The drive from Babylon, NY to Lake Carmel, NY covers 88.3 miles and takes about 1h 59m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 684, Southern State Parkway, Hutchinson River Parkway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 27 miles on I 684.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.53 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
44.2 miles from Babylon, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 3m into the drive
.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 59m. Total distance: 88.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 59m highway drive covering 88.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 684 and Southern State Parkway. The longest continuous stretch is about 27 miles on I 684.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 42 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 684 is the longest continuous segment at about 27 miles.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
804 ft7 ft
Total Climb
1,296 ft
Total Descent
499 ft
Highest Point
804 ft
~88.3 mi in
Elevation Range
797 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 684 and Southern State Parkway. 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
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 88.3 miles you will encounter 30 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 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 34.5 miles (I 695 / Throgs Neck Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 30 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
34.5 mi into trip|~48m in|I 695 / Throgs Neck Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 695 / Throgs Neck Expressway toward I 695 North: New Haven
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 10
Toward I 695 North: New Haven
8
37.6 mi into trip|~53m in
Take the exit toward Hutchinson Parkway North
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 9
Toward Hutchinson Parkway North
8
37.6 mi into trip|~53m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Hutchinson River Parkway North
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward Hutchinson River Parkway North
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 Lake Carmel, NY, road signs point toward So West: New York, Cross Island Parkway North, Hempstead Avenue West, Grandstand, Hutchinson Parkway North and Hutchinson River Parkway North.
So West: New York
5 mi in|~8m
Cross Island Parkway North
23 mi in|~31m
Hempstead Avenue West
24.8 mi in|~34m
Grandstand
24.9 mi in|~34m
Hutchinson Parkway North
37.6 mi in|~53m
Hutchinson River Parkway North
37.6 mi in|~53m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 684
27 mi
31m
Southern State Parkway
17.9 mi
22m
Hutchinson River Parkway
13.5 mi
19m
I 84
6.3 mi
7m
Clearview Expressway
5 mi
5m
Farmingdale Road
3.6 mi
5m
Throgs Neck Expressway
2.5 mi
3m
Throgs Neck Bridge
2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 684
— 27 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Babylon, NY and Lake Carmel, 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 right at fork onto I 695
1.8 mi·2 min·Throgs Neck Expressway
Exit 10Toward I 695 North: New HavenUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Merge onto I 95
1.0 mi·1 min·Bruckner Expressway
23
Continue on I 95
0.2 mi·18 sec·New England Thruway
24
Take the exit
430 ft·14 sec
Exit 9Toward Hutchinson Parkway NorthUse the slight right lane.
25
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward Hutchinson River Parkway NorthUse the straight / right lanes.
26
Merge onto HR
14 mi·19 min·Hutchinson River Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork
1.6 mi·2 min
Exit 16AToward I 684 North: BrewsterUse the slight left lane.
28
Merge onto I 684
26 mi·30 min·I 684
29
Continue on I 684
0.8 mi·1 min·I 684
Exit |; 9W|9E
30
Take the exit
0.3 mi·1 min
Exit 9WToward I 84 West: NewburghUse the right lane.
31
Merge onto I 84
6.3 mi·7 min·I 84
32
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Exit 61Toward NY 311: Lake Carmel, Patterson
33
Turn left onto NY 311
1.0 mi·1 min·State Highway 311
34
Continue on NY 311
459 ft·12 sec·Snadbeck Avenue
35
Turn left onto NY 52
252 ft·5 sec·State Highway 52
36
Turn straight onto NY 52
0.1 mi·10 sec·Snadbeck Avenue
37
Continue on NY 52
0.1 mi·12 sec·State Highway 52
38
Turn right onto Barrett Hill Road
0.1 mi·35 sec·Barrett Hill Road
39
Turn left onto Worthington Drive West
0.1 mi·31 sec·Worthington Drive West
40
Turn slight right onto Waccabuc Road
177 ft·9 sec·Waccabuc Road
41
Turn right onto Coleman Road
75 ft·3 sec·Coleman Road
42
Arrive at destination
Coleman Road
Trip Plan
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 44.2 miles from Babylon, NY, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 27 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 19 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 44.2 miles or 1h 3m 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 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lake Carmel, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Babylon, NY
This is one driving day of about 88.3 miles and 1h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Babylon, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 684 for about 27 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 44.2 mi from Babylon, NY
· 1h 3m into the drive
The midpoint is around 44.2 miles from Babylon, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Lake Carmel, NY
The final approach into Lake Carmel, NY usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 36.5
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...
8 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 36.5
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...
12 mi from route
~31 min detour
Free
near mile 30.5
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...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 30.5
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...
13 mi from route
~33 min detour
Free
near mile 30.5
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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 30.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.53 one way
$29.07 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg31 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$15.72
$31.43
premium
$4.92
$17.11
$34.23
diesel
$5.61
$19.50
$38.99
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.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
26.5
0
$9.27
$4.24
Efficient EV
22.1
0
$7.73
$3.53
EV Truck/SUV
35.3
0
$12.36
$5.65
Gas CO2
31 kg
EV CO2
10 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 18, 2026
Origin
Babylon, NY
Morning
in Babylon on Saturday
Local time
10:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Partly Cloudy
NE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 18 at 2:37AM EDT until April 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Burlington VT
Destination
Lake Carmel, NY
Morning
in Lake Carmel on Saturday
Local time
10:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
34°F
Mount Vernon, NY
44 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
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
1h 59m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 Lake Carmel, NY covers 88.3 miles and takes about 1h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 684, Southern State Parkway, Hutchinson River Parkway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 44.2 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 $14.53 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 88.3 miles you will encounter 30 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 34.5 miles (I 695 / Throgs Neck Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Babylon, NY and Lake Carmel, NY, road signs point toward So West: New York, Cross Island Parkway North, Hempstead Avenue West, Grandstand, Hutchinson Parkway North and Hutchinson River Parkway North.
Gently rolling terrain. The route ranges from 7 ft to 804 ft elevation with about 1,296 ft of total climbing.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial and African Burial Ground National Monument. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.
