Albany, NY to Kings Park, NY is 187.3 miles and takes about 3h 54m via New York State Thruway and Long Island Expressway, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, moving from the state's capital region down to Long Island. Given its relatively short duration and the fact that it's a single-day drive, this route is a straightforward option for getting from the Albany area to your destination on Long Island. You'll spend a good portion of your time on major highways, making it a practical choice for efficient travel.
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
93.7 miles from Albany, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 51m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New York State Thruway
111.2 mi
2h 8m
Long Island Expressway
14.2 mi
19m
NJ 17
14.1 mi
18m
Northern State Parkway
13.7 mi
18m
NJ 4
6.7 mi
9m
Cross Bronx Expressway
6.6 mi
8m
Sunken Meadow State Parkway
4.7 mi
5m
Clearview Expressway
3.2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 111.2 mi, about 2h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Albany, NY and Kings Park, NY.
1
Start on this road
30 ft·4 sec·this road
2
Turn right onto NY 5
352 ft·10 sec·Washington Avenue
3
Turn left onto Eagle Street
156 ft·4 sec·Eagle Street
4
Turn slight right onto Pine Street
0.3 mi·44 sec·Pine Street
5
At end of road, turn right onto Broadway
0.2 mi·41 sec·Broadway
6
Keep slight right at fork onto Broadway
0.2 mi·24 sec·Broadway
7
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward I 787 South
8
Merge onto I 787
1.1 mi·1 min·I 787
9
Continue on I 787
0.6 mi·1 min·I 787
Exit 1Toward I 87 Toll: New York State Thruway
10
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 87 South: New York, Massachusetts Turnpike, Exits 22-1
11
Merge onto I 87
111 mi·2 hr 8 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17
0.9 mi·59 sec·NY 17
Exit 15Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New JerseyUse the slight right lane.
13
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
0.5 mi·39 sec·I 287; NJ 17
14
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17
14 mi·18 min·NJ 17
Exit 66Toward NJ 17 South: MahwahUse the slight left / straight lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
17
Merge onto NJ 4
0.3 mi·24 sec·NJ 4
Use the right lane.
18
Continue on NJ 4
6.4 mi·8 min·NJ 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington BridgeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
20
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.7 mi·54 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
22
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
24
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi·6 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
25
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.
26
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi·58 sec·Throgs Neck Expressway
27
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Continue on I 295
3.2 mi·3 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
29
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 4E-WToward I 495: Manhattan, Eastern Long IslandUse the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 4EToward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, Eastern Long Island
31
Merge onto I 495
14 mi·19 min·Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Exit 42Toward N East: HauppaugeUse the slight right lane.
33
Merge onto N
14 mi·18 min·Northern State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 45Toward SM North: Kings ParkUse the right lane.
35
Merge onto SA
499 ft·6 sec·Sagtikos State Parkway
36
Continue on SM
4.7 mi·5 min·Sunken Meadow State Parkway
37
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit SM4EToward CR 11: Pulaski Road East, Kings ParkUse the slight right lane.
38
Turn slight right onto CR 11
0.7 mi·1 min·Pulaski Road
39
Turn right onto NY 25A
92 ft·1 sec·Main Street
40
Arrive at destination
NY 25A
Trip Plan
For this 3-hour, 54-minute trip, leaving Albany in the morning is your best bet to maximize daylight and avoid potential rush hour congestion as you approach Long Island. With only one recommended stop, you can easily complete this drive in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is around $31, and plan your fueling accordingly, especially since a significant portion is on the New York State Thruway. A practical tip: be aware of potential traffic slowdowns as you get closer to the New York City metropolitan area, even though you're not driving directly through it.
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 93.7 miles from Albany, NY, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111.2 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 41 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.7 miles or 1h 51m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kings Park, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Albany, NY
This is one driving day of about 187.3 miles and 3h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Albany, 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 111.2 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 27
5 decision points cluster between mile 114.4 and 152.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
114.4 mi into trip|~2h 15m in|NY 17
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17 toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 15
Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
8
115.8 mi into trip|~2h 16m in|NJ 17
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17 toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 66
Toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
8
144.8 mi into trip|~2h 56m in|I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 6B
Toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge
8
152.6 mi into trip|~3h 7m in
Take the exit toward I 495: Manhattan, Eastern Long Island
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.
Exit 4E-W
Toward I 495: Manhattan, Eastern Long Island
8
152.8 mi into trip|~3h 7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, Eastern Long Island
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 4E
Toward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, East...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.83 one way
$61.66 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg66 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$33.34
$66.68
premium
$4.92
$36.30
$72.60
diesel
$5.61
$41.35
$82.71
Estimated Tolls: $28.11
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
New York State Thruway
(111.2 mi)$5.56
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
$31
Tolls
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$84–$109
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
56.2
0
$19.67
$8.99
Efficient EV
46.8
0
$16.39
$7.49
EV Truck/SUV
74.9
0
$26.22
$11.99
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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 16, 2026
Origin
Albany, NY
Late night
in Albany on Sunday
Local time
12:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kings Park, NY
Late night
in Kings Park on Sunday
Local time
12:26 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
49°F
Ramapo, NY
94 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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 54m 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.
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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 142.1
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
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 142.1
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
~24 min detour
Free
near mile 142.1
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...
11 mi from route
~27 min detour
Free
near mile 142.1
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 142.1
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...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 142.1
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a mixed drive on this route, with 37% of it being on highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 111.2 miles, primarily on the New York State Thruway, offering a chance to settle in for a solid period of driving. As you transition to the Long Island Expressway, the character of the road might shift, but the overall feel remains that of a journey dominated by efficient, high-speed travel. This isn't a winding country road adventure, but rather a direct path designed for covering distance effectively.
37% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
40 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 111.2 mi on New York State Thruway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 114.4 miles in near NY 17.
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 27 significant decision points across 187.3 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 114.4 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.8 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 144.8 miles (I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Albany, NY and Kings Park, NY, road signs point toward Gsp South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York, Eastern Long Island and N East: Hauppauge.
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 54m. Total distance: 187.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 111.2 miles on New York State Thruway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $28.11 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 Kings Park, 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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 114.4 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 115.8 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 144.8 miles (I 295 / Cross Bronx Expressway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial and Stonewall National Monument (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Kings Park, NY, but most travelers stay overnight.
