Origin
Alder Brook, NY
Afternoon in Alder Brook on Thursday
Local time
1:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
30°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Alder Brook, NY to Saranac Lake, NY
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
37m
Distance
20.9 mi
34 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 35m
★
6 AM
0h 38m
8 AM
0h 44m
10 AM
0h 40m
12 PM
0h 39m
3 PM
0h 40m
5 PM
0h 44m
8 PM
0h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Saranac Lake, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Alder Brook, NY to Saranac Lake, NY covers 20.9 miles and takes about 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on State Route 3, Alder Brook Road, Bloomingdale Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 16.5 miles on State Route 3. At current regular gas prices, budget about $3.44 one way before food or hotel costs.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 37m. Total distance: 20.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 37m highway drive covering 20.9 miles, with most of the trip on State Route 3 and Alder Brook Road. The longest continuous stretch is about 16.5 miles on State Route 3.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 9 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
State Route 3 is the longest continuous segment at about 16.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Route 3 and Alder Brook Road. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in near NY 3 / State Route 3.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Alder Brook, NY to Saranac Lake, NY is easy. At 37m with 79% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles (NY 3 / State Route 3): Navigation decision point; at 14.5 miles (NY 3 / Saranac Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 20.9 miles (NY 3; NY 86 / Church Street): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
3 of 3 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
2.6 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
NY 3 / State Route 3
Turn left onto NY 3 / State Route 3
Navigation decision point
4
14.5 mi into trip
|
~28m in
|
NY 3 / Saranac Avenue
Turn left onto NY 3 / Saranac Avenue
Navigation decision point
4
20.9 mi into trip
|
~37m in
|
NY 3; NY 86 / Church Street
Turn left onto NY 3; NY 86 / Church Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Route 3 | 16.5 mi | 24m |
| Alder Brook Road | 2.6 mi | 10m |
| Bloomingdale Avenue | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| East Main Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Saranac Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Church Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
State Route 3
— 16.5 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alder Brook, NY and Saranac Lake, NY.
1
Start on Alder Brook Road
1.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Alder Brook Road
2
Continue on Alder Brook Road
1.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Alder Brook Road
3
Turn left onto NY 3
11 mi
·
16 min
·
State Route 3
4
Continue on NY 3
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
5
Turn left onto NY 3
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Saranac Avenue
6
Continue on NY 3
5.2 mi
·
7 min
·
State Route 3
7
Continue on NY 3
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Bloomingdale Avenue
8
Turn left onto NY 3; NY 86
77 ft
·
1 sec
·
Church Street
9
Arrive at destination
NY 3; NY 86
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 10.5 mi from Alder Brook, NY · 21m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
10 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
Arriving in Saranac Lake, NY
The final approach into Saranac Lake, 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 Saranac Lake, 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
$3.44 one way
$6.88 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
7 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $3.72 | $7.44 |
| premium | $4.92 | $4.05 | $8.10 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $4.61 | $9.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 7.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 71% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 6.3 | 0 | $2.19 | $1.00 |
| Efficient EV | 5.2 | 0 | $1.83 | $0.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 8.4 | 0 | $2.93 | $1.34 |
Gas CO2
7 kg
EV CO2
2 kg (71% 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.
Destination
Saranac Lake, NY
Afternoon in Saranac Lake on Thursday
Local time
1:57 PM
EDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
4 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
37m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Alder Brook, NY to Saranac Lake, NY covers 20.9 miles and takes about 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Route 3, Alder Brook Road, Bloomingdale Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 10.5 miles from Alder Brook, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.44 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.
The drive from Alder Brook, NY to Saranac Lake, NY is easy. At 37m with 79% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles (NY 3 / State Route 3): Navigation decision point; at 14.5 miles (NY 3 / Saranac Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 20.9 miles (NY 3; NY 86 / Church Street): Navigation decision point.
The route from Alder Brook, NY to Saranac Lake, NY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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