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Trip from Cortland, NY to Babylon, NY

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

4h 54m

Distance

266.2 mi

428 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$44

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min
4 AM
4h 41m ★
6 AM
4h 55m
8 AM
5h 22m
10 AM
5h 4m
12 PM
5h 1m
3 PM
5h 6m
5 PM
5h 20m
8 PM
4h 47m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in New York, USA

Cortland, NY

Wikimedia Commons

town in Long Island, New York, United States

Babylon, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Cortland, NY to Babylon, NY covers 266.2 miles and takes about 4h 54m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Clinton Avenue, I 81 South, I 84 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $43.82 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

133.1 miles from Cortland, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 27m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 54m. Total distance: 266.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 4h 54m drive with frequent turns across 266.2 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 43 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Clinton Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 4h 54m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cortland, NY to Babylon, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Clinton Avenue
I 81 South
I 84 East
I 380 South
I 80 East
Keystone Shortway
Christopher Columbus Highway
I 95 North

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: Clinton Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cortland, NY and Babylon, NY.

1

Start on Main Street

20 ft · 1 sec · Main Street
2

Turn right onto Clinton Avenue

0.9 mi · 2 min · Clinton Avenue
3

Take the exit right toward I 81 South

0.2 mi · 25 sec · I 81 South
4

Merge slight left

44 mi · 51 min
5

Keep slight right to continue on I 81 South: Scranton

53 mi · 1 hr 3 min · I 81 South: Scranton
6

Keep slight right to continue on I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono

0.8 mi · 1 min · I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono
7

Continue on I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, Milford

3.7 mi · 4 min · I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, Milford
8

Keep slight right to continue on I 380 South: Mount Pocono

24 mi · 25 min · I 380 South: Mount Pocono
9

Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East: Stroudsburg

1.0 mi · 1 min · I 80 East: Stroudsburg
10

Merge slight right onto Keystone Shortway

80 mi · 1 hr 37 min · Keystone Shortway
11

Keep slight right to continue on Christopher Columbus Highway

5.5 mi · 5 min · Christopher Columbus Highway
12

Keep slight left to continue on I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York City

0.3 mi · 23 sec · I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York City
13

Keep slight right to continue on Leonia, Teaneck

0.4 mi · 38 sec · Leonia, Teaneck
14

Turn right onto Leonia

0.2 mi · 35 sec · Leonia
15

Turn straight onto Degraw Avenue

453 ft · 9 sec · Degraw Avenue
16

Continue on Fort Lee Road

1.1 mi · 2 min · Fort Lee Road
17

Continue on Main Street

469 ft · 13 sec · Main Street
18

Take the ramp left toward George Washington Bridge

472 ft · 13 sec · George Washington Bridge
19

Merge slight left onto Bergen Boulevard

0.3 mi · 29 sec · Bergen Boulevard
20

Take the exit slight left toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level

312 ft · 5 sec · George Washington Bridge Upper Level
21

Merge slight left

0.3 mi · 20 sec
22

Keep slight left

0.8 mi · 1 min
23

Continue on George Washington Bridge (upper level)

0.6 mi · 1 min · George Washington Bridge (upper level)
24

Continue on Trans-Manhattan Expressway

0.7 mi · 1 min · Trans-Manhattan Expressway
25

Continue on Cross Bronx Expressway

4.7 mi · 6 min · Cross Bronx Expressway
26

Keep slight right to continue on Cross Bronx Expressway

2.0 mi · 2 min · Cross Bronx Expressway
27

Merge slight left onto Throgs Neck Expressway

0.6 mi · 58 sec · Throgs Neck Expressway
28

Continue on Throgs Neck Bridge

2.0 mi · 3 min · Throgs Neck Bridge
29

Continue on Clearview Expressway

5.0 mi · 5 min · Clearview Expressway
30

Continue on Hollis Court Boulevard

0.7 mi · 1 min · Hollis Court Boulevard
31

At the end of the road, turn left onto Jamaica Avenue

0.2 mi · 35 sec · Jamaica Avenue
32

Turn right onto Hempstead Avenue

0.9 mi · 2 min · Hempstead Avenue
33

Turn right onto 225th Street

226 ft · 10 sec · 225th Street
34

Take the ramp straight toward Cross Island Parkway South, Verrazano Bridge

0.2 mi · 29 sec · Cross Island Parkway South, Verrazano Bridge
35

Merge slight left onto Cross Island Parkway

1.3 mi · 1 min · Cross Island Parkway
36

Take the exit slight left toward Southern State Parkway East, Eastern Long Island

0.5 mi · 1 min · Southern State Parkway East, Eastern Long Island
37

Merge slight left onto Southern State Parkway

18 mi · 22 min · Southern State Parkway
38

Take the exit slight right toward NY 109 East: Babylon

0.2 mi · 35 sec · NY 109 East: Babylon
39

Turn slight right onto Farmingdale Road

3.5 mi · 5 min · Farmingdale Road
40

Continue on Little East Neck Road North

0.9 mi · 1 min · Little East Neck Road North
41

Turn left onto West Main Street

0.5 mi · 50 sec · West Main Street
42

Turn right onto South Carll Avenue

69 ft · 3 sec · South Carll Avenue
43

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 133.1 miles from Cortland, NY, or about 2h 27m into the drive.

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 59 miles or 1h 5m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 133.1 miles or 2h 27m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 1m

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 Cortland, 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 Cortland, NY

This is one driving day of about 266.2 miles and 4h 54m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Cortland, 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.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 133.1 mi from Cortland, NY · 2h 27m into the drive

town in Rockland County, New York, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ramapo, NY

133 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.

Pacing Suggestions

Binghamton, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 59 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ramapo, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 133.1 miles from Cortland, 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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$43.82 one way

$87.64 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 93 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.52 $47.38 $94.76
premium $4.92 $51.59 $103.19
diesel $5.61 $58.77 $117.55

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

$44

Tolls

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$91–$116

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 93.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $28 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 79.9 0 $27.95 $12.78
Efficient EV 66.6 0 $23.29 $10.65
EV Truck/SUV 106.5 1 $37.27 $17.04

Gas CO2

93 kg

EV CO2

31 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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

Cortland, NY

Afternoon in Cortland on Thursday

Local time

4:50 PM

EDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Babylon, NY

Afternoon in Babylon on Thursday

Local time

4:50 PM

EDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

57°F

Ramapo, NY

133 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

11 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

4h 54m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Cortland, NY to Babylon, NY covers 266.2 miles and takes about 4h 54m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Clinton Avenue, I 81 South, I 84 East. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 133.1 miles from Cortland, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $43.82 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 54m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Cortland, NY to Babylon, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Cortland, NY to Babylon, NY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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