This 163.5-mile drive from Uniondale, NY, to Albany, NY, is designed as a single-day trip, taking approximately 3 hours and 25 minutes. With 93% of the journey on highways, you'll find it to be a predominantly highway-focused experience. The estimated fuel cost for this route is around $27. Given its manageable length and highway profile, it’s a straightforward journey within the Northeast region, perfect for a day excursion without needing an overnight stop. You'll be on the road for a significant but not overwhelming amount of time.
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
81.7 miles from Uniondale, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 48m into the drive
.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 25m. Total distance: 163.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 25m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this trip, with 93% of the route utilizing major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 111.7 miles, primarily on NY 17, offering a consistent pace. You'll navigate using prominent roads like NY 17, NJ 17, and NJ 4, which contribute to the efficient, high-speed nature of the journey. This profile suggests a drive where progress is generally swift, with fewer complexities than a route featuring more local roads.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 40 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 NJ 17. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 26.4 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 163.5 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 26.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 24 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
26.4 mi into trip|~40m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
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.
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
9
26.7 mi into trip|~40m 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
8
33.7 mi into trip|~50m in
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 17 North: Mahwah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward NJ 17 North: Mahwah
8
48.8 mi into trip|~1h 10m in|NY 17
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 17 toward I 87 North, NY 17 North, New York State Thruway North: Albany
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 87 North, NY 17 North, New York State...
8
160.5 mi into trip|~3h 19m 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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Uniondale, NY and Albany, NY, road signs point toward Upper Level, Njtp South: Hackensack, Gsp South, Gsp North, Newark and Mahwah - among others.
Upper Level
23.9 mi in|~36m|via I 95; US 1
Njtp South: Hackensack
26.4 mi in|~40m
Gsp South
33.5 mi in|~50m
Gsp North
33.5 mi in|~50m
Newark
33.5 mi in|~50m
Mahwah
33.5 mi in|~50m
New York State Thruway North: Albany
48.8 mi in|~1h 10m|via NY 17
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NY 17
111.7 mi
2h 8m
NJ 17
14.7 mi
18m
NJ 4
6.7 mi
9m
Cross Bronx Expressway
6.6 mi
8m
Clearview Expressway
5 mi
5m
Tulip Avenue
2 mi
3m
Throgs Neck Bridge
2 mi
3m
Hempstead Turnpike
2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
NY 17
— 111.7 mi, about 2h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Uniondale, NY and Albany, NY.
1
Start on this road
41 ft·8 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto Jerusalem Avenue
1.3 mi·2 min·Jerusalem Avenue
3
Turn right onto Greenwich Street
0.5 mi·1 min·Greenwich Street
Use the left lane.
4
Turn left onto NY 102
0.8 mi·1 min·Front Street
Use the left lane.
5
Turn slight left onto NY 24
2.0 mi·3 min·Hempstead Turnpike
6
Turn right onto New Hyde Park Road
0.4 mi·53 sec·New Hyde Park Road
7
Turn left onto Tulip Avenue
2.0 mi·3 min·Tulip Avenue
Use the left lane.
8
Turn left onto NY 25
0.7 mi·1 min·Jamaica Avenue
9
Turn slight right onto NY 25
1.2 mi·2 min·Braddock Avenue
10
Turn left onto NY 25
0.7 mi·1 min·Hillside Avenue
11
Turn right onto I 295
5.0 mi·5 min·Clearview Expressway
Toward I 295 North: Clearview Expressway, Through Neck BridgeUse the straight / right lanes.
12
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
13
Continue on I 295
0.7 mi·1 min·Throgs Neck Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295
6.6 mi·8 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
Toward Upper Level
16
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.6 mi·59 sec·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
17
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
18
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.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; NJTP
0.1 mi·8 sec·I 95 EXPR; NJTP
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·22 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: HackensackUse the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 72AToward NJ 4 West: ParamusUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
22
Merge onto NJ 4
6.7 mi·9 min·NJ 4
Use the slight right lane.
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward GSP South, NJ 17 South, GSP North, NJ 17 North: Grand State Plaza, Newark, MahwahUse the straight lane.
24
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·36 sec
Toward NJ 17 North: MahwahUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Merge onto NJ 17
3.3 mi·4 min·NJ 17
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Continue on NJ 17
7.3 mi·9 min·NJ 17
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
Continue on NJ 17
0.7 mi·50 sec·NJ 17
28
Continue on NJ 17
3.3 mi·4 min·NJ 17
29
Continue on I 287; NY 17
0.2 mi·10 sec·I 287; NY 17
30
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: AlbanyUse the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Take the exit
0.3 mi·50 sec
Exit 23Toward I 787, US 9W: Albany, TroyUse the slight right lane.
32
Continue on I 787
1.6 mi·2 min·I 787
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Take the exit
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 4Toward US 9 North, US 20 West: Downtown AlbanyUse the slight right lane.
34
Turn straight onto Quay Street
0.2 mi·34 sec·Quay Street
35
Turn left onto NY 5
0.2 mi·42 sec·NY 5
36
Turn left onto NY 5
0.3 mi·51 sec·State Street
37
At end of road, turn right onto NY 5
182 ft·5 sec·Eagle Street
38
Turn straight onto NY 5
498 ft·19 sec·Washington Avenue
39
Turn left
30 ft·2 sec
40
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 163.5-mile drive, leaving early in the morning will help you avoid potential traffic delays, especially as you depart from the Uniondale area. With a duration of around 3 hours and 25 minutes, a single stop for fuel or a quick break should suffice. The longest stretch of driving is over 111 miles on NY 17, so be prepared for a continuous period on this highway. Considering the $27 fuel cost, it's a budget-friendly trip, and its single-day feasibility means you have flexibility with your departure time.
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 81.7 miles from Uniondale, NY, or about 1h 48m 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 36 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81.7 miles or 1h 48m 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 48m
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 Uniondale, 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 Uniondale, NY
This is one driving day of about 163.5 miles and 3h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Uniondale, 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 81.7 mi from Uniondale, NY
· 1h 48m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
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...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 22.5
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...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 22.5
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...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 22.5
Located at the southern tip of Manhattan, Castle Clinton marks the place where New York City began and reflects the growth of both the city and the nation. Built to defend the harbor during the War of...
11 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 22.5
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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 22.5
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49.1
0
$17.17
$7.85
Efficient EV
40.9
0
$14.31
$6.54
EV Truck/SUV
65.4
0
$22.89
$10.46
Gas CO2
57 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Uniondale, NY
Late night
in Uniondale on Saturday
Local time
3:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Albany, NY
Late night
in Albany on Saturday
Local time
3:07 AM
EDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Ramapo, NY
82 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
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 25m 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 Uniondale, NY to Albany, NY covers 163.5 miles and takes about 3h 25m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are NY 17, NJ 17, NJ 4. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 81.7 miles from Uniondale, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.91 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 163.5 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 26.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 33.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Uniondale, NY and Albany, NY, road signs point toward Upper Level, Njtp South: Hackensack, Gsp South, Gsp North, Newark and Mahwah - among others.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial and Stonewall National Monument. There are 6 parks within detour distance of this route.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
