turn right onto South Carll Avenue
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
With an estimated drive time of over 8 hours, this route is best split into two days to avoid fatigue. Plan to depart in the morning to maximize daylight for your first leg. You'll have 2 recommended stops along the way, so use these to stretch your legs and refuel. The longest stretch is over 160 miles, so ensure you have sufficient fuel before embarking on those segments. Given the 73% highway share, keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is advisable, especially in more rural sections.
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.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 88 miles or 1h 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 199.3 miles or 3h 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 199.3 miles or 3h 59m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 45m
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 Machias, 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.
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Machias, NY
Aim for roughly 199 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Babylon, NY
Aim for roughly 199 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
199 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in New York City, NYOvernight Options
Night 1
199 mi · about 4.1h in
A practical overnight split lands near New York City, NY after about 199 miles or 4.1 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
A short stop after about 88 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 199.3 miles from Machias, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Southern Tier Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 164.5 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 199 miles or 4.1 hours on the road.
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.
Rest Area
Nichols Rest Area
Rest Area
Campbell Rest Area
Crescent Lake Rest Area
Rest Area
Rest Area
Rest Area
Pilot Travel Center
Flying J Travel Center
Owego Rest Area
Broome Gateway Rest Area
Pennsylvania Welcome Center
Rest Area
Onvo Travel Plaza
Rest Area
Friendship Rest Area
Hornellsville Scenic Overlook/ Texting Zone / Parking Area
Kanona Rest Area
Onvo Travel Plaza
Love's Travel Stop
TA
Penn-Can Travel Plaza
Service Plaza
Service Plaza
Pennsylvania Welcome Center
Erwin Text Zone / Parking Area
Love's Travel Stop
TA
Onvo Travel Plaza
Service Plaza
Service Plaza
Service Plaza
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 305 decision points cluster between mile 237.9 and 375.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6 toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward Leonia, Teaneck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
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
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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$64.50 one way
$129.00 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.46 | $69.99 | $139.98 |
| premium | $4.85 | $76.10 | $152.20 |
| diesel | $4.80 | $75.28 | $150.56 |
Estimated Tolls: $22.55
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
$65
Tolls
$23
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$217–$327
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 139.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 119.6 | 1 | $41.86 | $19.14 |
| Efficient EV | 99.7 | 1 | $34.89 | $15.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 159.5 | 1 | $55.82 | $25.52 |
Gas CO2
139 kg
EV CO2
47 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.
Origin
Machias, NY
Morning in Machias on Monday
Local time
10:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Smoke
Destination
Babylon, NY
Morning in Babylon on Monday
Local time
10:36 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Smoke
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
12 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
8h 7m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 73% of your 398.7 miles on highways, so expect a good amount of time cruising at higher speeds. The longest continuous stretch on a single highway is 164.5 miles on the Southern Tier Expressway. After that, you'll transition to other major routes like the Keystone Shortway and I 81. Be prepared for the exit density to increase as you approach more populated areas.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern Tier Expressway and Keystone Shortway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 237.9 miles in near US 6.
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 398.7 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 237.9 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 352.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 352.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
1,665 ft
Total Descent
3,342 ft
Highest Point
1,915 ft
~256.3 mi in
Elevation Range
1,909 ft
Notable High Points
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Machias, NY and Babylon, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford, New York City, Leonia, Teaneck and George Washington Bridge Upper Level - among others.
Mt Pocono
Milford
New York City
Leonia
Teaneck
George Washington Bridge Upper Level
Cross Island Parkway South
Southern State Parkway East
Eastern Long Island
About the Cities
Starting in Machias, NY
Full guide →Franklinville is a town and village in Cattaraugus County, New York.
Arriving in Babylon, NY
Full guide →City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Frequently Asked Questions
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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