Origin
Albany, NY
Afternoon in Albany on Saturday
Local time
4:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 34m
Distance
128.6 mi
207 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Nyack, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Albany, NY to South Nyack, NY is 128.6 miles and takes about 2h 34m via New York State Thruway and I 787, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within New York, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Expect a local drive with a higher number of turns, rather than a straightforward highway cruise. It's a manageable trip, perfect for a single day, and the route is fairly direct.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
64.3 miles from Albany, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 17m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New York State Thruway | 123.9 mi | 2h 24m |
| I 787 | 1.7 mi | 2m |
| Hillside Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Broadway | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Route 59 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Pine Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Highland Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| US 9W | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Albany, NY and South Nyack, NY.
Start on this road
Turn right onto NY 5
Turn left onto Eagle Street
Turn slight right onto Pine Street
At end of road, turn right onto Broadway
Keep slight right at fork onto Broadway
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 787
Continue on I 787
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 87
Keep slight left at fork onto I 87
Take the exit
Turn slight left onto NY 59
Turn right onto US 9W
Turn straight onto US 9W
Turn left onto US 9W
Turn left onto South Franklin Street
Turn right onto Clinton Avenue
Turn left onto South Broadway
Arrive at destination
With a drive duration of under 3 hours, this trip offers great flexibility; you can leave anytime and still arrive with plenty of daylight. The fuel cost is estimated at around $21, so plan accordingly. Since it's a relatively short drive with only one recommended stop, you can easily make the entire journey in one day. Pay attention to the 'Turn-heavy local drive' profile and be ready to navigate some winding sections, especially as you get closer to South Nyack, NY, on roads like Hillside Avenue.
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.
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 28 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.3 miles or 1h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near South Nyack, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Albany, 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 Albany, NY
This is one driving day of about 128.6 miles and 2h 34m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
64 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.
A short stop after about 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 64.3 miles from Albany, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 127.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto NY 5 / Washington Avenue
Navigation decision point
At end of road, turn right onto Broadway
Navigation decision point
Keep slight right at fork onto Broadway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Keep slight left at fork toward I 87 South: New York, Massachusetts Turnpike, Exits 22-1
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward US 9W: Nyack, South Nyack
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$21.17 one way
$42.34 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $22.89 | $45.78 |
| premium | $4.92 | $24.93 | $49.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.39 | $56.79 |
Estimated Tolls: $6.19
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
$21
Tolls
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 45 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.6 | 0 | $13.50 | $6.17 |
| Efficient EV | 32.2 | 0 | $11.25 | $5.14 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 51.4 | 0 | $18.00 | $8.23 |
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Albany on Saturday
Local time
4:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in South Nyack on Saturday
Local time
4:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Mostly Sunny
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
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
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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National Monument
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Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This route is characterized as a 'Turn-heavy local drive,' suggesting you'll encounter more frequent adjustments in direction than on a typical interstate. While a significant portion of the journey, 123.9 miles, is spent on the New York State Thruway, the overall profile indicates a less monotonous experience. The highway share is noted as 2, implying a balanced mix of faster road sections and more intricate local road navigation. Be prepared for the road to change character as you progress toward your destination.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near NY 5 / Washington Avenue.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 128.6 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: near the start (NY 5 / Washington Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (Broadway): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (Broadway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Founded 1686
Albany is the capital of New York. Albany is an interesting showcase of several centuries' worth of architectural styles, including the modernistic Empire State Plaza.
Top landmarks
Founded 1878
Nyack is in Rockland County, New York. This article also covers the nearby towns of Upper Nyack and South Nyack, immediately to the north and south of Nyack, respectively.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 34m. Total distance: 128.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
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.
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