This 229.4-mile drive from Salem, NY to Babylon, NY is a manageable one-day trip, taking approximately 5 hours and 5 minutes to complete. You'll navigate a mix of major highways and state roads, with 44% of the journey on high-speed roadways. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $39, making it an economical choice for a single-day excursion within New York State. This route offers a straightforward transition, moving you from the Northeast region down towards the southern part of the state. It's a practical option if you're looking to cover ground efficiently without needing an overnight stay.
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
114.7 miles from Salem, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 37m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 5m. Total distance: 229.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 5m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a varied driving experience on this route, with a 'Mixed drive' profile. While 44% of the journey utilizes highways, you'll also encounter state routes, offering a change of pace. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a significant 111.2 miles on the New York State Thruway, providing ample opportunity for consistent speed. As you progress, the character of the road will likely shift from more open highway to potentially more varied conditions as you approach your destination.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 48 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
New York State Thruway is the longest continuous segment at about 111.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 162.5 miles in near NY 17.
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 32 significant decision points across 229.4 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 162.5 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 163.9 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 192.9 miles (I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 32 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
162.5 mi into trip|~3h 32m in|NY 17
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17 toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 15
Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
8
163.9 mi into trip|~3h 33m in|NJ 17
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17 toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 66
Toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
8
192.9 mi into trip|~4h 14m 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 lanes.
Exit 6B
Toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge
8
205.9 mi into trip|~4h 32m 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...
7
224.3 mi into trip|~4h 56m in
Take the exit toward NY 109 East: Babylon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 33
Toward NY 109 East: Babylon
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Salem, NY and Babylon, NY, road signs point toward Massachusetts Turnpike, Exits 22-1, Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York and Cross Island Parkway South - among others.
Massachusetts Turnpike
50.8 mi in|~1h 22m
Exits 22-1
50.8 mi in|~1h 22m
Gsp South: Paterson
177.9 mi in|~3h 52m
Fort Lee
177.9 mi in|~3h 52m
New York
177.9 mi in|~3h 52m
Cross Island Parkway South
204.4 mi in|~4h 30m
Southern State Parkway East
205.9 mi in|~4h 32m
Eastern Long Island
205.9 mi in|~4h 32m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New York State Thruway
111.2 mi
2h 8m
NY 40
22.3 mi
34m
Southern State Parkway
18 mi
22m
NJ 17
14.1 mi
18m
I 787
10.5 mi
15m
State Highway 29
10.3 mi
16m
NJ 4
6.7 mi
9m
Cross Bronx Expressway
6.6 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 111.2 mi, about 2h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Salem, NY and Babylon, NY.
1
Start on CR 30
40 ft·3 sec·West Broadway
2
Turn right onto 22
0.9 mi·2 min·South Main Street
3
Continue on NY 22
1.3 mi·1 min·State Highway 22
4
Turn right onto NY 29
10 mi·16 min·State Highway 29
5
At end of road, turn left onto Main Street
60 ft·4 sec·Main Street
6
Turn right onto Hill Street
1.2 mi·2 min·Hill Street
7
Continue on Hegeman Bridge Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Hegeman Bridge Road
8
At end of road, turn left onto NY 40
22 mi·34 min·NY 40
9
Turn right onto NY 40; NY 142
465 ft·18 sec·Plank Road
10
Turn left onto NY 40
3.4 mi·7 min·Oakwood Avenue
11
Continue on NY 40
392 ft·14 sec·10th Street
12
Turn right onto NY 7
513 ft·16 sec·Hoosick Street
Use the right lane.
13
Turn right onto I 787; NY 7
0.5 mi·42 sec·I 787; NY 7
14
Keep slight right at fork onto I 787
9.4 mi·13 min·I 787
Use the slight right lane.
15
Continue on I 787
0.6 mi·1 min·I 787
Exit 1Toward I 87 Toll: New York State Thruway
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 87 South: New York, Massachusetts Turnpike, Exits 22-1
17
Merge onto I 87
111 mi·2 hr 8 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17
0.9 mi·59 sec·NY 17
Exit 15Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New JerseyUse the slight right lane.
