Albany to Jamestown is 358 miles and takes about 7h 7m via Southern Tier Expressway, with a fuel budget near $60 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within New York, connecting the Northeast region from east to west. It's a straightforward trip that primarily uses major expressways, making it an efficient way to cover the distance. If you're looking for a direct route without many detours, this is a solid option for a single-day journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
179 miles from Albany, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 33m into the drive
.
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 20 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~605 veh/hr typical
· worst 771
Quietest
1 AM
~37 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Albany, NY and Jamestown, NY.
1
Start on this road
30 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto NY 5
0.5 mi·1 min·Washington Avenue
3
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 5
0.1 mi·25 sec·Central Avenue
4
Turn right onto Henry Johnson Boulevard
0.8 mi·1 min·Henry Johnson Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·21 sec
Toward I 90: Buffalo, Boston
6
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 WestUse the slight left / straight lanes.
7
Merge onto I 90
5.1 mi·6 min·I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
11 mi·12 min·I 90
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 25AToward I 88, NY 7: Schenectady, Binghamton
10
Continue on this road
0.5 mi·1 min·this road
11
Continue on I 88
118 mi·2 hr 16 min·I 88
12
Merge onto I 81
1.3 mi·1 min·I 81
13
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 86 West, NY 17 West: Corning
14
Merge onto I 86; NY 17
99 mi·1 hr 55 min·Southern Tier Expressway
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 86; NY 17
61 mi·1 hr 10 min·Southern Tier Expressway
Toward I 86 West, NY 17 West: Erie
16
Turn left onto State Highway 16
5.7 mi·8 min·State Highway 16
17
Continue on NY 16
0.3 mi·34 sec·North Union Street
18
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
20
Merge onto I 86; NY 17
50 mi·58 min·Southern Tier Expressway
21
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Exit 12Toward NY 60: Jamestown
22
Turn left onto NY 60
0.2 mi·26 sec·North Main Street
23
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 60
0.7 mi·1 min·North Main Street
24
Turn left onto Buffalo Street
0.1 mi·17 sec·Buffalo Street
25
Turn right
0.1 mi·17 sec
26
Continue on Prendergast Avenue
0.8 mi·2 min·Prendergast Avenue
27
Turn left onto East 3rd Street
0.1 mi·25 sec·East 3rd Street
28
At end of road, turn left onto East 2nd Street
39 ft·1 sec·East 2nd Street
29
Arrive at destination
East 2nd Street
Trip Plan
Given the 7-hour drive time, leaving Albany in the morning is recommended to arrive in Jamestown with daylight to spare. With only 2 planned stops, be sure to factor in your personal needs for breaks and meals. The $60 fuel cost is an estimate, so keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is wise, especially as you approach the longest stretch of 210.4 miles. Since this is a manageable one-day drive, you have flexibility with your departure time.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 179 miles from Albany, NY, or about 3h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 210.4 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 79 miles or 1h 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 179 miles or 3h 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 51m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Jamestown, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Albany, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Albany, NY
This is one driving day of about 358 miles and 7h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 79 miles from Albany, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Southern Tier Expressway for about 210.4 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 237.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.6 mi into trip|~1m in|Henry Johnson Boulevard
Turn right onto Henry Johnson Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
1.6 mi into trip|~3m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Toward I 90 West
5
2.2 mi into trip|~4m in|I 90
Merge onto I 90
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
17.9 mi into trip|~24m in
Take the exit toward I 88, NY 7: Schenectady, Binghamton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 25A
Toward I 88, NY 7: Schenectady, Binghamton
6
237.6 mi into trip|~4h 41m in|I 86; NY 17 / Southern Tier Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 86; NY 17 / Southern Tier Expressway toward I 86 West, NY 17 West: Erie
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 86 West, NY 17 West: Erie
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$57.91 one way
$115.83 round trip
$4.11/gal25.4 MPG avg125 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$62.85
$125.69
premium
$4.85
$68.33
$136.66
diesel
$4.80
$67.60
$135.19
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$58
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 125.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
107.4
1
$37.59
$17.18
Efficient EV
89.5
1
$31.33
$14.32
EV Truck/SUV
143.2
1
$50.12
$22.91
Gas CO2
125 kg
EV CO2
42 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Albany, NY
Night
in Albany on Saturday
Local time
10:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Areas Of Smoke
N 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Jamestown, NY
Night
in Jamestown on Saturday
Local time
10:19 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Smoke
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
53°F
Barton, NY
179 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
1 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
7h 7m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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.
Saratoga National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
22 mi from route
~56 min detour
Free
near mile 12.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll be on highways for about 98% of this 358-mile trip. The longest continuous stretch without a significant change in road type is 210.4 miles on the Southern Tier Expressway. Expect a consistent cruising experience with a high percentage of highway driving. The majority of your time will be spent on the Southern Tier Expressway and I-88, with a brief section on I-90.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 210.4 mi on Southern Tier Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern Tier Expressway and I 88. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near Henry Johnson Boulevard.
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 21 significant decision points across 358 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 0.6 miles (Henry Johnson Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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
Jamestown is a city in Chautauqua County, in New York's Southern Tier. The birthplace of actress Lucille Ball, Jamestown is now home to the National Comedy Center, a state-of-the-art interactive museum. You can also enjoy the waterfront of Chautauqua Lake and the Chadakoin River.
Top landmarks
•Jamestown Gateway Train Station — Transit Center in Jamestown, New York
•Jamestown Downtown Historic District — national historic district located at Jamestown in Chautauqua County, New York
•Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Center — Museum in Lucille Ball's hometown of Jamestown, New York
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 7m. Total distance: 358 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 7m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 210.4 miles on Southern Tier Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 27 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 Jamestown, 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. There are 27 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.6 miles (Henry Johnson Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 2.2 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Saratoga National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.1 hours each way, a round trip means 14.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Jamestown, NY before the return drive.
