The drive from Hillside Lake, NY to Babylon, NY covers 103.7 miles and takes about 2h 21m 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, I 84 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 26.8 miles on I 684.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.07 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
51.9 miles from Hillside Lake, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 7m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 21m. Total distance: 103.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 21m highway drive covering 103.7 miles, with most of the trip on I 684 and Southern State Parkway. The longest continuous stretch is about 26.8 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 34 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 50.6 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 26 significant decision points across 103.7 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 50.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 65.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 65.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 26 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
50.6 mi into trip|~1h 5m 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
65.7 mi into trip|~1h 27m 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
65.7 mi into trip|~1h 27m 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
67.7 mi into trip|~1h 30m 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
80.2 mi into trip|~1h 48m 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 Hillside Lake, 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
50.6 mi in|~1h 5m
Long Island
67.7 mi in|~1h 30m|via I 695
Cross Island Parkway South
78.7 mi in|~1h 46m
Southern State Parkway East
80.2 mi in|~1h 48m
Eastern Long Island
80.2 mi in|~1h 48m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 684
26.8 mi
31m
Southern State Parkway
18 mi
22m
I 84
15.5 mi
18m
Hutchinson River Parkway
13.6 mi
19m
Clearview Expressway
5 mi
5m
Farmingdale Road
3.5 mi
5m
Taconic State Parkway
3.2 mi
4m
Throgs Neck Expressway
2.2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 684
— 26.8 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hillside Lake, NY and Babylon, NY.
1
Start on 3rd Road
408 ft·23 sec·3rd Road
2
Turn left onto South Hillside Lake Road
0.3 mi·1 min·South Hillside Lake Road
3
Turn left onto CR 33
1.0 mi·2 min·Hillside Lake Road
4
Turn sharp left onto CR 29
2.0 mi·3 min·Clove Branch Road
5
Continue on CR 29
0.9 mi·1 min·Carpenter Road
6
At end of road, turn right onto Taconic State Parkway
3.2 mi·4 min·Taconic State Parkway
Use the right lane.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi·47 sec
Toward I 84 East: Danbury
8
Merge onto I 84
15 mi·18 min·I 84
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 68AToward I 684 South: White PlainsUse the right lane.
10
Merge onto I 684
27 mi·31 min·I 684
11
Keep slight left at fork
1.5 mi·2 min
Exit 1Toward Hutchinson River Parkway, New York CityUse the straight lane.
12
Merge onto Hutchinson River Parkway
7.7 mi·10 min·Hutchinson River Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
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.
14
Take the exit
141 ft·4 sec
Exit 2AToward I 95 South: George Washington Bridge, Stillwell AvenueUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·47 sec
Toward I 95 South: George Washington BridgeUse the straight / right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 95
0.4 mi·31 sec·New England Thruway
17
Continue on I 95
1.3 mi·2 min·Bruckner Expressway
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
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.
19
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on I 295
5.0 mi·5 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on NY 24
0.7 mi·1 min·Hollis Court Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
22
At end of road, turn left onto NY 24
0.2 mi·35 sec·Jamaica Avenue
Use the left lane.
23
Turn right onto Hempstead Avenue
0.9 mi·2 min·Hempstead Avenue
24
Turn right onto 225th Street
228 ft·9 sec·225th Street
Use the right lane.
25
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward Cross Island Parkway South, Verrazano Bridge
26
Merge onto CI
1.3 mi·1 min·Cross Island Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 25AToward Southern State Parkway East, Eastern Long IslandUse the slight left / straight lanes.
28
Merge onto SO
18 mi·22 min·Southern State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 33Toward NY 109 East: BabylonUse the slight right lane.
30
Turn slight right onto NY 109
3.5 mi·5 min·Farmingdale Road
Use the left lane.
31
Continue on NY 109
0.9 mi·1 min·Little East Neck Road North
32
Turn left onto NY 27A
0.5 mi·49 sec·West Main Street
33
Turn right onto South Carll Avenue
68 ft·2 sec·South Carll Avenue
34
Arrive at destination
South Carll Avenue
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 51.9 miles from Hillside Lake, NY, or about 1h 7m 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 23 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.9 miles or 1h 7m 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 55m
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 Hillside Lake, 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 Hillside Lake, NY
This is one driving day of about 103.7 miles and 2h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Hillside Lake, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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 51.9 mi from Hillside Lake, NY
· 1h 7m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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 68
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...
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 71.5
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...
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 75.1
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 75.1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.1
0
$10.89
$4.98
Efficient EV
25.9
0
$9.07
$4.15
EV Truck/SUV
41.5
0
$14.52
$6.64
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 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 16, 2026
Origin
Hillside Lake, NY
Night
in Hillside Lake on Thursday
Local time
9:28 PM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Babylon, NY
Night
in Babylon on Thursday
Local time
9:28 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
21 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
2h 21m 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 Hillside Lake, NY to Babylon, NY covers 103.7 miles and takes about 2h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 684, Southern State Parkway, I 84. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 51.9 miles from Hillside Lake, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.07 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 is a demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 103.7 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 50.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 65.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 65.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Hillside Lake, 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.
