Drive Time
8h 47m
Distance
426.6 mi
687 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$69
one way
Photo: Renan Tagliaferro
The drive from Persia, NY to Babylon, NY covers 426.6 miles and takes about 8h 47m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on Southern Tier Expressway, Keystone Shortway, I 81 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 191.1 miles on Southern Tier Expressway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $69.45 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
213.3 miles from Persia, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 22m into the drive .
This is a 8h 47m highway drive covering 426.6 miles, with most of the trip on Southern Tier Expressway and Keystone Shortway. The longest continuous stretch is about 191.1 miles on Southern Tier Expressway.
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
1,798 ft
Total Descent
3,129 ft
Highest Point
1,913 ft
~287.6 mi in
Elevation Range
1,906 ft
Notable High Points
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern Tier Expressway and Keystone Shortway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 265.9 miles in near US 6.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 32 significant decision points across 426.6 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 265.9 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 380.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 380.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
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
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
Keep slight right at fork toward Leonia, Teaneck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
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
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
Between Persia, 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
Milford
New York City
Leonia
Teaneck
George Washington Bridge Upper Level
Cross Island Parkway South
Southern State Parkway East
Eastern Long Island
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Tier Expressway | 191.1 mi | 3h 42m |
| Keystone Shortway | 80 mi | 1h 37m |
| I 81 | 53.4 mi | 1h 3m |
| I 380 | 23.6 mi | 25m |
| Southern State Parkway | 18 mi | 22m |
| Route 353 | 10.2 mi | 14m |
| Cross Bronx Expressway | 6.6 mi | 8m |
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 5.5 mi | 5m |
Step-by-step road directions between Persia, NY and Babylon, NY.
Start on Persia Road
Turn left onto Miller Road
Turn slight left onto Nash Hill Road
Turn left onto NY 353
Continue on NY 353
Continue on NY 353
Continue on NY 353
Continue on NY 353; NY 242
Continue on NY 353; NY 242
Continue on NY 353
Continue on NY 353
Turn right onto NY 417
Continue on NY 417
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 86; NY 17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
Continue on I 84; I 380
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Turn right
Turn straight onto CR 56
Continue on CR 56
Continue on CR 56
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46
Take the exit
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
Continue on I 95; US 1
Continue on I 95; US 1
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
Merge onto I 295
Continue on I 295
Continue on I 295
Continue on NY 24
At end of road, turn left onto NY 24
Turn right onto Hempstead Avenue
Turn right onto 225th Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto CI
Take the exit
Merge onto SO
Take the exit
Turn slight right onto NY 109
Continue on NY 109
Turn left onto NY 27A
Turn right onto South Carll Avenue
Arrive at destination
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 94 miles or 2h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 213.3 miles or 4h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 213.3 miles or 4h 22m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Babylon, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Persia, 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.
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Persia, NY
Aim for roughly 213 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Babylon, NY
Aim for roughly 213 miles and 4.4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 213.3 mi from Persia, NY · 4h 22m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
213 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Ramapo, NYNight 1
213 mi · about 4.4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Ramapo, NY after about 213 miles or 4.4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsA short stop after about 94 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 213.3 miles from Persia, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Southern Tier Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 191.1 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 213 miles or 4.4 hours on the road.
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.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Babylon, NY with some flexibility left in the schedule.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$69.45 one way
$138.90 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $75.26 | $150.52 |
| premium | $4.88 | $82.01 | $164.02 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $94.78 | $189.55 |
Estimated Tolls: $22.55
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
$69
Tolls
$23
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$222–$332
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 149.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $45 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 128 | 1 | $44.79 | $20.48 |
| Efficient EV | 106.7 | 1 | $37.33 | $17.06 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 170.6 | 2 | $59.72 | $27.30 |
Gas CO2
149 kg
EV CO2
50 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Late night in Persia on Sunday
Local time
12:05 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Late night in Babylon on Sunday
Local time
12:05 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
59°F
Ramapo, NY
213 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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