Spanning 390.1 miles across New York State, this journey from Alabama to Huntington is a significant trek that typically requires 8 hours and 16 minutes of driving time. Because of the duration, it is best approached as a two-day trip rather than a single grueling day behind the wheel. You should budget approximately $64 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Your path will take you through the Northeast, utilizing a combination of I-81, the New York State Thruway, and the Keystone Shortway. Having a clear plan for your overnight stop will make this transition between Western and Long Island New York much more manageable.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
195.1 miles from Alabama, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
98.8 mi
1h 57m
New York State Thruway
80.7 mi
1h 33m
Keystone Shortway
80 mi
1h 37m
I 380
23.6 mi
25m
Northern Boulevard
18.6 mi
31m
East Lake Road
9.9 mi
14m
State Highway 41
9.8 mi
13m
Clark Street Road
9.6 mi
11m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 98.8 mi, about 1h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alabama, NY and Huntington, NY.
1
Start on Lewiston Road
31 ft·6 sec·Lewiston Road
2
Turn left onto NY 63; NY 77
6.6 mi·9 min·Alleghany Road
3
Take the ramp
369 ft·9 sec
4
Continue on this road
0.1 mi·15 sec·this road
5
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·29 sec
Toward I 90 East: AlbanyUse the slight right lane.
6
Merge onto I 90
81 mi·1 hr 33 min·New York State Thruway
7
Take the exit
0.5 mi·58 sec
Exit 41Toward NY 414: Waterloo, ClydeUse the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork
327 ft·7 sec
9
Continue on NY 414
0.3 mi·35 sec·State Route 414
10
Turn left onto NY 318
4.1 mi·7 min·NY 318
Use the left lane.
11
At end of road, turn left onto US 20; NY 5
1.9 mi·2 min·Auburn Road
12
Continue on US 20; NY 5
9.6 mi·11 min·Clark Street Road
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn right onto State Street
226 ft·12 sec·State Street
14
Turn left onto Dill Street
0.1 mi·21 sec·Dill Street
15
Continue on Loop Road
458 ft·16 sec·Loop Road
16
Turn left onto Genesee Street
5.5 mi·9 min·Genesee Street
17
Continue on US 20
2.2 mi·4 min·West Genesee Street Road
18
Turn right onto NY 41
0.5 mi·45 sec·East Lake Street
19
Continue on NY 41
9.4 mi·13 min·East Lake Road
20
Continue on NY 41
4.8 mi·7 min·State Route 41
21
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi·49 sec·East Lake Road
22
Continue on NY 41
9.8 mi·13 min·State Highway 41
23
Turn right onto NY 281
1.2 mi·2 min·North West Street
24
Take the ramp
0.7 mi·1 min
Use the left lane.
25
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 81 South: Binghamton
26
Merge onto I 81
45 mi·54 min·I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
53 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 81
Toward I 81 South: ScrantonUse the straight lane.
28
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
0.8 mi·1 min·US 6
Exit 187Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt PoconoUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
29
Continue on I 84; I 380
3.7 mi·4 min·I 84; I 380
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, MilfordUse the straight lane.
30
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
24 mi·25 min·I 380
Exit 4Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
31
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 1BToward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
32
Merge onto I 80
80 mi·1 hr 37 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
33
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·5 min·Christopher Columbus Highway
Toward I 95: George Washington Bridge Lower LevelUse the slight right lane.
34
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·23 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 70A-BToward Leonia, TeaneckUse the slight right lane.
36
Turn right
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 70AToward LeoniaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Turn straight onto CR 56
454 ft·9 sec·Degraw Avenue
38
Continue on CR 56
1.1 mi·2 min·Fort Lee Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
39
Continue on CR 56
469 ft·13 sec·Main Street
40
Take the ramp
472 ft·12 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge
41
Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46
0.3 mi·28 sec·Bergen Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
42
Take the exit
312 ft·4 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level
43
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.3 mi·20 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
44
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
45
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
46
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
47
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi·6 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
48
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
2.0 mi·2 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Exit 6BToward I 295 South: Throgs Neck BridgeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
49
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi·58 sec·Throgs Neck Expressway
50
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
51
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·2 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
52
Take the exit
0.2 mi·32 sec
Exit 5Toward NY 25A: Northern BoulevardUse the straight / slight right lanes.
53
Continue on Clearview Expressway
457 ft·17 sec·Clearview Expressway
54
Turn left onto NY 25A
19 mi·31 min·Northern Boulevard
Use the left lane.
