Trip from Clifton Park, NY to Queens, NY

Drive Time

3h 40m

Distance

174.6 mi

281 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$28

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min

4 AM

3h 28m ★

6 AM

3h 41m

8 AM

4h 6m

10 AM

3h 50m

12 PM

3h 47m

3 PM

3h 51m

5 PM

4h 5m

8 PM

3h 33m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Clifton Park, NY

Abhishek Navlakha

Queens, NY

Renan Tagliaferro

Trip Overview

Traveling from Clifton Park to Queens covers 180 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 6 minutes of drive time. Because this route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, it is best approached as a focused one-day trip. Budget approximately $28 for fuel to complete the journey between these two Northeast locations. While the duration is manageable for a single day, the heavy reliance on local traffic means you should prepare for a consistent, hands-on driving experience. This trip is ideal for those who prefer avoiding highway monotony in favor of a more direct, localized path through New York.

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

87.3 miles from Clifton Park, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 44m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a standard interstate cruise, this 180-mile journey features a 0% highway share, meaning you will navigate Route 146, Halfmoon Parkway, and Highway 146 for the duration of the trip. Because the longest stretch of uninterrupted driving is 0 miles, you will be navigating frequent turns and transitions rather than long, straightaways. The road maintains a consistent local character that keeps you engaged throughout the entire three-hour transit from the Capital District down toward the city.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 33 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 87 is the longest continuous segment at about 118.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 87 and NJ 17. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 13.3 miles in near I 87.

Route Complexity 10/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 174.6 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: at 13.3 miles (I 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 131.9 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 133.3 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 23 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

13.3 mi into trip | ~18m in | I 87

Keep slight right at fork onto I 87 toward I 87 South, I 90: Boston, Albany, New York, Buffalo

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 1E-W Toward I 87 South, I 90: Boston, Albany, New Yo...

131.9 mi into trip | ~2h 36m in | NY 17

Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17 toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 15 Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey

133.3 mi into trip | ~2h 37m in | NJ 17

Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17 toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / straight lanes. Exit 66 Toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah

162.1 mi into trip | ~3h 17m in

Take the exit toward I 678 South: Whitestone Bridge, Queens

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 6A Toward I 678 South: Whitestone Bridge, Queens

171.9 mi into trip | ~3h 33m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue

Towns Along This Route

Between Clifton Park, NY and Queens, NY, road signs point toward Albany, New York, Buffalo, Gsp South: Paterson and Fort Lee.

Albany

13.3 mi in | ~18m | via I 87

New York

13.3 mi in | ~18m | via I 87

Buffalo

13.3 mi in | ~18m | via I 87

Gsp South: Paterson

147.4 mi in | ~2h 56m

Fort Lee

147.4 mi in | ~2h 56m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 87	118.6 mi	2h 17m
NJ 17	14.1 mi	18m
Adirondack Northway	12.4 mi	16m
NJ 4	6.7 mi	9m
Cross Bronx Expressway	4.4 mi	5m
Van Wyck Expressway	4.3 mi	6m
Whitestone Expressway	2.3 mi	3m
Liberty Avenue	1.5 mi	4m

Longest stretch: I 87 — 118.6 mi, about 2h 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Clifton Park, NY and Queens, NY.

Start on Old Route 146

75 ft · 5 sec · Old Route 146

Turn right onto US 9

0.1 mi · 16 sec · Halfmoon Parkway

Turn slight right

417 ft · 16 sec

Turn straight onto NY 146

0.4 mi · 41 sec · State Highway 146

Use the left lane.

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 37 sec

Toward I 87 South: Albany Use the left lane.

Merge onto I 87

12 mi · 16 min · Adirondack Northway

Use the none lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 87

0.3 mi · 31 sec · I 87

Exit 1E-W Toward I 87 South, I 90: Boston, Albany, New York, Buffalo Use the slight right lane.

Continue on I 87

0.5 mi · 51 sec · I 87

Exit 1W Toward I 87 South, I 90 West: New York, Buffalo

Keep slight right at fork onto I 87

118 mi · 2 hr 16 min · I 87

Toward I 87 South: New York Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17

0.9 mi · 59 sec · NY 17

Exit 15 Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey Use the slight right lane.

Continue on I 287; NJ 17

0.5 mi · 39 sec · I 287; NJ 17

Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17

14 mi · 18 min · NJ 17

Exit 66 Toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah Use the slight left / straight lanes.