19
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
0.5 mi·39 sec·I 287; NJ 17
20
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17
14 mi·18 min·NJ 17
Exit 66Toward NJ 17 South: MahwahUse the slight left / straight lanes.
21
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
22
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
23
Merge onto NJ 4
0.3 mi·24 sec·NJ 4
Use the right lane.
24
Continue on NJ 4
6.4 mi·8 min·NJ 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington BridgeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
26
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.7 mi·54 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
28
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
30
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi·6 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
2.0 mi·2 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Exit 6BToward I 295 South: Throgs Neck BridgeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
32
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi·58 sec·Throgs Neck Expressway
33
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Continue on I 295
5.0 mi·5 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Continue on NY 24
0.7 mi·1 min·Hollis Court Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
36
At end of road, turn left onto NY 24
0.2 mi·35 sec·Jamaica Avenue
Use the left lane.
37
Turn right onto Hempstead Avenue
0.9 mi·2 min·Hempstead Avenue
38
Turn right onto 225th Street
228 ft·9 sec·225th Street
Use the right lane.
39
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward Cross Island Parkway South, Verrazano Bridge
40
Merge onto CI
1.3 mi·1 min·Cross Island Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 25AToward Southern State Parkway East, Eastern Long IslandUse the slight left / straight lanes.
42
Merge onto SO
18 mi·22 min·Southern State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
43
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 33Toward NY 109 East: BabylonUse the slight right lane.
44
Turn slight right onto NY 109
3.5 mi·5 min·Farmingdale Road
Use the left lane.
45
Continue on NY 109
0.9 mi·1 min·Little East Neck Road North
46
Turn left onto NY 27A
0.5 mi·49 sec·West Main Street
47
Turn right onto South Carll Avenue
68 ft·2 sec·South Carll Avenue
48
Arrive at destination
South Carll Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour duration, departing early from Salem is advisable to maximize your daylight and allow for a relaxed pace. Plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and refuel; the longest stretch on the New York State Thruway is over 111 miles, so breaking up that segment is a good idea. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you transition off the main highways. The $39 fuel cost is an estimate, so checking current prices is recommended. This drive is well-suited for a single day, but having flexibility allows you to adjust your timing based on traffic or your own schedule.
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 114.7 miles from Salem, NY, or about 2h 37m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.2 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 50 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 114.7 miles or 2h 37m 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 7m
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 Salem, 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 Salem, NY
This is one driving day of about 229.4 miles and 5h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Salem, 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 New York State Thruway for about 111.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 114.7 mi from Salem, NY
· 2h 37m into the drive
The midpoint is around 114.7 miles from Salem, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before New York State Thruway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 111.2 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.
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Hamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 189.8
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 189.8
In 1777, a large British invasion force met an equally large American army here at Saratoga. After two intense battles, an eight-mile retreat, and a three-day siege, British General John Burgoyne surr...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 23.7
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...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 189.8
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...
11 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 189.8
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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 189.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.76 one way
$75.52 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$40.83
$81.66
premium
$4.92
$44.46
$88.92
diesel
$5.61
$50.65
$101.30
Estimated Tolls: $28.11
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
New York State Thruway
(111.2 mi)$5.56
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
$38
Tolls
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$91–$116
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.8
0
$24.09
$11.01
Efficient EV
57.4
0
$20.07
$9.18
EV Truck/SUV
91.8
1
$32.12
$14.68
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% 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
Salem, NY
Afternoon
in Salem on Friday
Local time
2:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Babylon, NY
Afternoon
in Babylon on Friday
Local time
2:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Ramapo, NY
115 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
5 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 5m 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 Salem, NY to Babylon, NY covers 229.4 miles and takes about 5h 5m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are New York State Thruway, NY 40, Southern State Parkway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 114.7 miles from Salem, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $37.76 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 demanding drive. With 32 significant decision points across 229.4 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 162.5 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 163.9 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 192.9 miles (I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Salem, NY and Babylon, NY, road signs point toward Massachusetts Turnpike, Exits 22-1, Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York and Cross Island Parkway South - among others.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial and Saratoga National Historical Park. 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.
