Origin
South Nyack, NY
Afternoon in South Nyack on Saturday
Local time
4:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from South Nyack, 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
2h 33m
Distance
128.2 mi
206 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 23m
★
6 AM
2h 34m
8 AM
2h 54m
10 AM
2h 41m
12 PM
2h 39m
3 PM
2h 42m
5 PM
2h 53m
8 PM
2h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
South Nyack, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from South Nyack, NY to Albany, NY covers 128.2 miles and takes about 2h 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on New York State Thruway, I 787, Hillside Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 123.8 miles on New York State Thruway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.10 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
64.1 miles from South Nyack, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 16m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New York State Thruway | 123.8 mi | 2h 24m |
| I 787 | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Hillside Avenue | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| State Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South Highland Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| NY 5 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Quay Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| US 9W | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 123.8 mi, about 2h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between South Nyack, NY and Albany, NY.
1
Start on South Broadway
11 ft
·
5 sec
·
South Broadway
2
Turn right onto Clinton Avenue
473 ft
·
29 sec
·
Clinton Avenue
3
Turn left onto South Franklin Street
159 ft
·
7 sec
·
South Franklin Street
4
Turn right onto US 9W
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
US 9W
5
Continue on US 9W
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
Hillside Avenue
6
Continue on US 9W
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
South Highland Avenue
7
Turn left onto High Avenue
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
High Avenue
Use the left lane.
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
Toward GSP
9
Merge onto I 87; I 287
12 mi
·
15 min
·
New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 87
112 mi
·
2 hr 9 min
·
New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 23
Toward I 787, US 9W: Albany, Troy
Use the slight right lane.
12
Continue on I 787
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
I 787
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 4
Toward US 9 North, US 20 West: Downtown Albany
Use the slight right lane.
14
Turn straight onto Quay Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Quay Street
15
Turn left onto NY 5
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
NY 5
16
Turn left onto NY 5
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
State Street
17
At end of road, turn right onto NY 5
182 ft
·
5 sec
·
Eagle Street
18
Turn straight onto NY 5
498 ft
·
19 sec
·
Washington Avenue
19
Turn left
30 ft
·
2 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 64.1 miles from South Nyack, NY, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 123.8 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 28 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 64.1 miles or 1h 16m 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 4m
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 South Nyack, 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 South Nyack, NY
This is one driving day of about 128.2 miles and 2h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from South Nyack, 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 New York State Thruway for about 123.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
64 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 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 64.1 miles from South Nyack, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before New York State Thruway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 123.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 128.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
High Avenue
Turn left onto High Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
13.5 mi into trip
|
~18m in
|
I 87 / New York State Thruway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 87 / New York State Thruway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
125.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 27m in
Take the exit toward I 787, US 9W: Albany, Troy
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 23
Toward I 787, US 9W: Albany, Troy
8
127.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 30m in
Take the exit toward US 9 North, US 20 West: Downtown Albany
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 4
Toward US 9 North, US 20 West: Downtown Albany
6
128.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 33m in
|
NY 5 / Eagle Street
At end of road, turn right onto NY 5 / Eagle Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.10 one way
$42.21 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
45 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $22.82 | $45.64 |
| premium | $4.92 | $24.85 | $49.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $28.30 | $56.61 |
Estimated Tolls: $6.19
New York State Thruway
(123.8 mi)
$6.19
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
$21
Tolls
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 38.5 | 0 | $13.46 | $6.15 |
| Efficient EV | 32.1 | 0 | $11.22 | $5.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 51.3 | 0 | $17.95 | $8.20 |
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 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 Saturday
Local time
4:07 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
17 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
2h 33m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Hamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
Merchant’s clerk, Revolutionary War soldier, first Secretary Treasury of the United States: Alexander Hamilton’s life is memorialized at The Grange, the home he built on a country estate in uptown Man...
18 mi from route
~46 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
General Grant National Memorial
National Memorial
The final resting place of President Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, Julia, is the largest mausoleum in North America. It testifies to a people’s gratitude for the man who ended the bloodiest conflict...
19 mi from route
~47 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Saratoga National Historical Park
National Historical Park
In 1777, a large British invasion force met an equally large American army here at Saratoga. After two intense battles, an eight-mile retreat, and a three-day siege, British General John Burgoyne surr...
24 mi from route
~61 min detour
Free
near mile 128.2
View on nps.gov
Stonewall National Monument
National Monument
Before the 1960s, almost everything about living authentically as a lesbian, a bisexual person or a gay man was illegal. The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969 is a milestone in the quest for civil r...
25 mi from route
~61 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
African Burial Ground National Monument
National Monument
The African Burial Ground stands as the oldest and largest known excavated burial site in North America for both free and enslaved Africans. It offers a profound testament to the enduring legacy of Af...
26 mi from route
~65 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Federal Hall National Memorial
National Memorial
Here at Federal Hall, George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States, marking the beginning of the American constitutional republic. This historic site served as...
26 mi from route
~66 min detour
Free
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
128.2 mi in 2h 33m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 2% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 123.8 mi on New York State Thruway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near High Avenue.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 128.2 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (High Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.5 miles (I 87 / New York State Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 125.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
About the Cities
Starting in South Nyack, NY
Full guide →Founded 1878
Nyack is in Rockland County, New York. This article also covers the nearby towns of Upper Nyack and South Nyack, immediately to the north and south of Nyack, respectively.
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 2h 33m. Total distance: 128.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 123.8 miles on New York State Thruway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $6.19 in tolls one way, starting with New York State Thruway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Albany, NY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (High Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 13.5 miles (I 87 / New York State Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 125.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial and Saratoga National Historical Park (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Albany, NY before heading back.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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