Trip from Horseheads, NY to Babylon, NY

Drive Time

5h 42m

Distance

279 mi

449 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$45

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min

4 AM

5h 30m ★

6 AM

5h 43m

8 AM

6h 9m

10 AM

5h 52m

12 PM

5h 49m

3 PM

5h 53m

5 PM

6h 8m

8 PM

5h 35m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Horseheads, NY

Scott Foltz

Babylon, NY

Renan Tagliaferro

Trip Overview

Traveling from Horseheads to Babylon covers 279 miles and typically takes about 5 hours and 42 minutes of road time. Because this route stays entirely within New York, you will remain in the Northeast region throughout your journey. With a manageable duration, this trip is perfectly feasible as a single-day push if you get an early start. Budgeting approximately $45 for fuel will keep you covered for the trip. Since the drive is highway-focused, it is straightforward and efficient for those looking to reach the coast from the Southern Tier without unnecessary detours.

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

139.5 miles from Horseheads, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 44m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a drive defined by high-speed efficiency, as 64% of your travel occurs on major highways. You will primarily navigate via the Southern Tier Expressway, I-81, and the Keystone Shortway. The experience is centered on steady interstate cruising, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 80 miles along the Keystone Shortway. While the route is heavy on highway miles, the road profile remains consistent, allowing you to settle into a predictable rhythm behind the wheel.

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.

Keystone Shortway is the longest continuous segment at about 80 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Keystone Shortway and Southern Tier Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 118.2 miles in near US 6.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 30 significant decision points across 279 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 118.2 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 232.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 233.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 30 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

118.2 mi into trip | ~2h 20m in | US 6

Keep slight right at fork onto US 6 toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Exit 187 Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbo...

232.8 mi into trip | ~4h 36m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York City

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, Ne...

233.1 mi into trip | ~4h 37m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Leonia, Teaneck

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 70A-B Toward Leonia, Teaneck

242.5 mi into trip | ~4h 51m in | I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway

Keep slight right at fork onto I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight left / none lanes. Exit 6B Toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge

255.4 mi into trip | ~5h 10m 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 Along This Route

Between Horseheads, NY and Babylon, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford, New York City, Leonia, Teaneck and George Washington Bridge Upper Level - among others.

Mt Pocono

118.2 mi in | ~2h 20m | via US 6

Milford

119 mi in | ~2h 22m | via I 84; I 380

New York City

232.8 mi in | ~4h 36m

Leonia

233.1 mi in | ~4h 37m

Teaneck

233.1 mi in | ~4h 37m

George Washington Bridge Upper Level

235.3 mi in | ~4h 41m

Cross Island Parkway South

253.9 mi in | ~5h 8m

Southern State Parkway East

255.4 mi in | ~5h 10m

Eastern Long Island

255.4 mi in | ~5h 10m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Keystone Shortway	80 mi	1h 37m
Southern Tier Expressway	63.8 mi	1h 15m
I 81	53.4 mi	1h 3m
I 380	23.6 mi	25m
Southern State Parkway	18 mi	22m
Cross Bronx Expressway	6.6 mi	8m
Christopher Columbus Highway	5.5 mi	5m
Clearview Expressway	5 mi	5m

Longest stretch: Keystone Shortway — 80 mi, about 1h 37m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on South Main Street

0.9 mi · 1 min · South Main Street

Take the ramp onto NY 13

0.2 mi · 28 sec · NY 13

Merge onto I 86; NY 17; NY 13

64 mi · 1 hr 15 min · Southern Tier Expressway

Use the none lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 81

53 mi · 1 hr 3 min · I 81

Toward I 81 South: Scranton Use the none lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto US 6

0.8 mi · 1 min · US 6

Exit 187 Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 84; I 380

3.7 mi · 4 min · I 84; I 380

Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, Milford Use the straight lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 380

24 mi · 25 min · I 380

Exit 4 Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono

Keep slight left at fork

1.0 mi · 1 min

Exit 1B Toward I 80 East: Stroudsburg

Merge onto I 80

80 mi · 1 hr 37 min · Keystone Shortway

Use the none / straight / right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 80

5.5 mi · 5 min · Christopher Columbus Highway

Toward I 95: George Washington Bridge Lower Level Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 23 sec

Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York City Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 38 sec

Exit 70A-B Toward Leonia, Teaneck Use the slight right lane.

Turn right

0.2 mi · 35 sec

Exit 70A Toward Leonia Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn straight onto CR 56

454 ft · 9 sec · Degraw Avenue

Continue on CR 56

1.1 mi · 2 min · Fort Lee Road

Use the none lane.

