Trip from Suffern, NY to Albany, NY

Drive Time

2h 17m

Distance

115.2 mi

185 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$19

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 7m ★
6 AM
2h 17m
8 AM
2h 36m
10 AM
2h 24m
12 PM
2h 22m
3 PM
2h 25m
5 PM
2h 35m
8 PM
2h 11m

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

Trip Overview

If you are planning to head north from Suffern to Albany, you are looking at a 115.2-mile trek through the heart of New York. This journey typically takes about 2 hours and 17 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. You will primarily navigate the New York State Thruway, with some time spent on I-787 and Orange Turnpike. Budgeting around $19 for fuel should keep you covered for the entire distance. Since you are traveling within the Northeast region, the transition is straightforward and consistent, allowing you to reach the state capital without needing an overnight stay.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

57.6 miles from Suffern, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 7m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a trip defined by a mix of high-speed transit and local navigation. You will spend the vast majority of your time—roughly 110 miles—cruising along the New York State Thruway, which offers a steady pace for the bulk of the journey. In contrast, the remaining portions involve turn-heavy local driving that requires more focus than a standard interstate cruise. With only 3% of the trip consisting of major highway segments outside of the main Thruway stretch, you will experience a distinct shift as you move from local turnpikes onto the primary corridor. It is a functional drive that balances long, uninterrupted stretches with more engaged, technical steering.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
New York State Thruway is the longest continuous segment at about 110 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near NY 59 / Lafayette Avenue.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 2h 17m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (NY 59 / Lafayette Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 2.2 miles (I 87 / New York State Thruway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 112.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 11 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | NY 59 / Lafayette Avenue

Turn sharp left onto NY 59 / Lafayette Avenue

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

5
2.2 mi into trip | ~3m in | I 87 / New York State Thruway

Merge onto I 87 / New York State Thruway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none lane.
8
112.2 mi into trip | ~2h 10m 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
114.1 mi into trip | ~2h 13m 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
115 mi into trip | ~2h 16m in | NY 5 / Eagle Street

At end of road, turn right onto NY 5 / Eagle Street

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
New York State Thruway 110 mi 2h 6m
I 787 1.6 mi 2m
Orange Turnpike 1.2 mi 1m
Orange Avenue 0.5 mi <1m
Lafayette Avenue 0.3 mi <1m
State Street 0.3 mi <1m
NY 5 0.2 mi <1m
Quay Street 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: New York State Thruway — 110 mi, about 2h 6m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Washington Avenue

40 ft · 8 sec · Washington Avenue
2

Continue on Washington Avenue

114 ft · 12 sec · Washington Avenue
3

Turn sharp left onto NY 59

0.3 mi · 30 sec · Lafayette Avenue
4

Turn right onto US 202; 59

0.5 mi · 42 sec · Orange Avenue
5

Continue on NY 59

1.2 mi · 1 min · Orange Turnpike
Use the none lane.
6

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Toward I 87 North: New York State Thruway
7

Merge onto I 87

110 mi · 2 hr 6 min · New York State Thruway
Use the none lane.
8

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 50 sec
Exit 23 Toward I 787, US 9W: Albany, Troy Use the slight right lane.
9

Continue on I 787

1.6 mi · 2 min · I 787
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 35 sec
Exit 4 Toward US 9 North, US 20 West: Downtown Albany Use the slight right lane.
11

Turn straight onto Quay Street

0.2 mi · 34 sec · Quay Street
12

Turn left onto NY 5

0.2 mi · 42 sec · NY 5
13

Turn left onto NY 5

0.3 mi · 51 sec · State Street
14

At end of road, turn right onto NY 5

182 ft · 5 sec · Eagle Street
15

Turn straight onto NY 5

498 ft · 19 sec · Washington Avenue
16

Turn left

30 ft · 2 sec
17

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the trip in one sitting without needing scheduled stops, though you should keep an eye on your fuel gauge to ensure you stay within your $19 budget. Because the route relies so heavily on the New York State Thruway, stay alert for potential traffic fluctuations that could impact your 2-hour and 17-minute travel time. If you prefer a smoother experience, try to avoid peak commuting hours to keep the transition between the local roads and the main highway as seamless as possible. Taking the drive in one go is generally the most efficient strategy for this distance.

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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 57.6 miles from Suffern, NY, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 110 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 33m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 57.6 miles or 1h 7m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 50m

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 Suffern, 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 Suffern, NY

This is one driving day of about 115.2 miles and 2h 17m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Suffern, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
The longest stretch is on New York State Thruway for about 110 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 57.6 mi from Suffern, NY · 1h 7m into the drive

Downtown Ramapo, NY, NY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Ramapo, NY

58 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

Schenectady, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Ramapo, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 57.6 miles from Suffern, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before New York State Thruway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 110 miles.

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.

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

$18.75 one way

$37.51 round trip

$4.14/gal 25.4 MPG avg 40 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.48 $20.32 $40.65
premium $4.88 $22.15 $44.29
diesel $5.64 $25.59 $51.19

Estimated Tolls: $5.59

New York State Thruway (110 mi) $5.50
Orange Turnpike (1.2 mi) $0.09

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

$19

Tolls

$6

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$49–$74

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 40.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 34.6 0 $12.10 $5.53
Efficient EV 28.8 0 $10.08 $4.61
EV Truck/SUV 46.1 0 $16.13 $7.37

Gas CO2

40 kg

EV CO2

13 kg (68% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Suffern, NY

Evening in Suffern on Sunday

Local time

5:42 PM

EDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Albany, NY

Evening in Albany on Sunday

Local time

5:42 PM

EDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

59°F

Ramapo, NY

58 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

9 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 17m 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 Suffern, NY to Albany, NY covers 115.2 miles and takes about 2h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are New York State Thruway, I 787, Orange Turnpike. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 57.6 miles from Suffern, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.75 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a straightforward 2h 17m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (NY 59 / Lafayette Avenue): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 2.2 miles (I 87 / New York State Thruway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 112.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Suffern, NY to Albany, NY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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