Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 6m
Distance
42.3 mi
68 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Babylon, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Manhattan, NY
Wikimedia Commons
This 42.3-mile drive from Babylon, NY, to Manhattan, NY, is a manageable one-day trip, typically taking about 1 hour and 6 minutes. You'll primarily navigate via Sunrise Highway, the Van Wyck Expressway, and the Long Island Expressway. With a fuel cost estimated at $7, this route is an economical option for a quick transition between Long Island and the heart of New York City. The drive offers a practical way to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay, making it a convenient choice for a day trip. Both your origin and destination are within the Northeast region, so you won't be crossing major geographical boundaries.
Wall Street. Madison Avenue. 34th Street. Broadway. Times Square. Manhattan is so well known that even the names of its streets have become iconic and understood the world over. This long, thin island is only one of New York City's five boroughs, but it's Manhattan that has the concrete canyons and the inimitable skyline; Manhattan that has the world's brightest theater district; Manhattan that has Central Park, Rockefeller Center, the Empire State Building, and the Met; and Manhattan that includes iconic neighborhoods like Harlem, the Upper East Side, Times Square, and Greenwich Village. The rest of New York City has much to see and do, but it's Manhattan that represents the city—and sometimes the entire United States—to the world. You could spend a month on this tiny island and still not see all there is to see.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 6m. Total distance: 42.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 42.3-mile journey. While 28% of the route utilizes highways, much of your time will be spent on local roads, necessitating frequent adjustments. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 16.7 miles on Sunrise Highway. This means you'll experience a dynamic driving environment, shifting between faster highway segments and more intricate local street navigation as you progress towards Manhattan. Be prepared for a varied road experience rather than a straightforward interstate cruise.
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 25.4 miles in near BP / Belt Parkway.
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 42.3 miles you will encounter 22 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 25.4 miles (BP / Belt Parkway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 25.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight left at fork onto BP / Belt Parkway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward I 678 North: Van Wyck Expressway, Whitestone Bridge
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 495 West: Midtown Tunnel
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, Hunters Point Avenue, Greenpoint Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 25 toward 60th Street West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Babylon, NY and Manhattan, NY, road signs point toward Belt Parkway West and 60Th Street West.
Belt Parkway West
60Th Street West
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sunrise Highway | 16.7 mi | 21m |
| Van Wyck Expressway | 5 mi | 6m |
| Long Island Expressway | 4.4 mi | 6m |
| West Montauk Highway | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Belt Parkway | 2.3 mi | 3m |
| Montauk Highway | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Merrick Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| West Main Street | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Babylon, NY and Manhattan, NY.
Start on South Carll Avenue
Turn left onto NY 27A
Continue on NY 27A
Continue on NY 27A
Continue on Merrick Road
Turn right onto CR 1
Turn left onto Old Sunrise Highway
Merge onto NY 27
Take the exit
Merge onto BP
Keep slight left at fork onto BP
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight left at fork
Continue on I 678
Take the exit
Merge onto I 495
Take the exit
Turn straight onto Laurel Hill Boulevard
Keep slight right at fork onto Hunters Point Avenue
Turn right onto Van Dam Street
Continue on Van Dam Street
Turn left onto NY 25
Continue on NY 25
Continue on NY 25
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 25
Turn left onto East 60th Street
Turn right onto 3rd Avenue
Turn left onto East 72nd Street
Turn right onto Madison Avenue
Turn left onto East 85th Street
Continue on 86th Street Transverse
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 21.2 mi from Babylon, NY · 30m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
21 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 21.2 miles from Babylon, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Manhattan, 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.
Regular Gas
$6.96 one way
$13.93 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $7.53 | $15.06 |
| premium | $4.92 | $8.20 | $16.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.34 | $18.68 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 14.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 12.7 | 0 | $4.44 | $2.03 |
| Efficient EV | 10.6 | 0 | $3.70 | $1.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 16.9 | 0 | $5.92 | $2.71 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 kg (67% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Babylon on Friday
Local time
6:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
76°F
Mostly Sunny
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 15 at 11:57PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Destination
Evening in Manhattan on Friday
Local time
6:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
88°F
Mostly Sunny
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 15 at 11:57PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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