The drive from Babylon, NY to Byron, NY covers 378.4 miles and takes about 8h behind the wheel.
It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on I 81, Christopher Columbus Highway, New York State Thruway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 97.3 miles on I 81.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $62.29 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
189.2 miles from Babylon, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 56m into the drive
.
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 8h drive with frequent turns across 378.4 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 69 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 81 is the longest continuous segment at about 97.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 24.7 miles in.
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 47 significant decision points across 378.4 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 24.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 47 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
24.7 mi into trip|~33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NY 24 West: Hempstead Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward NY 24 West: Hempstead Avenue
8
24.9 mi into trip|~34m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Hempstead Avenue West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward Hempstead Avenue West
8
43.7 mi into trip|~1h 1m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
8
43.9 mi into trip|~1h 1m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
8
46.3 mi into trip|~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward I 80 West: Paterson, Hackensack
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 69
Toward I 80 West: Paterson, Hackensack
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Babylon, NY and Byron, NY, road signs point toward Cross Island Parkway North, Hempstead Avenue West, Grandstand, Upper Level, Njtp South: Hackensack and Hackensack - among others.
Cross Island Parkway North
23 mi in|~31m
Hempstead Avenue West
24.8 mi in|~34m
Grandstand
24.9 mi in|~34m
Upper Level
41.2 mi in|~57m|via I 95; US 1
Njtp South: Hackensack
43.7 mi in|~1h 1m
Hackensack
46.3 mi in|~1h 4m
Albany
219 mi in|~4h 31m|via I 81
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
97.3 mi
1h 55m
Christopher Columbus Highway
68.2 mi
1h 20m
New York State Thruway
57.8 mi
1h 6m
I 380
27.7 mi
30m
Southern State Parkway
17.9 mi
22m
Keystone Shortway
17.3 mi
24m
Clinton Street
10.5 mi
15m
East Lake Road
9.9 mi
14m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 97.3 mi, about 1h 55m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Babylon, NY and Byron, NY.
1
Start on South Carll Avenue
68 ft·11 sec·South Carll Avenue
2
Turn left onto NY 27A
0.5 mi·51 sec·West Main Street
3
Turn right onto NY 109
0.9 mi·1 min·Little East Neck Road North
4
Continue on NY 109
3.6 mi·5 min·Farmingdale Road
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·25 sec
Toward SO West: New York
6
Merge onto SO
18 mi·22 min·Southern State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone BridgeUse the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto CI
1.3 mi·1 min·Cross Island Parkway
9
Take the exit
317 ft·9 sec
Exit 26BToward NY 24: UBS Arena-Belmont ParkUse the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork
437 ft·12 sec
Toward NY 24 West: Hempstead AvenueUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·15 sec
Toward Cross Island Parkway North, Hempstead Avenue West
12
Keep slight right at fork
266 ft·8 sec
Toward Hempstead Avenue WestUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
13
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·13 sec·this road
Toward Grandstand, Hempstead Avenue West
14
Keep slight left at fork
100 ft·4 sec
Toward Hempstead Avenue
15
Turn right onto NY 24
1.0 mi·2 min·Hempstead Avenue
Use the right lane.
16
Turn left onto Jamaica Avenue
0.1 mi·17 sec·Jamaica Avenue
17
Turn right onto NY 24
0.7 mi·1 min·212th Street
18
Continue on I 295
5.0 mi·5 min·Clearview Expressway
Toward I 295 North: Clearview Expressway, Through Neck BridgeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
20
Continue on I 295
0.7 mi·1 min·Throgs Neck Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295
6.6 mi·8 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
Toward Upper Level
23
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.6 mi·59 sec·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
24
Continue on I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
0.5 mi·48 sec·I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
25
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
0.6 mi·39 sec·I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; NJTP
0.1 mi·8 sec·I 95 EXPR; NJTP
27
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: HackensackUse the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·29 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: HackensackUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
29
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
2.0 mi·2 min·New Jersey Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 69Toward I 80 West: Paterson, HackensackUse the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Continue on I 80
68 mi·1 hr 20 min·Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·8 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
12 mi·15 min·Keystone Shortway
34
Take the exit
0.7 mi·46 sec
Exit 293Toward I 380 North: Scranton
35
Continue on I 380
28 mi·30 min·I 380
Use the straight lane.
36
Merge onto I 81
58 mi·1 hr 9 min·I 81
Use the straight lane.