Continue on CR 56

469 ft · 13 sec · Main Street

Take the ramp

472 ft · 12 sec

Toward George Washington Bridge

Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46

0.3 mi · 28 sec · Bergen Boulevard

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

312 ft · 4 sec

Toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level

Merge onto I 95 EXPR

0.3 mi · 20 sec · I 95 EXPR

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR

0.8 mi · 1 min · I 95 EXPR

Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9

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

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 95; US 1

0.7 mi · 1 min · Trans-Manhattan Expressway

Use the none lane.

Continue on I 95; US 1

4.7 mi · 6 min · Cross Bronx Expressway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 295

2.0 mi · 2 min · Cross Bronx Expressway

Exit 6B Toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.

Merge onto I 295

0.6 mi · 58 sec · Throgs Neck Expressway

Use the none lane.

Continue on I 295

2.0 mi · 3 min · Throgs Neck Bridge

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 295

5.0 mi · 5 min · Clearview Expressway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on NY 24

0.7 mi · 1 min · Hollis Court Boulevard

Use the straight lane.

At end of road, turn left onto NY 24

0.2 mi · 35 sec · Jamaica Avenue

Use the left / none lanes.

Turn right onto Hempstead Avenue

0.9 mi · 2 min · Hempstead Avenue

Use the none lane.

Turn right onto 225th Street

228 ft · 9 sec · 225th Street

Use the right lane.

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Toward Cross Island Parkway South, Verrazano Bridge

Merge onto CI

1.3 mi · 1 min · Cross Island Parkway

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min

Exit 25A Toward Southern State Parkway East, Eastern Long Island Use the slight left / straight lanes.

Merge onto SO

18 mi · 22 min · Southern State Parkway

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 35 sec

Exit 33 Toward NY 109 East: Babylon Use the slight right lane.

Turn slight right onto NY 109

3.5 mi · 5 min · Farmingdale Road

Use the left / none lanes.

Continue on NY 109

0.9 mi · 1 min · Little East Neck Road North

Turn left onto NY 27A

0.5 mi · 49 sec · West Main Street

Turn right onto South Carll Avenue

68 ft · 2 sec · South Carll Avenue

Arrive at destination

South Carll Avenue

Trip Plan

To make the best time, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs and refresh during the nearly six-hour trek. Leaving Horseheads early in the morning helps you avoid potential congestion as you approach the more populated regions near Babylon. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge when navigating the 80-mile stretch on the Keystone Shortway, as this is your longest period away from services. Since this is a single-day trip, maintaining a steady pace is key to arriving at your destination before the end of the day without feeling overly fatigued.

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 139.5 miles from Horseheads, NY, or about 2h 44m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80 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 80 miles or 1h 35m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 139.5 miles or 2h 44m 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 32m

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 Horseheads, 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 Horseheads, NY

This is one driving day of about 279 miles and 5h 42m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Horseheads, 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 Keystone Shortway for about 80 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 139.5 mi from Horseheads, NY · 2h 44m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ramapo, NY

140 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

Syracuse, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ramapo, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 139.5 miles from Horseheads, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Keystone Shortway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 80 miles.

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

$45.42 one way

$90.84 round trip

$4.14/gal 25.4 MPG avg 98 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.48	$49.22	$98.44
premium	$4.88	$53.64	$107.27
diesel	$5.64	$61.98	$123.97

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

$45

Tolls

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$93–$118

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 97.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	83.7	1	$29.29	$13.39
Efficient EV	69.8	0	$24.41	$11.16
EV Truck/SUV	111.6	1	$39.06	$17.86

Gas CO2

98 kg

EV CO2

33 kg (66% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Horseheads, NY

Evening in Horseheads on Sunday

Local time

6:11 PM

EDT

Current temp

55°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Babylon, NY

Evening in Babylon on Sunday

Local time

6:11 PM

EDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

59°F

Ramapo, NY

140 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 warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

5h 42m 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 Horseheads, NY to Babylon, NY covers 279 miles and takes about 5h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are Keystone Shortway, Southern Tier Expressway, I 81. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 139.5 miles from Horseheads, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $45.42 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.

Between Horseheads, NY and Babylon, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford, New York City, Leonia, Teaneck and George Washington Bridge Upper Level - among others.

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Return Trip

Babylon, NY to Horseheads, NY

Plan the drive back the other way.

279.8 mi 5h 44m

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Trip from Horseheads, NY to Babylon, NY

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Babylon, NY

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Horseheads, NY

Babylon, NY

Same local time

8 degrees warmer at arrival

5h 42m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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