Portland, NY to Babylon, NY is 438.6 miles and takes about 9h 23m via Keystone Shortway and Southern State Parkway, with a fuel budget near $71 and an overnight stay recommended. This route stays within the Northeast region, traversing New York. With a significant portion on surface roads, it's a more relaxed drive than a pure interstate trip. Plan for around 2 days to comfortably complete this drive, allowing for breaks and enjoying the scenery without feeling rushed.
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
219.3 miles from Portland, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 5h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Keystone Shortway
262.7 mi
4h 57m
PA 948
23.8 mi
35m
Southern State Parkway
18 mi
22m
US 62
15.6 mi
19m
Boot Jack Road
11.2 mi
16m
Southern Tier Expressway
8.7 mi
10m
State Park Road
8.1 mi
14m
West Lake Road
7.7 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
Keystone Shortway
— 262.7 mi, about 4h 57m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 194 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~3,076 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,665
Quietest
1 AM
~346 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Portland, NY and Babylon, NY.
1
Start on US 20
5.6 mi·8 min·Erie Road
2
Continue on US 20
1.4 mi·3 min·East Main Street
3
Turn left onto NY 394
1.1 mi·1 min·South Portage Street
4
Continue on NY 394
4.4 mi·6 min·South Portage Road
5
Continue on NY 394
2.5 mi·3 min·North Erie Street
6
Continue on NY 394
1.9 mi·2 min·West Lake Road
7
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 394
5.8 mi·8 min·West Lake Road
8
Turn left
0.3 mi·34 sec
9
Merge onto I 86; NY 17
8.7 mi·10 min·Southern Tier Expressway
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 12Toward NY 60: Jamestown
11
Turn right onto NY 60
0.1 mi·20 sec·North Main Street
12
Turn left onto Marvin Parkway
0.2 mi·29 sec·Marvin Parkway
13
Turn right onto Lakeview Avenue
0.8 mi·1 min·Lakeview Avenue
14
Turn left onto Newton Avenue
73 ft·2 sec·Newton Avenue
15
Turn right onto Winsor Street
0.9 mi·2 min·Winsor Street
16
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·27 sec·this road
17
Turn slight right onto Allen Street
0.2 mi·26 sec·Allen Street
18
Continue on Maple Street
0.4 mi·49 sec·Maple Street
19
Continue on West Virginia Boulevard
0.4 mi·53 sec·West Virginia Boulevard
20
Turn right onto Glenview Avenue
0.1 mi·27 sec·Glenview Avenue
21
Turn left onto Martin Road
2.1 mi·3 min·Martin Road
22
At end of road, turn left onto NY 60
0.2 mi·17 sec·Foote Avenue
23
Turn right onto US 62
16 mi·19 min·US 62
24
Turn right onto US 62
0.2 mi·23 sec·West 4th Avenue
25
Turn left onto Hickory Street
0.2 mi·23 sec·Hickory Street
26
Continue on Hickory Bridge
0.1 mi·24 sec·Hickory Bridge
27
Turn left onto Crescent Park
0.4 mi·57 sec·Crescent Park
Use the left lane.
28
Turn left onto US 6
1.8 mi·3 min·Crescent Park
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
29
Continue on US 6
0.2 mi·35 sec·Main Street
Use the straight lane.
30
Continue on US 6
2.9 mi·4 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Use the straight lane.
31
Continue on US 6
1.4 mi·2 min·North Main Street
32
Continue on US 6
4.5 mi·6 min·Grand Army of the Republic Highway
33
Continue on US 6
1.1 mi·2 min·West Main Street
34
Take the exit
265 ft·9 sec
Toward PA 666 West
35
Merge onto PA 666
2.3 mi·4 min·South Main Street
36
Continue on PA 948
8.5 mi·12 min·PA 948
37
At end of road, turn left onto PA 66
2.9 mi·4 min·PA 66
38
Turn right onto PA 948
15 mi·22 min·PA 948
39
Turn left onto PA 948
1.0 mi·2 min·West Main Street
40
Continue on US 219; PA 948
11 mi·16 min·Boot Jack Road
41
Turn left onto PA 153
3.7 mi·6 min·Penfield Road
42
Continue on PA 153
5.0 mi·8 min·Hoovertown Road
43
Continue on PA 153
8.1 mi·14 min·State Park Road
44
Turn left
0.3 mi·40 sec
45
Merge onto I 80
263 mi·4 hr 57 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
46
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·5 min·Christopher Columbus Highway
Toward I 95: George Washington Bridge Lower LevelUse the slight right lane.
47
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·23 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
48
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 70A-BToward Leonia, TeaneckUse the slight right lane.
49
Turn right
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 70AToward LeoniaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
50
Turn straight onto CR 56
454 ft·9 sec·Degraw Avenue
51
Continue on CR 56
1.1 mi·2 min·Fort Lee Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
52
Continue on CR 56
469 ft·13 sec·Main Street
53
Take the ramp
472 ft·12 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge
54
Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46
0.3 mi·28 sec·Bergen Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
55
Take the exit
312 ft·4 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level
56
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.3 mi·20 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
57
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
58
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
59
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
60
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi·6 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
61
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.
