Origin
Clifton Park, NY
Afternoon in Clifton Park on Sunday
Local time
4:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
71°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clifton Park, NY to Albany, NY
Drive Time
26m
Distance
16.3 mi
26 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 24m
★
6 AM
0h 27m
8 AM
0h 31m
10 AM
0h 28m
12 PM
0h 28m
3 PM
0h 29m
5 PM
0h 31m
8 PM
0h 25m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clifton Park, NY
Abhishek Navlakha
Trip Overview
If you are traveling from Clifton Park to Albany, you are looking at a quick 16.3-mile trip that typically takes about 26 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations. Budgeting around $3 for fuel should be sufficient for the entire journey. You will be navigating entirely within the Northeast region, staying within New York State for the duration of the drive. Because of the short distance, this trip offers great flexibility for your schedule, allowing you to head out whenever it is most convenient for your plans.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
8.2 miles from Clifton Park, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 11m into the drive .
Drive Character
This journey is defined as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a long-haul interstate cruise. You will spend only about 5% of your total travel time on a highway, as the route relies heavily on local roads like Loudon Road and Henry Johnson Boulevard. While you will encounter a brief 6.3-mile stretch on the Adirondack Northway, the majority of your time behind the wheel will be spent navigating turns and local traffic patterns. Expect the road to transition quickly from the suburban feel of Clifton Park into the more urban environment of Albany. It is a straightforward drive that prioritizes local connectivity over high-speed highway miles.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 19 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Adirondack Northway is the longest continuous segment at about 6.3 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 0.6 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 16.3 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 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 7.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 14 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.6 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 87 South: Albany
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 87 South: Albany
6
7.2 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward NY 2, NY 7: Schenectady, Watervliet, Troy, Cohoes
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 7-6
Toward NY 2, NY 7: Schenectady, Watervliet, Tro...
8
7.7 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NY 2, NY 7 West: Troy, Schenectady
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NY 2, NY 7 West: Troy, Schenectady
8
8.1 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
NY 7
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 7 toward NY 2, NY 7 West: Watervliet, Schenectady
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 6
Toward NY 2, NY 7 West: Watervliet, Schenectady
9
8.3 mi into trip
|
~11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NY 2, NY 9
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward NY 2, NY 9
Towns Along This Route
Between Clifton Park, NY and Albany, NY, road signs point toward Watervliet, Troy, Cohoes and Schenectady.
Watervliet
7.2 mi in
|
~9m
Troy
7.2 mi in
|
~9m
Cohoes
7.2 mi in
|
~9m
Schenectady
7.7 mi in
|
~10m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Adirondack Northway | 6.3 mi | 7m |
| Loudon Road | 6.2 mi | 10m |
| Henry Johnson Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Washington Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Troy Schenectady Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| State Highway 146 | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| NY 7 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Halfmoon Parkway | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Adirondack Northway
— 6.3 mi, about 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clifton Park, NY and Albany, NY.
1
Start on Old Route 146
75 ft
·
5 sec
·
Old Route 146
2
Turn right onto US 9
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Halfmoon Parkway
3
Turn slight right
417 ft
·
16 sec
4
Turn straight onto NY 146
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
·
State Highway 146
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Toward I 87 South: Albany
Use the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 87
6.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Adirondack Northway
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 7-6
Toward NY 2, NY 7: Schenectady, Watervliet, Troy, Cohoes
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
Toward NY 2, NY 7 West: Troy, Schenectady
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto NY 7
237 ft
·
3 sec
·
NY 7
10
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 7
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
NY 7
Exit 6
Toward NY 2, NY 7 West: Watervliet, Schenectady
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Toward NY 2, NY 9
Use the slight left lane.
12
Turn straight onto NY 2
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Troy Schenectady Road
Use the none lane.
13
Enter roundabout onto Loudon Road
20 ft
·
0 sec
·
Loudon Road
14
Continue on Loudon Road
6.2 mi
·
10 min
·
Loudon Road
Use the none lane.
15
Continue on US 9
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Henry Johnson Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn left onto NY 5
508 ft
·
16 sec
·
Central Avenue
17
Turn slight left onto NY 5
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Avenue
18
Turn right
30 ft
·
2 sec
19
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Since this is such a short, 26-minute drive, you have the advantage of being able to leave whenever you like without needing to plan for meal stops or extended rest breaks. There are no mandatory stops required along the way, so you can easily complete the 16.3-mile distance in one go. Keep in mind that because the route involves significant local road travel, you should stay alert for changing speed limits and turn signals as you move through different municipalities. If you want to avoid the heaviest traffic, try to time your departure outside of typical peak commuting hours. Given the low fuel cost of $3, you won't need to worry about scouting for gas stations before you hit the road.
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 8.2 miles from Clifton Park, NY, or about 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 6.3 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 16.3 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 8.2 miles or 11m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Albany, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Clifton Park, 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 Clifton Park, NY
This is one driving day of about 16.3 miles and 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Clifton Park, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on Adirondack Northway for about 6.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 8.2 mi from Clifton Park, NY · 11m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
8 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 16.3 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 8.2 miles from Clifton Park, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Albany, NY
The final approach into Albany, 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 Albany, 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
$2.65 one way
$5.31 round trip
$4.14/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $2.88 | $5.75 |
| premium | $4.88 | $3.13 | $6.27 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $3.62 | $7.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$3
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$28–$53
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 4.9 | 0 | $1.71 | $0.78 |
| Efficient EV | 4.1 | 0 | $1.43 | $0.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 6.5 | 0 | $2.28 | $1.04 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Albany, NY
Afternoon in Albany on Sunday
Local time
4:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°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
23 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
26m 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 Clifton Park, NY to Albany, NY covers 16.3 miles and takes about 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Adirondack Northway, Loudon Road, Henry Johnson Boulevard. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 8.2 miles from Clifton Park, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $2.65 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 is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 16.3 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 0.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 7.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Clifton Park, NY and Albany, NY, road signs point toward Watervliet, Troy, Cohoes and Schenectady.
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