37
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
1.8 mi·2 min·I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse, Albany
38
Keep slight left at fork onto I 81
37 mi·43 min·I 81
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse
39
Take the exit
0.1 mi·21 sec
Exit 52Toward NY 13: Cortland
40
Turn right onto NY 13
39 ft·5 sec·Clinton Avenue
41
Turn left onto Locust Avenue
1.2 mi·2 min·Locust Avenue
42
Continue on Albany Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Albany Street
43
At end of road, turn right onto US 11; NY 41
0.4 mi·1 min·South Main Street
44
Turn left onto NY 41
10 mi·15 min·Clinton Street
45
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi·49 sec·East Lake Road
46
Continue on NY 41
4.8 mi·7 min·State Route 41
47
Continue on NY 41
9.4 mi·13 min·East Lake Road
48
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi·48 sec·East Lake Street
49
Turn left onto US 20
7.3 mi·13 min·East Genesee Street
50
Turn right onto US 20
0.2 mi·12 sec·North Fulton Street
51
Turn left onto US 20; NY 5
0.4 mi·1 min·Arterial West
52
Continue on US 20; NY 5; NY 38
9.8 mi·11 min·Chase Street
Use the left lane.
53
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.9 mi·2 min·Auburn Road
54
Turn right onto NY 318
4.1 mi·7 min·NY 318
55
Continue on NY 318
319 ft·10 sec·NY 318
Use the right lane.
56
Turn right onto NY 414
0.3 mi·28 sec·State Route 414
Use the right lane.
57
Continue on NY 414
217 ft·11 sec·Ridge Road
Use the left lane.
58
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
Use the left lane.
59
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 West: BuffaloUse the straight / right lanes.
60
Merge onto I 90
58 mi·1 hr 6 min·New York State Thruway
61
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 47Toward I 490, NY 19: LeRoy, RochesterUse the slight right lane.
62
Continue on I 490
0.3 mi·20 sec·Western Expressway
63
Take the exit
0.3 mi·28 sec
Exit 1Toward NY 19: LeRoy, Brockport
64
Continue on Lake Street Road
0.4 mi·35 sec·Lake Street Road
65
Turn right
177 ft·7 sec
66
Continue on Griswold Road
4.9 mi·6 min·Griswold Road
67
Turn right onto NY 237
3.2 mi·5 min·Byron Holley Road
68
Turn right onto NY 262
141 ft·2 sec·Townline Road
69
Arrive at destination
NY 262
Trip Plan
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 189.2 miles from Babylon, NY, or about 3h 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.3 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 83 miles or 1h 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 189.2 miles or 3h 56m 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 189.2 miles or 3h 56m
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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Byron, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Babylon, 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 Babylon, NY
Aim for roughly 189 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Byron, NY
Aim for roughly 189 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 83 miles from Babylon, 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 I 81 for about 97.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 189.2 mi from Babylon, NY
· 3h 56m into the drive
The midpoint is around 189.2 miles from Babylon, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 81 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 97.3 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stop
For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 189 miles or 4 hours on the road.
Arriving in Byron, NY
The final approach into Byron, NY usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Byron, NY.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Byron, NY with some flexibility left in the schedule.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
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...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 39.1
Women’s Rights National Historical Park tells the story of the first Women’s Rights Convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York on July 19-20, 1848. It is a story of struggles for civil rights, human r...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 313.1
Harriet Tubman was guided by a deep faith and devotion to family, freedom, and community. After emancipating herself and members of her family, she moved them from Ontario, Canada to Fleming and Aubur...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 300.1
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
~24 min detour
Free
near mile 39.1
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 39.1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
113.5
1
$39.73
$18.16
Efficient EV
94.6
1
$33.11
$15.14
EV Truck/SUV
151.4
1
$52.98
$24.22
Gas CO2
132 kg
EV CO2
44 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 Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Babylon, NY
Night
in Babylon on Friday
Local time
10:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Scattered Rain Showers then Partly Cloudy
NE 3 to 7 mph33% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Byron, NY
Night
in Byron on Friday
Local time
10:13 PM
EDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Ramapo, NY
189 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
8 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 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Babylon, NY to Byron, NY covers 378.4 miles and takes about 8h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 81, Christopher Columbus Highway, New York State Thruway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 189 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 189.2 miles from Babylon, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $62.29 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 47 significant decision points across 378.4 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 24.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 24.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 43.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Babylon, NY and Byron, NY, road signs point toward Cross Island Parkway North, Hempstead Avenue West, Grandstand, Upper Level, Njtp South: Hackensack and Hackensack - among others.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.