62
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi·58 sec·Throgs Neck Expressway
63
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
64
Continue on I 295
5.0 mi·5 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
65
Continue on NY 24
0.7 mi·1 min·Hollis Court Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
66
At end of road, turn left onto NY 24
0.2 mi·35 sec·Jamaica Avenue
Use the left lane.
67
Turn right onto Hempstead Avenue
0.9 mi·2 min·Hempstead Avenue
68
Turn right onto 225th Street
228 ft·9 sec·225th Street
Use the right lane.
69
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward Cross Island Parkway South, Verrazano Bridge
70
Merge onto CI
1.3 mi·1 min·Cross Island Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
71
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 25AToward Southern State Parkway East, Eastern Long IslandUse the slight left / straight lanes.
72
Merge onto SO
18 mi·22 min·Southern State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
73
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 33Toward NY 109 East: BabylonUse the slight right lane.
74
Turn slight right onto NY 109
3.5 mi·5 min·Farmingdale Road
Use the left lane.
75
Continue on NY 109
0.9 mi·1 min·Little East Neck Road North
76
Turn left onto NY 27A
0.5 mi·49 sec·West Main Street
77
Turn right onto South Carll Avenue
68 ft·2 sec·South Carll Avenue
78
Arrive at destination
South Carll Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 9h 23m estimated drive time, this trip is best split over two days. Aim to depart early on your first day to cover a substantial portion, perhaps 5-6 hours, and find a comfortable place to rest. The longest stretch of highway is over 260 miles, so plan your fuel stops accordingly before entering that segment. With 2 recommended stops, consider breaking up the drive roughly in half to avoid fatigue and allow for a leisurely lunch or stretch break.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 219.3 miles from Portland, NY, or about 5h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 262.7 miles.
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 96 miles or 2h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 219.3 miles or 5h 1m 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 219.3 miles or 5h 1m
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 8h 2m
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 Portland, 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 Portland, NY
Aim for roughly 219 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Babylon, NY
Aim for roughly 219 miles and 4.7 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 96 miles from Portland, NY.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Keystone Shortway for about 262.7 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 48
5 decision points cluster between mile 387 and 415.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
387 mi into trip|~8h 11m in|I 80 / Christopher Columbus Highway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80 / Christopher Columbus Highway toward I 95: George Washington Bridge Lower Level
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 95: George Washington Bridge Lower Lev...
8
392.5 mi into trip|~8h 17m in
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, Ne...
9
392.7 mi into trip|~8h 18m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Leonia, Teaneck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 70A-B
Toward Leonia, Teaneck
8
402.2 mi into trip|~8h 32m 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
415.1 mi into trip|~8h 51m 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
$70.95 one way
$141.91 round trip
$4.11/gal25.4 MPG avg154 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$77.00
$153.99
premium
$4.85
$83.71
$167.43
diesel
$4.80
$82.82
$165.63
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
$71
Tolls
$23
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$224–$334
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 153.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $46 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
131.6
1
$46.05
$21.05
Efficient EV
109.7
1
$38.38
$17.54
EV Truck/SUV
175.4
2
$61.40
$28.07
Gas CO2
153 kg
EV CO2
51 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 16, 2026
Origin
Portland, NY
Night
in Portland on Saturday
Local time
9:27 PM
EDT
Current temp
81°F
Patchy Smoke
W 13 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Babylon, NY
Night
in Babylon on Saturday
Local time
9:27 PM
EDT
Current temp
82°F
Areas Of Smoke
SW 13 mph22% chanceLive forecast
59°F
Waverly, NY
219 mi in
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
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
9h 23m 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.
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...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 393.3
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...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 393.3
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...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 393.3
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...
11 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 393.3
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 393.3
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 393.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features a 19% highway share, meaning you'll spend most of your time on surface roads. The longest continuous stretch on a major road is 262.7 miles on the Keystone Shortway. After the Keystone Shortway, expect to transition to PA 948 and then the Southern State Parkway, which will likely involve more frequent intersections and local traffic merging.
Only 19% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
78 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 262.7 mi on Keystone Shortway.
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 387 miles in near I 80 / Christopher Columbus Highway.
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 48 significant decision points across 438.6 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 387 miles (I 80 / Christopher Columbus Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 392.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 392.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
2,126 ft7 ft
Total Climb
2,202 ft
Total Descent
2,956 ft
Highest Point
2,126 ft
~125.3 mi in
Elevation Range
2,120 ft
Notable High Points
1,427 ft at ~282 miles+566 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Portland, NY and Babylon, NY, road signs point toward New York City, Leonia, Teaneck, George Washington Bridge Upper Level, Cross Island Parkway South and Southern State Parkway East - among others.
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 262.7 miles on Keystone Shortway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 219 miles on day one.
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.
Yes — we found about 36 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 36 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 387 miles (I 80 / Christopher Columbus Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 392.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 392.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — General Grant National Memorial, Hamilton Grange 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 9.4 hours each way, a round trip means 18.8 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.
