Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
16m
Distance
9.7 mi
16 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Cohoes, NY
Wikimedia Commons
If you are looking for a quick and straightforward trip in the Northeast, the 9.7-mile connection from Albany to Cohoes is an ideal choice. You can easily complete this drive in roughly 16 minutes, making it a perfect one-day excursion that requires no overnight stay. With a minimal fuel budget of just $2, it is as cost-effective as it is efficient. Since both cities are located within New York, you will remain in the same region throughout your travel. This route is designed for those who value speed and simplicity over a leisurely pace, as there are no scheduled stops required along the way.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 787 | 6.2 mi | 8m |
| NY 787 | 2.2 mi | 4m |
| Mohawk Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| North Pearl Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Pine Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Washington Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Bridge Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| US 9 | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Albany, NY and Cohoes, NY.
Start on this road
Turn right onto NY 5
Turn left onto Eagle Street
Turn slight right onto Pine Street
Turn left onto NY 32
Turn right onto US 9
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 787
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 787
Turn left onto Bridge Avenue
Continue on Mohawk Street
Continue on Mohawk Street
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 9.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn right onto NY 5 / Washington Avenue
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto NY 32 / North Pearl Street
Navigation decision point
Keep slight left at fork toward I 787 North: Troy
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Merge onto I 787
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Turn left onto Bridge Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$1.60 one way
$3.19 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $1.73 | $3.45 |
| premium | $4.92 | $1.88 | $3.76 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.14 | $4.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 3.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.9 | 0 | $1.02 | $0.47 |
| Efficient EV | 2.4 | 0 | $0.85 | $0.39 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 3.9 | 0 | $1.36 | $0.62 |
Gas CO2
3 kg
EV CO2
1 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Albany on Sunday
Local time
7:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Chance Rain Showers
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 11:26AM EDT until April 15 at 8:00AM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Destination
Morning in Cohoes on Sunday
Local time
7:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This trip is heavily focused on highway travel, with 87% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will navigate the route primarily via I-787 and NY-787 before transitioning to local roads like Mohawk Street for the final leg of your journey. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a 6.2-mile segment on I-787, which provides a steady, high-speed pace for the majority of the drive. Expect a utilitarian experience behind the wheel, as the road is built for transit rather than sightseeing. As you exit the interstate and move onto Mohawk Street, the environment shifts from a fast highway commute to a more localized driving atmosphere.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 787 and NY 787. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near NY 5 / Washington Avenue.
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 9.7 miles you will encounter 8 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: near the start (NY 5 / Washington Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (NY 32 / North Pearl Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
94 ft
Total Descent
140 ft
Highest Point
144 ft
Elevation Range
126 ft
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 16m. Total distance: 9.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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