Origin
Amherst, NY
Afternoon in Amherst on Friday
Local time
12:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Amherst, NY to Clifton Park, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 32m
Distance
277.7 mi
447 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$46
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 20m
★
6 AM
5h 33m
8 AM
6h 0m
10 AM
5h 42m
12 PM
5h 40m
3 PM
5h 44m
5 PM
5h 58m
8 PM
5h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Amherst, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Clifton Park, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Amherst, NY to Clifton Park, NY covers 277.7 miles and takes about 5h 32m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 290 E, Youngmann Expressway, I 90 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $45.71 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
138.8 miles from Amherst, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 46m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 32m. Total distance: 277.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 32m drive with frequent turns across 277.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 290 E is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 32m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Amherst, NY to Clifton Park, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 290 E | — | — |
| Youngmann Expressway | — | — |
| I 90 East | — | — |
| New York State Thruway | — | — |
| I 890 | — | — |
| NY 337 | — | — |
| Erie Boulevard | — | — |
| Maxon Road Extension | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 290 E
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Amherst, NY and Clifton Park, NY.
1
Start on Millersport Highway
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Millersport Highway
2
Take the ramp slight right toward I 290 E
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
I 290 E
3
Merge slight left onto Youngmann Expressway
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Youngmann Expressway
4
Keep slight left to continue on I 90 East: Albany
0.6 mi
·
57 sec
·
I 90 East: Albany
5
Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway
257 mi
·
4 hr 57 min
·
New York State Thruway
6
Take the exit slight right toward I 890, NY 5, NY 5S: Schenectady, Scotia
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 890, NY 5, NY 5S: Schenectady, Scotia
7
Turn straight
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
8
Continue straight
1.7 mi
·
2 min
9
Take the exit slight right toward NY 337
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
NY 337
10
Keep slight right
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
11
Keep slight right
0.7 mi
·
1 min
12
Continue on Erie Boulevard
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Erie Boulevard
13
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Erie Boulevard
89 ft
·
1 sec
·
Erie Boulevard
14
Exit the roundabout onto Erie Boulevard
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Erie Boulevard
15
Turn right onto Maxon Road Extension
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Maxon Road Extension
16
Continue on Van Vranken Avenue
0.2 mi
·
25 sec
·
Van Vranken Avenue
17
Continue on Aqueduct Road
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Aqueduct Road
18
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Balltown Road
272 ft
·
4 sec
·
Balltown Road
19
Exit the roundabout onto Balltown Road
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Balltown Road
20
Turn slight right
3.6 mi
·
5 min
21
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 146
92 ft
·
2 sec
·
State Highway 146
22
Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 146
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 146
23
Turn left onto Halfmoon Parkway
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Halfmoon Parkway
24
Turn left onto Old Route 146
75 ft
·
3 sec
·
Old Route 146
25
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 138.8 miles from Amherst, NY, or about 2h 46m into the drive.
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 61 miles or 1h 13m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 138.8 miles or 2h 46m 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 32m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clifton Park, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Amherst, 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 Amherst, NY
This is one driving day of about 277.7 miles and 5h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Amherst, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 138.8 mi from Amherst, NY · 2h 46m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
139 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 61 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 138.8 miles from Amherst, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Clifton Park, NY
The final approach into Clifton Park, 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 Clifton Park, 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
$45.71 one way
$91.42 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
97 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $49.43 | $98.86 |
| premium | $4.92 | $53.82 | $107.65 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $61.31 | $122.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 83.3 | 1 | $29.16 | $13.33 |
| Efficient EV | 69.4 | 0 | $24.30 | $11.11 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 111.1 | 1 | $38.88 | $17.77 |
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Clifton Park, NY
Afternoon in Clifton Park on Friday
Local time
12:51 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
39°F
Whitesboro, NY
139 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
2 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 32m 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 Amherst, NY to Clifton Park, NY covers 277.7 miles and takes about 5h 32m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 290 E, Youngmann Expressway, I 90 East. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 138.8 miles from Amherst, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $45.71 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 straightforward 5h 32m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Amherst, NY to Clifton Park, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Amherst, NY to Clifton Park, NY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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