Origin
Melrose, NY
Late night in Melrose on Tuesday
Local time
4:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Melrose, NY to Babylon, NY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
59m
Distance
40.5 mi
65 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 55m
★
6 AM
0h 59m
8 AM
1h 9m
10 AM
1h 3m
12 PM
1h 2m
3 PM
1h 3m
5 PM
1h 9m
8 PM
0h 57m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Melrose, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Babylon, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Melrose, NY to Babylon, NY is 40.5 miles and takes about 59 minutes via Southern State Parkway, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip keeps you within New York State, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. It's a relatively short drive, focused heavily on highway travel, making it a convenient option for a quick journey. Plan for a straightforward trip that gets you to your destination efficiently, with minimal time on local roads.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southern State Parkway | 18 mi | 22m |
| Clearview Expressway | 5 mi | 5m |
| Farmingdale Road | 3.5 mi | 5m |
| Cross Bronx Expressway | 3.4 mi | 4m |
| Throgs Neck Bridge | 2 mi | 3m |
| Boston Road | 1.4 mi | 3m |
| Cross Island Parkway | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Hempstead Avenue | 0.9 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
Southern State Parkway
— 18 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Melrose, NY and Babylon, NY.
1
Start on East 163rd Street
502 ft
·
25 sec
·
East 163rd Street
2
Turn left onto Third Avenue
196 ft
·
6 sec
·
Third Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
3
Turn slight right onto Boston Road
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Boston Road
4
Turn slight left onto Southern Boulevard
62 ft
·
3 sec
·
Southern Boulevard
5
Turn right onto East 174th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East 174th Street
6
Turn left onto Bronx River Avenue
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Bronx River Avenue
7
Continue on Cross Bronx Expressway Service Road
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
Cross Bronx Expressway Service Road
8
Take the ramp
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
Toward I 95 North: New Haven Connecticut
9
Merge onto I 95
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Cross Bronx Expressway
Exit 6B
Toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
·
Throgs Neck Expressway
12
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 295
5.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on NY 24
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Hollis Court Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
15
At end of road, turn left onto NY 24
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Jamaica Avenue
Use the left lane.
16
Turn right onto Hempstead Avenue
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Hempstead Avenue
17
Turn right onto 225th Street
228 ft
·
9 sec
·
225th Street
Use the right lane.
18
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward Cross Island Parkway South, Verrazano Bridge
19
Merge onto CI
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Cross Island Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 25A
Toward Southern State Parkway East, Eastern Long Island
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
21
Merge onto SO
18 mi
·
22 min
·
Southern State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 33
Toward NY 109 East: Babylon
Use the slight right lane.
23
Turn slight right onto NY 109
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Farmingdale Road
Use the left lane.
24
Continue on NY 109
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Little East Neck Road North
25
Turn left onto NY 27A
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
West Main Street
26
Turn right onto South Carll Avenue
68 ft
·
2 sec
·
South Carll Avenue
27
Arrive at destination
South Carll Avenue
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
20 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 40.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 20.3 miles from Melrose, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 185 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 35.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Third Avenue
Turn left onto Third Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
2.6 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
I 95 / Cross Bronx Expressway
Merge onto I 95 / Cross Bronx Expressway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
4 mi into trip
|
~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
17 mi into trip
|
~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...
7
35.4 mi into trip
|
~50m in
Take the exit toward NY 109 East: Babylon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 33
Toward NY 109 East: Babylon
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.67 one way
$13.33 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
14 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $7.21 | $14.42 |
| premium | $4.92 | $7.85 | $15.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.94 | $17.88 |
Estimated Tolls: $6.55
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Tolls
$7
Total
$13
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.2 | 0 | $4.25 | $1.94 |
| Efficient EV | 10.1 | 0 | $3.54 | $1.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.2 | 0 | $5.67 | $2.59 |
Gas CO2
14 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (64% 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.
Destination
Babylon, NY
Late night in Babylon on Tuesday
Local time
4:08 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
59m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is primarily highway-focused, with 70% of the route utilizing major roadways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Southern State Parkway, including the longest uninterrupted stretch of 18 miles. Expect a consistent driving experience, largely characterized by the efficiency of parkways and expressways. The transition will feel smooth, as the route prioritizes continuous movement rather than winding through diverse local landscapes.
70% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 18 mi on Southern State Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern State Parkway and Clearview Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near Third Avenue.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 18 decision points packed into just 40.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 59m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (Third Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (I 95 / Cross Bronx Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 4 miles (I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway): 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Melrose, NY and Babylon, NY, road signs point toward Cross Island Parkway South, Southern State Parkway East and Eastern Long Island.
Cross Island Parkway South
15.5 mi in
|
~24m
Southern State Parkway East
17 mi in
|
~26m
Eastern Long Island
17 mi in
|
~26m
About the Cities
Arriving in Babylon, NY
Full guide →City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 59m. Total distance: 40.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (70%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 18 miles on Southern State Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $6.55 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 Babylon, 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 0.1 miles (Third Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 2.6 miles (I 95 / Cross Bronx Expressway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 4 miles (I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway): 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Babylon, NY before heading back.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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