Origin
Shirley, NY
Afternoon in Shirley on Monday
Local time
3:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
49°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Shirley, NY to West Albany, NY
Drive Time
4h 20m
Distance
205.7 mi
331 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$33
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 7m
★
6 AM
4h 20m
8 AM
4h 47m
10 AM
4h 30m
12 PM
4h 27m
3 PM
4h 31m
5 PM
4h 46m
8 PM
4h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Shirley, NY
Wikimedia Commons
West Albany, NY
Connor Scott McManus
Trip Overview
The drive from Shirley, NY to West Albany, NY covers 205.7 miles and takes about 4h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on NY 17, Long Island Expressway, NJ 17 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 111.7 miles on NY 17. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.49 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
102.8 miles from Shirley, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 18m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 4h 20m highway drive covering 205.7 miles, with most of the trip on NY 17 and Long Island Expressway. The longest continuous stretch is about 111.7 miles on NY 17.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 42 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
NY 17 is the longest continuous segment at about 111.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NY 17 and Long Island Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.5 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 33 significant decision points across 205.7 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 2.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 48.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 48.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 33 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
2.5 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the exit toward CR 16 West: Yaphank, Horseblock Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 57N
Toward CR 16 West: Yaphank, Horseblock Road
8
48.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Take the exit toward Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Bridge, Kennedy Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 31N-S
Toward Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Bridge,...
10
48.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 31N
Toward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone B...
8
52 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
Take the exit toward I 295 North: Throgs Neck Bridge, Bronx, New England
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 33
Toward I 295 North: Throgs Neck Bridge, Bronx,...
9
64.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 30m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 4 West: Paramus
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 72A
Toward NJ 4 West: Paramus
Towns Along This Route
Between Shirley, NY and West Albany, NY, road signs point toward Kennedy Airport, Cross Island Parkway North, Bronx, New England, Upper Level and Njtp South: Hackensack - among others.
Kennedy Airport
48.4 mi in
|
~1h 6m
Cross Island Parkway North
48.6 mi in
|
~1h 6m
Bronx
52 mi in
|
~1h 11m
New England
52 mi in
|
~1h 11m
Upper Level
61.7 mi in
|
~1h 26m
|
via I 95; US 1
Njtp South: Hackensack
64.2 mi in
|
~1h 29m
Gsp South
71.3 mi in
|
~1h 39m
Gsp North
71.3 mi in
|
~1h 39m
Newark
71.3 mi in
|
~1h 39m
Mahwah
71.3 mi in
|
~1h 39m
New York State Thruway North: Albany
86.6 mi in
|
~1h 59m
|
via NY 17
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NY 17 | 111.7 mi | 2h 8m |
| Long Island Expressway | 41.4 mi | 55m |
| NJ 17 | 14.7 mi | 18m |
| NJ 4 | 6.7 mi | 9m |
| Cross Bronx Expressway | 6.6 mi | 8m |
| Horseblock Road | 3.9 mi | 5m |
| I 787 | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Cross Island Parkway | 3.1 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
NY 17
— 111.7 mi, about 2h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shirley, NY and West Albany, NY.
1
Start on CR 46
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
·
William Floyd Parkway
Toward I 495, NY 27: East Shoreham, Wading River
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward NY 27 West: New York
3
Merge onto NY 27
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Sunrise Highway
4
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 57N
Toward CR 16 West: Yaphank, Horseblock Road
Use the right lane.
5
Turn left onto CR 56
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
Victory Avenue
6
Turn right onto CR 16
3.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Horseblock Road
Use the left lane.
7
Turn left onto Express Drive North
0.2 mi
·
14 sec
·
Express Drive North
Use the left lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward I 495 WEST: New York
9
Merge onto I 495
41 mi
·
55 min
·
Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 31N-S
Toward Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Bridge, Kennedy Airport
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 31N
Toward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone Bridge
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto CI
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Cross Island Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 33
Toward I 295 North: Throgs Neck Bridge, Bronx, New England
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 295
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Throgs Neck Bridge
15
Continue on I 295
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Throgs Neck Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295
6.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; US 1
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Trans-Manhattan Expressway
Toward Upper Level
18
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
George Washington Bridge (upper level)
19
Continue on I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
0.6 mi
·
39 sec
·
I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; NJTP
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
I 95 EXPR; NJTP
22
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 72A
Toward NJ 4 West: Paramus
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
24
Merge onto NJ 4
6.7 mi
·
9 min
·
NJ 4
Use the slight right lane.
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Toward GSP South, NJ 17 South, GSP North, NJ 17 North: Grand State Plaza, Newark, Mahwah
Use the straight lane.
26
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
Toward NJ 17 North: Mahwah
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Merge onto NJ 17
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
NJ 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Continue on NJ 17
7.3 mi
·
9 min
·
NJ 17
Use the straight / right lanes.
29
Continue on NJ 17
0.7 mi
·
50 sec
·
NJ 17
30
Continue on NJ 17
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
NJ 17
31
Continue on I 287; NY 17
0.2 mi
·
10 sec
·
I 287; NY 17
32
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 17
112 mi
·
2 hr 8 min
·
NY 17
Toward I 87 North, NY 17 North, New York State Thruway North: Albany
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 23
Toward I 787, US 9W: Albany, Troy
Use the slight right lane.
34
Continue on I 787
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
I 787
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 5
Toward I 90: Buffalo, Boston
Use the slight right lane.
36
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Toward I 90 West: Buffalo
Use the slight left lane.
37
Merge onto I 90
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 5
Toward Everett Road
Use the slight right lane.
39
Turn right onto Everett Road Extension
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Everett Road Extension
40
Turn right onto Exchange Street
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
Exchange Street
41
Turn left onto Sand Creek Road
71 ft
·
2 sec
·
Sand Creek Road
42
Arrive at destination
Sand Creek Road
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 102.8 miles from Shirley, NY, or about 2h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.7 miles.
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 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 102.8 miles or 2h 18m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Albany, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Shirley, 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 Shirley, NY
This is one driving day of about 205.7 miles and 4h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Shirley, 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.
The longest stretch is on NY 17 for about 111.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 102.8 mi from Shirley, NY · 2h 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
103 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 102.8 miles from Shirley, 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.
Arriving in West Albany, NY
The final approach into West 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 West 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.49 one way
$66.97 round trip
$4.14/gal
25.4 MPG avg
72 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $36.29 | $72.58 |
| premium | $4.88 | $39.54 | $79.09 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $45.70 | $91.40 |
Estimated Tolls: $22.55
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
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
$33
Tolls
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$81–$106
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 61.7 | 0 | $21.60 | $9.87 |
| Efficient EV | 51.4 | 0 | $18.00 | $8.23 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 82.3 | 1 | $28.80 | $13.16 |
Gas CO2
72 kg
EV CO2
24 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
West Albany, NY
Afternoon in West Albany on Monday
Local time
3:08 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Cloudy
S 15 mph
9% chance
Live forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 13 at 12:55AM EDT until April 13 at 2:00PM EDT by NWS Burlington VT
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 12:22AM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Along the Route
40°F
Ramapo, NY
103 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
3 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 20m 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 Shirley, NY to West Albany, NY covers 205.7 miles and takes about 4h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are NY 17, Long Island Expressway, NJ 17. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 102.8 miles from Shirley, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.49 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 demanding drive. With 33 significant decision points across 205.7 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 48.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 48.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Shirley, NY and West Albany, NY, road signs point toward Kennedy Airport, Cross Island Parkway North, Bronx, New England, Upper Level and Njtp South: Hackensack - among others.
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