Origin
Clifton Park, NY
Afternoon in Clifton Park on Friday
Local time
12:11 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clifton Park, NY to Albany, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
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
Unknown
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
Wikimedia Commons
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.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 26m. Total distance: 16.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
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.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 16.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 26m.
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 12 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 Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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
13
Enter roundabout onto Loudon Road
20 ft
·
0 sec
·
Loudon Road
14
Continue on Loudon Road
6.2 mi
·
10 min
·
Loudon Road
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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.68 one way
$5.37 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $2.90 | $5.80 |
| premium | $4.92 | $3.16 | $6.32 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.60 | $7.20 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 5.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
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 Friday
Local time
12:11 PM
EDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
12 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 $2.68 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 short but busy drive. With 12 decision points packed into just 16.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 26m.
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.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Saratoga National Historical Park.
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, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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