55
Turn right onto NY 108
0.9 mi·1 min·Lawrence Hill Road
56
At end of road, turn right onto Lawrence Hill Road
0.9 mi·1 min·Lawrence Hill Road
57
Continue on NY 25A
0.4 mi·52 sec·Main Street
58
Turn right onto NY 110
0.2 mi·34 sec·New York Avenue
59
Arrive at destination
NY 110
Trip Plan
To tackle this 390.1-mile route effectively, plan for at least two designated stops to break up the 8-hour and 16-minute drive. Since this is a turn-heavy journey, try to depart early in the morning to avoid navigating complex local roads in the dark or during peak congestion. Given that highway driving makes up less than half of your travel, keep a close eye on your fuel levels, as local roads often consume gas differently than steady interstate cruising. Using your two stops strategically will help you manage the fatigue that often accompanies these winding segments, ensuring you arrive in Huntington refreshed.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 195.1 miles from Alabama, NY, or about 4h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.8 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 86 miles or 1h 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 195.1 miles or 4h 9m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 195.1 miles or 4h 9m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Huntington, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Alabama, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Alabama, NY
Aim for roughly 195 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Huntington, NY
Aim for roughly 195 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 86 miles from Alabama, NY.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 81 for about 98.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 37
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.8 and 352.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
6.8 mi into trip|~10m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 90 East: Albany
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 90 East: Albany
8
87.7 mi into trip|~1h 44m in
Take the exit toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
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 41
Toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
9
238 mi into trip|~5h in|US 6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6 toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 187
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbo...
8
352.6 mi into trip|~7h 16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, Ne...
9
352.9 mi into trip|~7h 16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Leonia, Teaneck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 70A-B
Toward Leonia, Teaneck
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$64.21 one way
$128.43 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg137 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$69.43
$138.87
premium
$4.92
$75.61
$151.22
diesel
$5.61
$86.13
$172.26
Estimated Tolls: $26.59
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
New York State Thruway
(80.7 mi)$4.04
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
$64
Tolls
$27
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$221–$331
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 136.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
117
1
$40.96
$18.72
Efficient EV
97.5
1
$34.13
$15.60
EV Truck/SUV
156
1
$54.61
$24.97
Gas CO2
136 kg
EV CO2
46 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 13, 2026
Origin
Alabama, NY
Night
in Alabama on Saturday
Local time
10:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Huntington, NY
Night
in Huntington on Saturday
Local time
10:50 PM
EDT
Current temp
79°F
Partly Sunny
SW 17 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:26AM EDT until April 15 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
49°F
Ramapo, NY
195 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
36 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
8h 16m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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.
Harriet Tubman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Harriet Tubman was guided by a deep faith and devotion to family, freedom, and community. After emancipating herself and members of her family, she moved them from Ontario, Canada to Fleming and Aubur...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 107.6
Women’s Rights National Historical Park tells the story of the first Women’s Rights Convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York on July 19-20, 1848. It is a story of struggles for civil rights, human r...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 94.2
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...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 363.2
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 349.8
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...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 349.8
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...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 349.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention as you navigate through various road types. With only 40% of the route consisting of highway driving, you will spend a significant portion of your time on more technical, winding roads rather than just cruising on the interstate. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is 98.8 miles along I-81, which provides a brief respite before the route returns to its more localized, complex character. The transition from open stretches to tighter, turn-heavy segments keeps the drive engaging but requires you to stay alert behind the wheel.
Only 40% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
59 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 98.8 mi on I 81.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 6.8 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 37 significant decision points across 390.1 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 6.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 87.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 238 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,922 ft-3 ft
Total Climb
2,425 ft
Total Descent
2,999 ft
Highest Point
1,922 ft
~260.1 mi in
Elevation Range
1,925 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Alabama, NY and Huntington, NY, road signs point toward Clyde, Mt Pocono, Milford, New York City, Leonia and Teaneck - among others.
Alabama is a state in the Southern United States. Alabama is known for its civil rights history and scenic beauty, and has a lot to offer those who enjoy the great outdoors, from Gulf Coast beaches to 40 National and stare parks.
Huntington is a town in Suffolk County on Long Island, New York. It is on the North Shore (or Gold Coast) of the island, famous for its lavish estates along the Long Island Sound and its affluent residential communities. The town is large with a population of over 200,000, and many neighborhoods in town having their own distinct identities. Four villages in the town even have their own level of autonomy, with one of them, Northport, having its own article.
Top landmarks
•Oheka Castle — mansion in Huntington, New York, USA
•Vanderbilt Museum — museum in Suffolk county, N.Y.
•Eatons Neck Light — lighthouse in New York, United States
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 98.8 miles on I 81. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 195 miles on day one.
Expect about $26.59 in tolls one way, starting with George Washington Bridge. 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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Huntington, 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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 6.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 87.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 238 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, Women's Rights National Historical Park and Hamilton Grange National Memorial (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.3 hours each way, a round trip means 16.6 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Huntington, NY before the return drive.
