The drive from Yonkers, NY to Clifton Park, NY covers 161.9 miles and takes about 3h 19m 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, Adirondack Northway for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 137.7 miles on New York State Thruway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.65 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
81 miles from Yonkers, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 40m into the drive
.
Yonkers is a city of 211,569 people (2020) in Westchester County. The third most populous city in New York state, Yonkers is a suburb of New York City and borders the Borough of the Bronx. Yonkers is known as the "City of Seven Hills," which are Park, Nodine, Ridge, Cross, Locust, Glen, and Church hills.
Clifton Park is a city in the Hudson Valley in the Capital District region of New York. It is in Saratoga County between Albany and Saratoga Springs in upstate New York. Home of one of the largest school districts in the state, it has plenty of attractions, and close access to Albany and Saratoga.
Top landmarks
•Cyrus Rexford House — historic house in Rexford, New York state, USA
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 19m. Total distance: 161.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 19m drive with frequent turns across 161.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 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 137.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 141.1 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
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 17 significant decision points across 161.9 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 141.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 150.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 161.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 17 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
141.1 mi into trip|~2h 49m 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
150.7 mi into trip|~3h 3m in
Take the exit toward NY 7 West: Schenectady, Saratoga Springs
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Exit 9W
Toward NY 7 West: Schenectady, Saratoga Springs
8
161.3 mi into trip|~3h 17m in
Take the exit toward NY 146: Halfmoon, Clifton Park
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 9
Toward NY 146: Halfmoon, Clifton Park
7
161.5 mi into trip|~3h 18m in|NY 146 / State Highway 146
At end of road, turn right onto NY 146 / State Highway 146
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
161.7 mi into trip|~3h 18m in|US 9 / Halfmoon Parkway
Turn left onto US 9 / Halfmoon Parkway
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Yonkers, NY and Clifton Park, NY, road signs point toward Troy and Saratoga Springs.
Troy
141.1 mi in|~2h 49m
Saratoga Springs
150.7 mi in|~3h 3m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New York State Thruway
137.7 mi
2h 43m
I 787
9 mi
12m
Adirondack Northway
6.4 mi
8m
NY 7
3.1 mi
3m
Saw Mill River Road
1.4 mi
2m
Nepperhan Avenue
1 mi
1m
Tuckahoe Road
0.6 mi
1m
NY 787
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 137.7 mi, about 2h 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Yonkers, NY and Clifton Park, NY.
1
Start on US 9; NY 9A
181 ft·11 sec·South Broadway
2
Turn sharp right onto Nepperhan Avenue
0.5 mi·48 sec·Nepperhan Avenue
3
Keep slight left at fork onto Nepperhan Avenue
0.5 mi·56 sec·Nepperhan Avenue
4
Turn right onto NY 9A
0.1 mi·19 sec·Ashburton Avenue
5
Turn left onto NY 9A
1.4 mi·2 min·Saw Mill River Road
Use the left lane.
6
Continue on Tuckahoe Road
0.6 mi·1 min·Tuckahoe Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·26 sec
Toward I 87 North
8
Merge onto I 87
26 mi·34 min·New York State Thruway
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 87
112 mi·2 hr 9 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·50 sec
Exit 23Toward I 787, US 9W: Albany, TroyUse the slight right lane.
11
Continue on I 787
9.0 mi·12 min·I 787
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 787
0.4 mi·29 sec·NY 787
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·50 sec
Exit 9WToward NY 7 West: Schenectady, Saratoga SpringsUse the right lane.
14
Merge onto NY 7
3.1 mi·3 min·NY 7
15
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Toward I 87 North: Saratoga Springs, Glens Falls
16
Merge onto I 87
6.4 mi·8 min·Adirondack Northway
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 9Toward NY 146: Halfmoon, Clifton ParkUse the slight right lane.
18
At end of road, turn right onto NY 146
0.2 mi·26 sec·State Highway 146
Use the right lane.
19
Turn left onto US 9
0.2 mi·24 sec·Halfmoon Parkway
Use the left lane.
20
Turn left onto Old Route 146
75 ft·3 sec·Old Route 146
21
Arrive at destination
Old Route 146
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 81 miles from Yonkers, NY, or about 1h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 137.7 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 48m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 81 miles or 1h 40m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clifton Park, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Yonkers, 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 Yonkers, NY
This is one driving day of about 161.9 miles and 3h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 36 miles from Yonkers, 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 137.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 81 mi from Yonkers, NY
· 1h 40m 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...
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...
11 mi from route
~28 min detour
Free
near mile 161.9
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...
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...
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...
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
48.6
0
$17.00
$7.77
Efficient EV
40.5
0
$14.17
$6.48
EV Truck/SUV
64.8
0
$22.67
$10.36
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 17, 2026
Origin
Yonkers, NY
Late night
in Yonkers on Saturday
Local time
12:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Chance Rain Showers
NW 7 to 10 mph29% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Clifton Park, NY
Late night
in Clifton Park on Saturday
Local time
12:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Ramapo, NY
81 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
33 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 19m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Yonkers, NY to Clifton Park, NY covers 161.9 miles and takes about 3h 19m 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, Adirondack Northway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 81 miles from Yonkers, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.65 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 17 significant decision points across 161.9 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 141.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 150.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 161.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Yonkers, NY and Clifton Park, NY, road signs point toward Troy and Saratoga Springs.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial and Saratoga National Historical Park. 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.
