Spanning 62.8 miles, this journey from Upper Nyack to Babylon is a straightforward highway-focused drive that connects two distinct parts of the Northeast. You can expect a travel time of approximately 1 hour and 31 minutes, making this an ideal one-day trip that requires no overnight stay. With a fuel budget of roughly $10, it is an economical route for a quick change of scenery. You will navigate a mix of major arteries, including the Palisades Interstate Parkway, the Cross Bronx Expressway, and the Southern State Parkway. Because the route is compact, it provides the flexibility to head out early or linger at your destination without the stress of a multi-day itinerary.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
31.4 miles from Upper Nyack, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Southern State Parkway
18 mi
22m
Palisades Interstate Parkway
10.3 mi
14m
Cross Bronx Expressway
6.6 mi
8m
Clearview Expressway
5 mi
5m
Farmingdale Road
3.5 mi
5m
US 9W
3.3 mi
4m
Route 9W
2.6 mi
4m
Throgs Neck Bridge
2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Southern State Parkway
— 18 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Upper Nyack, NY and Babylon, NY.
1
Start on this road
99 ft·11 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto Old Mountain Road
0.3 mi·48 sec·Old Mountain Road
3
Continue on Christian Herald Road
437 ft·19 sec·Christian Herald Road
4
Turn left onto US 9W
1.4 mi·2 min·North Highland Avenue
5
Turn straight onto US 9W
0.8 mi·1 min·Hillside Avenue
Use the straight lane.
6
Turn right onto US 9W
3.3 mi·4 min·US 9W
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 9W
2.6 mi·4 min·Route 9W
8
Continue on US 9W
0.7 mi·1 min·Palisades Boulevard
Use the left lane.
9
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
Toward Palisades Parkway South, Palisades Scenic BywayUse the left lane.
10
Merge onto Palisades Interstate Parkway
10 mi·14 min·Palisades Interstate Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
0.5 mi·52 sec·I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
12
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
14
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi·6 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
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.
16
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi·58 sec·Throgs Neck Expressway
17
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on I 295
5.0 mi·5 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on NY 24
0.7 mi·1 min·Hollis Court Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
20
At end of road, turn left onto NY 24
0.2 mi·35 sec·Jamaica Avenue
Use the left lane.
21
Turn right onto Hempstead Avenue
0.9 mi·2 min·Hempstead Avenue
22
Turn right onto 225th Street
228 ft·9 sec·225th Street
Use the right lane.
23
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward Cross Island Parkway South, Verrazano Bridge
24
Merge onto CI
1.3 mi·1 min·Cross Island Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 25AToward Southern State Parkway East, Eastern Long IslandUse the slight left / straight lanes.
26
Merge onto SO
18 mi·22 min·Southern State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 33Toward NY 109 East: BabylonUse the slight right lane.
28
Turn slight right onto NY 109
3.5 mi·5 min·Farmingdale Road
Use the left lane.
29
Continue on NY 109
0.9 mi·1 min·Little East Neck Road North
30
Turn left onto NY 27A
0.5 mi·49 sec·West Main Street
31
Turn right onto South Carll Avenue
68 ft·2 sec·South Carll Avenue
32
Arrive at destination
South Carll Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip of under two hours, you have significant control over your departure time, though avoiding peak commuting hours is always wise when navigating the Cross Bronx Expressway. You do not need to plan for formal stops given the 62.8-mile distance, allowing you to complete the journey in one fluid push. Ensure your tank is topped off before you leave, as the $10 fuel estimate assumes a steady flow of traffic. To make your trip smoother, keep a close eye on real-time traffic apps, as the highway-heavy nature of this route means that even minor congestion can noticeably impact your 1-hour and 31-minute travel time.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 31.4 miles from Upper Nyack, NY, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 18 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 14 miles or 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 31.4 miles or 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 16m
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 Upper Nyack, NY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Upper Nyack, NY
This is one driving day of about 62.8 miles and 1h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from Upper Nyack, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Southern State Parkway for about 18 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 9.2 and 57.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
9.2 mi into trip|~15m in
Take the ramp toward Palisades Parkway South, Palisades Scenic Byway
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward Palisades Parkway South, Palisades Sceni...
5
9.4 mi into trip|~15m in|Palisades Interstate Parkway
Merge onto Palisades Interstate Parkway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
26.3 mi into trip|~39m 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
39.2 mi into trip|~58m 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
57.7 mi into trip|~1h 22m 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
$10.34 one way
$20.67 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg22 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$11.18
$22.36
premium
$4.92
$12.17
$24.34
diesel
$5.61
$13.87
$27.73
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
$10
Tolls
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 22 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
18.8
0
$6.59
$3.01
Efficient EV
15.7
0
$5.49
$2.51
EV Truck/SUV
25.1
0
$8.79
$4.02
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (68% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Upper Nyack, NY
Morning
in Upper Nyack on Sunday
Local time
8:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Babylon, NY
Morning
in Babylon on Sunday
Local time
8:52 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
42°F
Hillside, NY
31 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.
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
2 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
1h 31m 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.
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...
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...
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
~21 min detour
Free
near mile 19.5
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
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 21.6
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...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 19.5
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
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 19.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is defined by its heavy reliance on high-speed infrastructure, with 78% of your journey spent on highways. You will experience a fast-paced environment as you transition through the regional transit corridors, requiring constant focus on merging and changing traffic patterns. The longest uninterrupted stretch occurs on the Southern State Parkway, where you will cover 18 miles of road. While the route lacks the slow pace of secondary roads, the transition between the Palisades and the Cross Bronx Expressway shifts the personality of the drive from suburban parkway cruising to a more intense urban transit experience. Expect a consistent, functional drive that prioritizes efficiency over leisure.
78% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 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?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern State Parkway and Palisades Interstate Parkway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.2 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 62.8 miles you will encounter 21 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 9.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.4 miles (Palisades Interstate Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.3 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.
Between Upper Nyack, NY and Babylon, NY, road signs point toward Palisades Parkway South, Palisades Scenic Byway, Cross Island Parkway South, Southern State Parkway East and Eastern Long Island.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 31m. Total distance: 62.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 31m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (78%). 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 $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.
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 9.2 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.4 miles (Palisades Interstate Parkway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 26.3 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.
