The drive from Albany, NY to Beacon, NY covers 92.1 miles and takes about 1h 52m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on New York State Thruway, I 84, I 787 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 81.8 miles on New York State Thruway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $15.16 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
46.1 miles from Albany, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
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
•New York State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of New York
•Fort Orange — fort in New Netherland (now Albany, New York)
•Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception — historic cathedral in Albany, New York, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 52m. Total distance: 92.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 52m drive with frequent turns across 92.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 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 81.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
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 around 2.7 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 92.1 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 85 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 85.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
2.7 mi into trip|~5m in
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
Toward I 87 South: New York, Massachusetts Turn...
6
85 mi into trip|~1h 41m in
Take the exit toward I 84, NY 17K, NY 300: Scranton, Newburgh, Stewart Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 17
Toward I 84, NY 17K, NY 300: Scranton, Newburgh...
6
85.7 mi into trip|~1h 42m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 84 East: Danbury
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 84 East: Danbury
6
90.6 mi into trip|~1h 48m in
Take the exit toward NY 9D: Beacon, Wappingers Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 41
Toward NY 9D: Beacon, Wappingers Falls
6
90.9 mi into trip|~1h 49m in|NY 9D; NY 52 Bus / North Road
Turn right onto NY 9D; NY 52 Bus / North Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Albany, NY and Beacon, NY, road signs point toward Newburgh and Stewart Airport.
Newburgh
85 mi in|~1h 41m
Stewart Airport
85 mi in|~1h 41m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New York State Thruway
81.8 mi
1h 34m
I 84
4.6 mi
5m
I 787
1.7 mi
2m
North Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Main Street
0.5 mi
1m
Broadway
0.5 mi
1m
Pine Street
0.3 mi
<1m
North Road
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 81.8 mi, about 1h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Albany, NY and Beacon, NY.
1
Start on this road
30 ft·4 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto NY 5
352 ft·10 sec·Washington Avenue
3
Turn left onto Eagle Street
156 ft·4 sec·Eagle Street
4
Turn slight right onto Pine Street
0.3 mi·44 sec·Pine Street
5
At end of road, turn right onto Broadway
0.2 mi·41 sec·Broadway
6
Keep slight right at fork onto Broadway
0.2 mi·24 sec·Broadway
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 787 South
8
Merge onto I 787
1.1 mi·1 min·I 787
9
Continue on I 787
0.6 mi·1 min·I 787
Exit 1Toward I 87 Toll: New York State Thruway
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 87 South: New York, Massachusetts Turnpike, Exits 22-1
11
Merge onto I 87
82 mi·1 hr 34 min·New York State Thruway
12
Take the exit
0.7 mi·52 sec
Exit 17Toward I 84, NY 17K, NY 300: Scranton, Newburgh, Stewart Airport
13
Continue on this road
485 ft·11 sec·this road
14
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 84 East: Danbury
15
Merge onto I 84
4.6 mi·5 min·I 84
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 41Toward NY 9D: Beacon, Wappingers Falls
17
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·18 sec·this road
Exit 41Toward NY 9D: Beacon, Wappingers Falls
18
Turn right onto NY 9D; NY 52 Bus
0.1 mi·16 sec·North Road
Use the right lane.
19
Continue on NY 9D; NY 52 Bus
0.6 mi·1 min·North Avenue
20
Turn left onto NY 52 Bus
0.5 mi·1 min·Main Street
Use the left lane.
21
Arrive at destination
NY 52 Bus
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 46.1 miles from Albany, NY, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.8 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 20 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46.1 miles or 56m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Beacon, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Albany, NY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Albany, NY
This is one driving day of about 92.1 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Albany, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on New York State Thruway for about 81.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 46.1 mi from Albany, NY
· 56m 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.
Saratoga National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.6
0
$9.67
$4.42
Efficient EV
23
0
$8.06
$3.68
EV Truck/SUV
36.8
0
$12.89
$5.89
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Albany, NY
Late night
in Albany on Saturday
Local time
4:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Mostly Clear
N 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Beacon, NY
Late night
in Beacon on Saturday
Local time
4:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
--
Unavailable
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.
Road read
1h 52m on the road
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Albany, NY to Beacon, NY covers 92.1 miles and takes about 1h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are New York State Thruway, I 84, I 787. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 46.1 miles from Albany, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $15.16 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 92.1 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 85 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 85.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Between Albany, NY and Beacon, NY, road signs point toward Newburgh and Stewart Airport.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
