This 130.3-mile drive from Bethel, NY to Babylon, NY is a straightforward, highway-focused journey perfect for a single day trip. Expect to spend about 2 hours and 58 minutes on the road, primarily utilizing I 684 and the Southern State Parkway. With a fuel cost estimated at $21, this route offers an economical way to travel within New York. The region remains consistent as you traverse from the Northeast to the Northeast, making for a familiar travel experience. This is a manageable drive that doesn't require an overnight stop, allowing you to reach your destination efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
65.1 miles from Bethel, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 28m into the drive
.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 58m. Total distance: 130.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
You'll find this route is 89% highway, meaning it's largely a streamlined experience designed for covering distance. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 26.8 miles on I 684, offering a solid period of consistent driving. While the Taconic State Parkway provides a change of pace, the majority of your time will be spent on faster parkways and interstates. This profile suggests a drive where progress is steady, with less emphasis on winding country roads and more on efficient travel.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 36 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 26.8 miles.
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 77.2 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 28 significant decision points across 130.3 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 77.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 92.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 92.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 28 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
77.2 mi into trip|~1h 42m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Hutchinson River Parkway, New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Exit 1
Toward Hutchinson River Parkway, New York City
8
92.2 mi into trip|~2h 3m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South: George Washington Bridge, Stillwell Avenue
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 2A
Toward I 95 South: George Washington Bridge, St...
8
92.3 mi into trip|~2h 4m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 95 South: George Washington Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 95 South: George Washington Bridge
9
94.2 mi into trip|~2h 7m in|I 695 / Throgs Neck Expressway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 695 / Throgs Neck Expressway toward I 695 South: Throgs Neck Bridge, Long Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 7A
Toward I 695 South: Throgs Neck Bridge, Long Is...
8
106.8 mi into trip|~2h 25m 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...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Bethel, NY and Babylon, NY, road signs point toward New York City, Long Island, Cross Island Parkway South, Southern State Parkway East and Eastern Long Island.
New York City
77.2 mi in|~1h 42m
Long Island
94.2 mi in|~2h 7m|via I 695
Cross Island Parkway South
105.2 mi in|~2h 23m
Southern State Parkway East
106.8 mi in|~2h 25m
Eastern Long Island
106.8 mi in|~2h 25m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 684
26.8 mi
31m
Southern State Parkway
18 mi
22m
Taconic State Parkway
17.9 mi
24m
I 84
15.5 mi
18m
State Highway 82
13.7 mi
19m
Hutchinson River Parkway
13.6 mi
19m
Clearview Expressway
5 mi
5m
Farmingdale Road
3.5 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 684
— 26.8 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bethel, NY and Babylon, NY.
1
Start on this road
132 ft·6 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto Carpenter Hill Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Carpenter Hill Road
3
Turn right onto Bethel Cross Road
0.6 mi·2 min·Bethel Cross Road
4
Turn right onto Strever Farm Road
0.3 mi·1 min·Strever Farm Road
5
Turn sharp left onto NY 82
14 mi·19 min·State Highway 82
6
At end of road, turn right onto US 44
0.8 mi·1 min·US 44
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
8
Merge onto Taconic State Parkway
18 mi·24 min·Taconic State Parkway
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Toward I 84 East: Danbury
10
Merge onto I 84
15 mi·18 min·I 84
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 68AToward I 684 South: White PlainsUse the right lane.
12
Merge onto I 684
27 mi·31 min·I 684
13
Keep slight left at fork
1.5 mi·2 min
Exit 1Toward Hutchinson River Parkway, New York CityUse the straight lane.
14
Merge onto Hutchinson River Parkway
7.7 mi·10 min·Hutchinson River Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto Hutchinson River Parkway
5.9 mi·8 min·Hutchinson River Parkway
Toward Whitestone BridgeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
141 ft·4 sec
Exit 2AToward I 95 South: George Washington Bridge, Stillwell AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·47 sec
Toward I 95 South: George Washington BridgeUse the straight / right lanes.
18
Merge onto I 95
0.4 mi·31 sec·New England Thruway
19
Continue on I 95
1.3 mi·2 min·Bruckner Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 695
2.2 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Expressway
Exit 7AToward I 695 South: Throgs Neck Bridge, Long IslandUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on I 295
5.0 mi·5 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on NY 24
0.7 mi·1 min·Hollis Court Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
24
At end of road, turn left onto NY 24
0.2 mi·35 sec·Jamaica Avenue
Use the left lane.
25
Turn right onto Hempstead Avenue
0.9 mi·2 min·Hempstead Avenue
26
Turn right onto 225th Street
228 ft·9 sec·225th Street
Use the right lane.
27
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward Cross Island Parkway South, Verrazano Bridge
28
Merge onto CI
1.3 mi·1 min·Cross Island Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 25AToward Southern State Parkway East, Eastern Long IslandUse the slight left / straight lanes.
30
Merge onto SO
18 mi·22 min·Southern State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 33Toward NY 109 East: BabylonUse the slight right lane.
32
Turn slight right onto NY 109
3.5 mi·5 min·Farmingdale Road
Use the left lane.
33
Continue on NY 109
0.9 mi·1 min·Little East Neck Road North
34
Turn left onto NY 27A
0.5 mi·49 sec·West Main Street
35
Turn right onto South Carll Avenue
68 ft·2 sec·South Carll Avenue
36
Arrive at destination
South Carll Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour and 58 minute duration, starting your trip in Bethel, NY early in the morning is advisable to avoid any potential traffic, especially as you approach the Babylon, NY area. You'll only need one primary stop, so plan it strategically along the 26.8-mile stretch of I 684. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated $21 cost covers the entire 130.3 miles, and it’s always wise to top off before heading onto parkways where services can be less frequent. This is a relatively short drive, offering flexibility if you decide to linger longer at your starting point.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 65.1 miles from Bethel, NY, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 26.8 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 29 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 65.1 miles or 1h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 26m
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 Bethel, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Bethel, NY
This is one driving day of about 130.3 miles and 2h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from Bethel, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 684 for about 26.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 65.1 mi from Bethel, NY
· 1h 28m into the drive
The midpoint is around 65.1 miles from Bethel, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Babylon, NY
The final approach into Babylon, 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 Babylon, NY.
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.
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...
7 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 94.3
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...
7 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 94.3
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 98.8
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 94.3
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 98.8
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 98.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.45 one way
$42.90 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg46 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$23.19
$46.38
premium
$4.92
$25.25
$50.51
diesel
$5.61
$28.77
$57.54
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
$21
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
39.1
0
$13.68
$6.25
Efficient EV
32.6
0
$11.40
$5.21
EV Truck/SUV
52.1
0
$18.24
$8.34
Gas CO2
46 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Bethel, NY
Evening
in Bethel on Friday
Local time
7:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Babylon, NY
Evening
in Babylon on Friday
Local time
7:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live 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.
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 58m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Bethel, NY to Babylon, NY covers 130.3 miles and takes about 2h 58m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 684, Southern State Parkway, Taconic State 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 65.1 miles from Bethel, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.45 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 28 significant decision points across 130.3 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 77.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 92.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 92.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Bethel, NY and Babylon, NY, road signs point toward New York City, Long Island, Cross Island Parkway South, Southern State Parkway East and Eastern Long Island.
Yes. Nearby national parks include General Grant National Memorial, Hamilton Grange National Memorial and African Burial Ground National Monument. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
