Origin
Gravesend, NY
Evening in Gravesend on Sunday
Local time
6:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
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Create accountDrive Time
3h 22m
Distance
158.7 mi
255 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gravesend, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Traveling from Gravesend to Albany covers 158.7 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 22 minutes behind the wheel. Because this is a highway-focused drive, you can comfortably complete the journey in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to spend approximately $26 on fuel for the trip, making it a budget-friendly option for a quick getaway. You will be traveling entirely within the Northeast region, transitioning from the urban density of New York City toward the state capital. Since the route is straightforward, it serves as an efficient connection rather than a multi-day excursion. Whether you are heading up for business or a change of pace, this direct corridor keeps your transit time predictable and manageable.
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
79.3 miles from Gravesend, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 47m into the drive .
This route leans heavily on major thoroughfares, with highways accounting for 91% of your total travel time. You will navigate via a combination of NY 17, NJ 17, and NJ 3 as you make your way north. The journey features a significant 111.7-mile stretch on NY 17, which serves as the backbone of your drive. Because of this high highway concentration, you should prepare for a consistent, high-speed pace rather than a winding backroads experience. The road character remains relatively uniform throughout, allowing you to settle into a steady rhythm as you cover the distance between these two New York locations.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NY 17 and NJ 17. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 5.7 miles in near NY 27.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 27 significant decision points across 158.7 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 5.7 miles (NY 27): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 27 toward I 278 East: Queens, Bronx
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Manhattan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward NY 9A North: West Street, Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel, George Washington Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 78: Holland Tunnel, New Jersey
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 139 / 14th Street Viaduct toward NJ 139 West: Pulaski Skyway, Kennedy Boulevard, Jersey City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Between Gravesend, NY and Albany, NY, road signs point toward New Jersey, Jersey City and New York State Thruway North: Albany.
New Jersey
Jersey City
New York State Thruway North: Albany
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NY 17 | 111.7 mi | 2h 8m |
| NJ 17 | 22.9 mi | 28m |
| NJ 3 | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| Coney Island Avenue | 3.4 mi | 6m |
| Tonnelle Avenue | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Prospect Expressway | 1.9 mi | 3m |
| Holland Tunnel | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| I 787 | 1.6 mi | 2m |
Step-by-step road directions between Gravesend, NY and Albany, NY.
Start on Ocean Parkway
Turn right onto Avenue U
Turn left onto Coney Island Avenue
Turn left onto NY 27
Turn right onto NY 27
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 27
Merge onto I 278
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
At end of road, turn right onto NY 9A
Turn right onto Vestry Street
Turn left onto Hudson Street
Take the exit
Merge onto I 78
Continue on I 78
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 139
Continue on NJ 139
Continue on NJ 139
Take the exit
Turn right onto US 1; US 9
Turn straight onto NJ 3
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto NJ 17
Continue on NJ 17
Continue on NJ 17
Continue on NJ 17
Continue on NJ 17
Continue on NJ 17
Continue on I 287; NY 17
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 17
Take the exit
Continue on I 787
Take the exit
Turn straight onto Quay Street
Turn left onto NY 5
Turn left onto NY 5
At end of road, turn right onto NY 5
Turn straight onto NY 5
Turn left
Arrive at destination
Given the 3-hour and 22-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure around local traffic patterns. Aim to complete your one planned stop during the long 111.7-mile segment on NY 17 to break up the monotony and stretch your legs. Since fuel costs for the trip hover around $26, filling up your tank before you leave Gravesend can help you avoid stop-and-go refueling along the highway. Keep a close eye on your GPS as you transition between the state and local road segments, particularly when moving between NJ 3 and NJ 17. Because the drive is short enough for a single day, focus your energy on timing your departure to avoid peak congestion near the start of your route.
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.
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 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.3 miles or 1h 47m 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 46m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Albany, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Gravesend, 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 Gravesend, NY
This is one driving day of about 158.7 miles and 3h 22m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 79.3 mi from Gravesend, NY · 1h 47m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
79 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 79.3 miles from Gravesend, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before NY 17 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 111.7 miles.
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.
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.
Regular Gas
$25.84 one way
$51.67 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $28.00 | $55.99 |
| premium | $4.88 | $30.51 | $61.02 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $35.26 | $70.52 |
Estimated Tolls: $16.00
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
$26
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.6 | 0 | $16.66 | $7.62 |
| Efficient EV | 39.7 | 0 | $13.89 | $6.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 63.5 | 0 | $22.22 | $10.16 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Evening in Gravesend on Sunday
Local time
6:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in Albany on Sunday
Local time
6:15 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Along the Route
59°F
Ramapo, NY
79 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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