Origin
Elmhurst, NY
Afternoon in Elmhurst on Sunday
Local time
4:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Elmhurst, NY to Albany, NY
Drive Time
3h 8m
Distance
149.3 mi
240 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 57m
★
6 AM
3h 8m
8 AM
3h 32m
10 AM
3h 17m
12 PM
3h 14m
3 PM
3h 18m
5 PM
3h 30m
8 PM
3h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elmhurst, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Trip Overview
The drive from Elmhurst, NY to Albany, NY covers 149.3 miles and takes about 3h 8m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Queens Boulevard, I 278 East, Brooklyn-Queens Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.31 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
74.7 miles from Elmhurst, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 34m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 8m drive with frequent turns across 149.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 44 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Queens Boulevard 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. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Elmhurst, NY to Albany, NY is easy. At 3h 8m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Elmhurst, NY to Albany, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Queens Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 278 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Brooklyn-Queens Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Grand Central Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Robert F | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Manhattan | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Harlem River Drive North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Queens Boulevard
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Elmhurst, NY and Albany, NY.
1
Start on Grand Avenue
89 ft
·
7 sec
·
Grand Avenue
2
Turn left onto Queens Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Queens Boulevard
3
Turn slight right
217 ft
·
8 sec
4
Turn left onto Queens Boulevard
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Queens Boulevard
5
Take the ramp straight toward I 278 East: Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
I 278 East: Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
6
Merge slight left onto Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway
7
Keep slight left to continue on Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Brooklyn-Queens Expressway West
8
Merge slight left onto Grand Central Parkway
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Grand Central Parkway
9
Continue on Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
10
Take the exit slight right toward Manhattan, Randalls Island
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Manhattan, Randalls Island
11
Keep slight left to continue on Manhattan, Randalls Island
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Manhattan, Randalls Island
12
Continue on Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
13
Keep slight right to continue on Harlem River Drive North, 125th Street, 2nd Avenue
128 ft
·
4 sec
·
Harlem River Drive North, 125th Street, 2nd Avenue
14
Keep slight right to continue on Harlem River Drive North
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
·
Harlem River Drive North
15
Merge slight right onto Harlem River Drive
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Harlem River Drive
16
Take the exit slight left toward I 95 South, US 1 South: George Washington Bridge, Amsterdam Avenue, West 179 Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 95 South, US 1 South: George Washington Bridge, Amsterdam Avenue, West 179 Street
17
Keep slight right to continue on I 95 South: George Washington Bridge
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
I 95 South: George Washington Bridge
18
Keep slight left to continue on I 95 South, US 1 South: George Washington Bridge (Upper Level)
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
I 95 South, US 1 South: George Washington Bridge (Upper Level)
19
Merge slight left onto Trans-Manhattan Expressway
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
Trans-Manhattan Expressway
20
Continue on George Washington Bridge (upper level)
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
George Washington Bridge (upper level)
21
Continue straight
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
22
Keep slight left
0.6 mi
·
39 sec
23
Keep slight left
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
24
Take the exit slight right toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
25
Keep slight right to continue on NJ 4 West: Paramus
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
NJ 4 West: Paramus
26
Merge slight right
6.7 mi
·
9 min
27
Take the exit straight toward GSP South, NJ 17 South, GSP North, NJ 17 North: Grand State Plaza, Newark, Mahwah
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
GSP South, NJ 17 South, GSP North, NJ 17 North: Grand State Plaza, Newark, Mahwah
28
Keep slight right to continue on NJ 17 North: Mahwah
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
NJ 17 North: Mahwah
29
Merge slight left
3.3 mi
·
4 min
30
Continue straight
7.3 mi
·
9 min
31
Continue straight
0.7 mi
·
50 sec
32
Continue straight
3.3 mi
·
4 min
33
Continue straight
0.2 mi
·
11 sec
34
Keep slight left to continue on I 87 North, NY 17 North, New York State Thruway North: Albany
112 mi
·
2 hr 8 min
·
I 87 North, NY 17 North, New York State Thruway North: Albany
35
Take the exit slight right toward I 787, US 9W: Albany, Troy
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
I 787, US 9W: Albany, Troy
36
Continue straight
1.6 mi
·
2 min
37
Take the exit slight right toward US 9 North, US 20 West: Downtown Albany
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
·
US 9 North, US 20 West: Downtown Albany
38
Turn straight onto Quay Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Quay Street
39
Turn left
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
40
Turn left onto State Street
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
State Street
41
At the end of the road, turn right onto Eagle Street
180 ft
·
5 sec
·
Eagle Street
42
Turn straight onto Washington Avenue
499 ft
·
20 sec
·
Washington Avenue
43
Turn left
30 ft
·
2 sec
44
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 74.7 miles from Elmhurst, NY, or about 1h 34m 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 80 miles or 1h 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74.7 miles or 1h 34m 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 34m
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 Elmhurst, 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 Elmhurst, NY
This is one driving day of about 149.3 miles and 3h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Elmhurst, 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 74.7 mi from Elmhurst, NY · 1h 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
75 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 74.7 miles from Elmhurst, 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
$24.31 one way
$48.61 round trip
$4.14/gal
25.4 MPG avg
52 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $26.34 | $52.68 |
| premium | $4.88 | $28.70 | $57.40 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $33.17 | $66.34 |
Estimated Tolls: $16.00
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
New York State Thruway
$0.00
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
$24
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 44.8 | 0 | $15.68 | $7.17 |
| Efficient EV | 37.3 | 0 | $13.06 | $5.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 59.7 | 0 | $20.90 | $9.56 |
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 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
4:26 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
59°F
Ramapo, NY
75 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
11 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 8m 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 Elmhurst, NY to Albany, NY covers 149.3 miles and takes about 3h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Queens Boulevard, I 278 East, Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 74.7 miles from Elmhurst, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.31 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.
The drive from Elmhurst, NY to Albany, NY is easy. At 3h 8m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Elmhurst, NY to Albany, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Elmhurst, NY to Albany, NY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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