Sheldon, NY to Babylon, NY is 389.4 miles and takes about 8h 6m via Southern Tier Expressway, Keystone Shortway, and I 81, with a fuel budget near $63 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route keeps you within the Northeast region, primarily traversing New York State. Given the duration and mileage, this trip is best split over two days. It's a straightforward drive for those looking to cover ground efficiently between Western and Eastern New York.
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
194.7 miles from Sheldon, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 4m into the drive
.
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
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 Sheldon, NY and Babylon, NY.
1
Start on CR 34
1.5 mi·3 min·Centerline Road
2
Turn left onto NY 77
2.3 mi·3 min·State Highway 77
3
Turn right onto US 20A
11 mi·15 min·Varysburg Road
4
Continue on US 20A
1.7 mi·2 min·West Buffalo Road
5
Continue on US 20A
4.6 mi·8 min·West Buffalo Street
6
Continue on US 20A
7.4 mi·10 min·Perry Center Road
7
Continue on CR 64
2.3 mi·3 min·Perry Road
8
Turn right onto NY 36
1.3 mi·1 min·Mount Morris Road
9
Continue on NY 36
1.8 mi·4 min·North Main Street
10
Continue on NY 36
4.1 mi·7 min·Sonyea Road
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·33 sec
12
Merge onto I 390
33 mi·37 min·Genesee Expressway
13
Merge onto I 86
105 mi·2 hr 2 min·Southern Tier Expressway
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
53 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 81
Toward I 81 South: ScrantonUse the straight lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
0.8 mi·1 min·US 6
Exit 187Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt PoconoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on I 84; I 380
3.7 mi·4 min·I 84; I 380
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, MilfordUse the straight lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
24 mi·25 min·I 380
Exit 4Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
18
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 1BToward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
19
Merge onto I 80
80 mi·1 hr 37 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
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.
21
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.
22
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 70A-BToward Leonia, TeaneckUse the slight right lane.
23
Turn right
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 70AToward LeoniaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Turn straight onto CR 56
454 ft·9 sec·Degraw Avenue
25
Continue on CR 56
1.1 mi·2 min·Fort Lee Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Continue on CR 56
469 ft·13 sec·Main Street
27
Take the ramp
472 ft·12 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge
28
Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46
0.3 mi·28 sec·Bergen Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Take the exit
312 ft·4 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level
30
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.3 mi·20 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
32
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
34
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi·6 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
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.
36
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi·58 sec·Throgs Neck Expressway
37
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Continue on I 295
5.0 mi·5 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
39
Continue on NY 24
0.7 mi·1 min·Hollis Court Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
40
At end of road, turn left onto NY 24
0.2 mi·35 sec·Jamaica Avenue
Use the left lane.
41
Turn right onto Hempstead Avenue
0.9 mi·2 min·Hempstead Avenue
42
Turn right onto 225th Street
228 ft·9 sec·225th Street
Use the right lane.
43
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward Cross Island Parkway South, Verrazano Bridge
44
Merge onto CI
1.3 mi·1 min·Cross Island Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
45
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 25AToward Southern State Parkway East, Eastern Long IslandUse the slight left / straight lanes.
46
Merge onto SO
18 mi·22 min·Southern State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
47
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 33Toward NY 109 East: BabylonUse the slight right lane.
48
Turn slight right onto NY 109
3.5 mi·5 min·Farmingdale Road
Use the left lane.
49
Continue on NY 109
0.9 mi·1 min·Little East Neck Road North
50
Turn left onto NY 27A
0.5 mi·49 sec·West Main Street
51
Turn right onto South Carll Avenue
68 ft·2 sec·South Carll Avenue
52
Arrive at destination
South Carll Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this drive takes over 8 hours, planning for an overnight stop is recommended to avoid fatigue. Aim to leave early in the morning to maximize your daylight driving hours, especially if you're splitting it into two days. With two planned stops, you can break up the drive into manageable segments of roughly 4 hours each. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, particularly during the longer stretches on the Southern Tier Expressway, as services might be less frequent.
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 194.7 miles from Sheldon, NY, or about 4h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.5 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 86 miles or 1h 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 194.7 miles or 4h 4m 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 194.7 miles or 4h 4m
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 44m
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 Sheldon, 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 Sheldon, NY
Aim for roughly 195 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Babylon, NY
Aim for roughly 195 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 86 miles from Sheldon, 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 Southern Tier Expressway for about 104.5 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 33
5 decision points cluster between mile 228.6 and 365.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
228.6 mi into trip|~4h 45m in|US 6
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
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 187
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbo...
8
343.2 mi into trip|~7h 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
343.5 mi into trip|~7h 1m 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
352.9 mi into trip|~7h 15m 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
365.9 mi into trip|~7h 34m 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
$62.99 one way
$125.99 round trip
$4.11/gal25.4 MPG avg136 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$68.36
$136.72
premium
$4.85
$74.32
$148.65
diesel
$4.80
$73.53
$147.05
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
$63
Tolls
$23
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$216–$326
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 136.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
116.8
1
$40.89
$18.69
Efficient EV
97.4
1
$34.07
$15.58
EV Truck/SUV
155.8
1
$54.52
$24.92
Gas CO2
136 kg
EV CO2
46 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.
Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Sheldon, NY
Evening
in Sheldon on Monday
Local time
8:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Smoke
NE 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Babylon, NY
Evening
in Babylon on Monday
Local time
8:34 PM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Smoke
NW 7 mph0% 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.
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
11 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 6m 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...
3 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 349.1
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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 349.1
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...
9 mi from route
~22 min detour
Free
near mile 349.1
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 349.1
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 349.1
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
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 349.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend about 65% of this 389.4-mile drive on highways, meaning a significant portion involves cruising at higher speeds. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 104.5 miles along the Southern Tier Expressway. Expect periods of rural cruising interspersed with more developed areas with frequent exits as you approach your destination.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
52 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 104.5 mi on Southern Tier Expressway.
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 228.6 miles in near US 6.
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 33 significant decision points across 389.4 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 228.6 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 343.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 343.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,900 ft7 ft
Total Climb
2,362 ft
Total Descent
3,868 ft
Highest Point
1,900 ft
~250.3 mi in
Elevation Range
1,893 ft
Notable High Points
1,900 ft at ~250.3 miles+696 ft prominence
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Sheldon, NY and Babylon, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford, New York City, Leonia, Teaneck and George Washington Bridge Upper Level - among others.
The longest stretch is about 104.5 miles on Southern Tier Expressway. 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 195 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 34 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 34 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 228.6 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 343.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 343.5 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 8.1 hours each way, a round trip means 16.2 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.