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 19 sec

Toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York

Merge onto NJ 4

0.3 mi · 24 sec · NJ 4

Use the none lane.

Continue on NJ 4

6.4 mi · 8 min · NJ 4

Use the none lane.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 18 sec

Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge Use the straight / slight left lanes.

Merge onto I 95 EXPR

0.7 mi · 54 sec · I 95 EXPR

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR

0.8 mi · 1 min · I 95 EXPR

Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9

0.6 mi · 1 min · George Washington Bridge (upper level)

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 95; US 1

0.7 mi · 1 min · Trans-Manhattan Expressway

Use the none lane.

Continue on I 95; US 1

4.4 mi · 5 min · Cross Bronx Expressway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.9 mi · 2 min

Exit 6A Toward I 678 South: Whitestone Bridge, Queens Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 678

0.8 mi · 1 min · Hutchinson River Expressway

Use the none lane.

Continue on I 678

1.3 mi · 2 min · Bronx-Whitestone Bridge

Continue on I 678

2.3 mi · 3 min · Whitestone Expressway

Use the none lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 678

4.3 mi · 6 min · Van Wyck Expressway

Toward I 678 South: Kennedy Airport Use the slight left lane.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec

Exit 6 Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue, Atlantic Avenue Use the right lane.

Keep slight right at fork

0.1 mi · 13 sec

Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue Use the slight right lane.

Turn straight onto Van Wyck Expressway West

0.9 mi · 2 min · Van Wyck Expressway West

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn right onto Liberty Avenue

1.5 mi · 4 min · Liberty Avenue

Use the straight / right lanes.

Turn left onto 104th Street

205 ft · 9 sec · 104th Street

Arrive at destination

104th Street

Trip Plan

Since this route involves significant local road travel, plan for at least one stop to break up the drive and rest. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, as you can easily adjust your pace to account for the turn-heavy nature of the route. Aim to depart outside of peak traffic hours to ensure your 3-hour and 6-minute estimate remains accurate. Keep your $28 fuel budget in mind, but consider carrying a bit extra if you encounter heavy local congestion that impacts your vehicle's efficiency. A concrete tip for this specific path: verify your GPS settings to ensure you are comfortable with a route that avoids major highways entirely.

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 87.3 miles from Clifton Park, NY, or about 1h 44m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 118.6 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 80 miles or 1h 35m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 87.3 miles or 1h 44m 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 50m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Queens, 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 174.6 miles and 3h 40m.

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.

Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.

The longest stretch is on I 87 for about 118.6 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 87.3 mi from Clifton Park, NY · 1h 44m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ramapo, NY

87 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.

Popular next leg

Ramapo, NY to Queens, NY

44.1 mi · 1h 10m

Pacing Suggestions

Ramapo, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ramapo, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 87.3 miles from Clifton Park, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 87 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 118.6 miles.

Arriving in Queens, NY

The final approach into Queens, 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 Queens, NY.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$28.42 one way

$56.85 round trip

$4.14/gal 25.4 MPG avg 61 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.48	$30.80	$61.60
premium	$4.88	$33.57	$67.13
diesel	$5.64	$38.79	$77.58

Estimated Tolls: $22.55

George Washington Bridge $16.00

Whitestone Bridge $6.55

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

$28

Tolls

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$76–$101

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 61.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	52.4	$18.33	$8.38
Efficient EV	43.7	$15.28	$6.98
EV Truck/SUV	69.8	$24.44	$11.17

Gas CO2

61 kg

EV CO2

20 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Clifton Park, NY

Afternoon in Clifton Park on Sunday

Local time

4:27 PM

EDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Queens, NY

Afternoon in Queens on Sunday

Local time

4:27 PM

EDT

Current temp

70°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

59°F

Ramapo, NY

87 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

1 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

3h 40m 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 Queens, NY covers 174.6 miles and takes about 3h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 87, NJ 17, Adirondack Northway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 87.3 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 $28.42 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Between Clifton Park, NY and Queens, NY, road signs point toward Albany, New York, Buffalo, Gsp South: Paterson and Fort Lee.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Clifton Park, NY or browse trips ending in Queens, NY.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NY road trips.

Explore maps for Clifton Park, NY or Queens, NY on MapSof.net.

Trip from Clifton Park, NY to Queens, NY

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Queens, NY

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Clifton Park, NY

Queens, NY

Same local time

1 degrees cooler at arrival

3h 40m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

Was this route helpful?

Explore More

Continue From Queens, NY

More from Clifton Park, NY

More trips to Queens, NY