Origin
Clifton Park, NY
Afternoon in Clifton Park on Friday
Local time
12:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clifton Park, NY to Amherst, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 22m
Distance
290 mi
467 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$48
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 9m
★
6 AM
4h 23m
8 AM
4h 49m
10 AM
4h 32m
12 PM
4h 29m
3 PM
4h 33m
5 PM
4h 48m
8 PM
4h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clifton Park, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Amherst, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Clifton Park, NY to Amherst, NY covers 290 miles and takes about 4h 22m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Route 146, Halfmoon Parkway, Highway 146 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $47.74 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
145 miles from Clifton Park, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 11m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 22m. Total distance: 290 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 22m 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 4h 22m drive with frequent turns across 290 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Route 146 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 4h 22m 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 Clifton Park, NY to Amherst, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Route 146 | — | — |
| Halfmoon Parkway | — | — |
| Highway 146 | — | — |
| the route | — | — |
| Glenridge Road | — | — |
| Saratoga Road | — | — |
| Ballston Road | — | — |
| North Ballston Avenue | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Route 146
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clifton Park, NY and Amherst, NY.
1
Start on Old Route 146
75 ft
·
5 sec
·
Old Route 146
2
Turn right onto Halfmoon Parkway
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Halfmoon Parkway
3
Turn slight right
417 ft
·
16 sec
4
Turn straight onto State Highway 146
2.6 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 146
5
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
121 ft
·
2 sec
·
the route
6
Exit the roundabout
3.5 mi
·
5 min
7
Continue on Glenridge Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Glenridge Road
8
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Glenridge Road
85 ft
·
2 sec
·
Glenridge Road
9
Exit the roundabout onto Glenridge Road
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Glenridge Road
10
Turn left onto Saratoga Road
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Saratoga Road
11
Turn straight onto Ballston Road
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Ballston Road
12
Continue on North Ballston Avenue
417 ft
·
12 sec
·
North Ballston Avenue
13
Turn right onto 5th Street
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
5th Street
14
Turn right onto Vley Road
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Vley Road
15
Continue straight
0.5 mi
·
41 sec
16
Take the exit slight right toward I 90
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
I 90
17
Turn straight onto I 90 West
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
·
I 90 West
18
Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway
257 mi
·
4 hr 57 min
·
New York State Thruway
19
Take the exit slight right toward I 290: Niagara Falls
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
I 290: Niagara Falls
20
Continue on Youngmann Expressway
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Youngmann Expressway
21
Take the exit slight right toward NY 324, NY 240: Sheridan Drive, Harlem Road
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
NY 324, NY 240: Sheridan Drive, Harlem Road
22
Turn left onto Sheridan Drive
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Sheridan Drive
23
Turn left onto Millersport Highway
469 ft
·
14 sec
·
Millersport Highway
24
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 145 miles from Clifton Park, NY, or about 2h 11m 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 64 miles or 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 145 miles or 2h 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 3h 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Amherst, 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 290 miles and 4h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 145 mi from Clifton Park, NY · 2h 11m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
145 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 64 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 145 miles from Clifton Park, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Amherst, NY
The final approach into Amherst, 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 Amherst, 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
$47.74 one way
$95.47 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
102 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $51.62 | $103.24 |
| premium | $4.92 | $56.21 | $112.41 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $64.03 | $128.06 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 101.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 87 | 1 | $30.45 | $13.92 |
| Efficient EV | 72.5 | 0 | $25.38 | $11.60 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 116 | 1 | $40.60 | $18.56 |
Gas CO2
101 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (66% 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
Amherst, NY
Afternoon in Amherst on Friday
Local time
12:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
39°F
Whitesboro, NY
145 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 cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 22m 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 Clifton Park, NY to Amherst, NY covers 290 miles and takes about 4h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Route 146, Halfmoon Parkway, Highway 146. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 145 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 $47.74 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 4h 22m 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 Clifton Park, NY to Amherst, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Clifton Park, NY to Amherst, 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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