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Trip from Pittsford, NY to Albany, NY

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h 26m

Distance

218.3 mi

351 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$36

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
3h 15m ★
6 AM
3h 27m
8 AM
3h 51m
10 AM
3h 35m
12 PM
3h 33m
3 PM
3h 37m
5 PM
3h 50m
8 PM
3h 20m

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

Downtown Pittsford, NY, NY

Pittsford, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Pittsford, NY to Albany, NY covers 218.3 miles and takes about 3h 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on State Street, Palmyra Road, I 490 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.93 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

109.2 miles from Pittsford, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 43m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
State Street
Palmyra Road
I 490 East
Eastern Expressway
I 90 East
New York State Thruway
I 87 North
US 9

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: State Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Pittsford, NY and Albany, NY.

1

Start on the route

43 ft · 5 sec · the route
2

Turn right onto State Street

0.4 mi · 55 sec · State Street
3

Continue on Palmyra Road

1.3 mi · 2 min · Palmyra Road
4

Take the ramp slight right toward I 490 East, I 90: Victor

0.3 mi · 35 sec · I 490 East, I 90: Victor
5

Merge slight left onto Eastern Expressway

5.2 mi · 6 min · Eastern Expressway
6

Keep slight left to continue on I 90 East: Albany

0.6 mi · 42 sec · I 90 East: Albany
7

Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway

202 mi · 3 hr 52 min · New York State Thruway
8

Keep slight left to continue on I 87 North, I 90 East: Albany, Montreal

1.2 mi · 1 min · I 87 North, I 90 East: Albany, Montreal
9

Keep slight left

4.9 mi · 6 min
10

Take the exit slight right toward US 9: Loudonville, Arbor Hill

0.3 mi · 29 sec · US 9: Loudonville, Arbor Hill
11

Keep slight right to continue on US 9 South: Arbor Hill, Henry Johnson Boulevard

0.3 mi · 28 sec · US 9 South: Arbor Hill, Henry Johnson Boulevard
12

Turn straight onto US 9

0.3 mi · 22 sec · US 9
13

Continue on Henry Johnson Boulevard

0.5 mi · 1 min · Henry Johnson Boulevard
14

Turn left onto Central Avenue

509 ft · 17 sec · Central Avenue
15

Turn slight left onto Washington Avenue

0.5 mi · 1 min · Washington Avenue
16

Turn right

30 ft · 2 sec
17

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 109.2 miles from Pittsford, NY, or about 1h 43m 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 48 miles or 45m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 109.2 miles or 1h 43m 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 49m

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 Pittsford, 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 Pittsford, NY

This is one driving day of about 218.3 miles and 3h 26m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Pittsford, 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.

Downtown Mohawk, NY, NY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Mohawk, NY

109 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

Auburn, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Mohawk, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 109.2 miles from Pittsford, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$35.93 one way

$71.87 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 76 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.52 $38.86 $77.71
premium $4.92 $42.31 $84.62
diesel $5.61 $48.20 $96.40

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$36

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$61–$86

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 76.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 65.5 0 $22.92 $10.48
Efficient EV 54.6 0 $19.10 $8.73
EV Truck/SUV 87.3 1 $30.56 $13.97

Gas CO2

76 kg

EV CO2

26 kg (66% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Pittsford, NY

Afternoon in Pittsford on Saturday

Local time

4:11 PM

EDT

Current temp

56°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Albany, NY

Afternoon in Albany on Saturday

Local time

4:11 PM

EDT

Current temp

34°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

22 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 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.

What kind of drive is this?

218.3 mi in 3h 26m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: State Street.

How Hard Is This Drive?

3/10

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 3h 26m 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 Pittsford, NY to Albany, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

About the Cities

Arriving in Albany, NY

Full guide →

Founded 1686

Albany is the capital of New York. Albany is an interesting showcase of several centuries' worth of architectural styles, including the modernistic Empire State Plaza.

Top landmarks

  • New York State Capitol — state capitol building of the U.S. state of New York
  • Fort Orange — fort in New Netherland (now Albany, New York)
  • Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception — historic cathedral in Albany, New York, United States

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 26m. Total distance: 218.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Pittsford, NY to Albany, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Albany, NY, but most travelers stay overnight.

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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