Albany, NY to Massena, NY is 212.5 miles and takes about 4h 51m via Adirondack Northway, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. The majority of this drive utilizes surface roads, offering a more local feel than a pure interstate experience. With a recommended one-day duration, it's a manageable distance for a single stretch of driving.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
106.2 miles from Albany, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Adirondack Northway
97.7 mi
1h 53m
Santa Clara Road
20.9 mi
31m
State Highway 73
18.7 mi
27m
South Main Street
10.9 mi
16m
Adirondack Trail
8.9 mi
12m
Hopkinton-Winthrop Road
5.9 mi
10m
Loudon Road
5.7 mi
10m
Cascade Road
5.3 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
Adirondack Northway
— 97.7 mi, about 1h 53m
Traffic on I-87
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 23 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,496 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,286
Quietest
1 AM
~113 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
22.1×
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 Massena, 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
2.1 mi·3 min·Henry Johnson Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Continue on US 9
5.7 mi·10 min·Loudon Road
6
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·13 sec
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·44 sec
Toward I 87 North: Saratoga Springs, Glens Falls
8
Merge onto I 87
98 mi·1 hr 53 min·Adirondack Northway
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·31 sec
Exit 30Toward US 9, NY 73: Keene, Keene Valley
10
Turn left onto US 9
2.2 mi·2 min·US Highway 9
11
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 73
11 mi·16 min·State Highway 73
12
Continue on NY 9N; NY 73
1.8 mi·3 min·State Highway 9N
13
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 73
7.2 mi·10 min·State Highway 73
14
Continue on NY 73
5.3 mi·7 min·Cascade Road
15
Turn slight left onto CR 35
3.6 mi·6 min·Old Military Road
16
At end of road, turn left onto NY 86
4.9 mi·7 min·Saranac-Placid Road
17
Continue on NY 86
1.2 mi·3 min·Lake Flower Avenue
18
At end of road, turn left onto NY 86
0.3 mi·42 sec·River Street
19
Turn right onto NY 3; NY 86
0.4 mi·51 sec·Church Street
20
At end of road, turn left onto NY 86
490 ft·12 sec·Bloomingdale Avenue
21
Turn right onto NY 86
0.5 mi·48 sec·Broadway Street
22
Continue on NY 86
3.0 mi·4 min·Lake Colby Drive
23
Continue on NY 86
2.8 mi·4 min·Harrietstown Road
24
Continue on NY 86
1.9 mi·2 min·State Highway 86
25
Continue on NY 86
3.7 mi·5 min·Easy Street
26
Turn right onto NY 30
8.9 mi·12 min·Adirondack Trail
27
Turn left onto NY 458
17 mi·25 min·Santa Clara Road
28
Continue on NY 458
4.0 mi·5 min·Santa Clara Road
29
Turn slight left onto NY 458
3.5 mi·5 min·State Highway 458
30
At end of road, turn left onto NY 11B
2.0 mi·2 min·NY 11B
31
Turn right onto County Road 49
1.3 mi·2 min·County Road 49
32
Continue on County Road 49
0.2 mi·23 sec·County Road 49
33
Turn left onto CR 49
5.9 mi·10 min·Hopkinton-Winthrop Road
34
Continue on NY 420
1.3 mi·2 min·State Highway 420
35
At end of road, turn right onto NY 11C; NY 420
0.1 mi·17 sec·State Highway 11C
36
Turn left onto NY 420
11 mi·16 min·South Main Street
37
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
Given the 4h 51m estimated drive time and one recommended stop, this trip is easily doable in a single day. Aim to leave Albany in the morning to maximize daylight for navigating the surface roads. Plan your single stop for midway to refuel and take a break, as the longest stretch without a planned stop is nearly 100 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you move away from the Adirondack Northway, as services might be more spread out on the surface roads.
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 106.2 miles from Albany, NY, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 97.7 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 47 miles or 1h 1m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106.2 miles or 2h 9m 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Massena, 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 212.5 miles and 4h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 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 Adirondack Northway for about 97.7 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 22
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.6 and 190.7 — 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.
6
8.5 mi into trip|~16m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 87 North: Saratoga Springs, Glens Falls
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 87 North: Saratoga Springs, Glens Fall...
6
106.7 mi into trip|~2h 10m in
Take the exit toward US 9, NY 73: Keene, Keene Valley
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 30
Toward US 9, NY 73: Keene, Keene Valley
5
144.7 mi into trip|~3h 8m in|NY 86 / River Street
At end of road, turn left onto NY 86 / River Street
Navigation decision point
5
190.7 mi into trip|~4h 16m in|NY 11B
At end of road, turn left onto NY 11B
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.38 one way
$68.75 round trip
$4.11/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$37.30
$74.61
premium
$4.85
$40.56
$81.12
diesel
$4.80
$40.12
$80.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.8
0
$22.31
$10.20
Efficient EV
53.1
0
$18.59
$8.50
EV Truck/SUV
85
1
$29.75
$13.60
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Albany, NY
Late night
in Albany on Sunday
Local time
2:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Haze
SW 5 to 10 mph94% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 7:22PM EDT until July 18 at 7:45PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 7:01PM EDT by NWS Upton NY
Destination
Massena, NY
Late night
in Massena on Sunday
Local time
2:33 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Areas Of Smoke
W 8 to 13 mph42% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued July 18 at 7:22PM EDT until July 18 at 7:45PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 7:01PM EDT by NWS Upton NY
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
5 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
4h 51m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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...
8 mi from route
~20 min detour
Free
near mile 29.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is mostly surface roads, with only 14% on highways. You'll spend the bulk of your time on local routes, with a long 97.7-mile stretch on the Adirondack Northway early on. After that, expect more frequent turns and variable speed limits as you transition to roads like Santa Clara Road and State Highway 73.
Only 14% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 97.7 mi on Adirondack Northway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 22 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.6 miles in near Henry Johnson Boulevard.
Driving Effort6/10
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 212.5 miles you will encounter 22 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: at 0.6 miles (Henry Johnson Boulevard): Lane positioning matters here; at 8.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 106.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,780 ft144 ft
Total Climb
1,959 ft
Total Descent
1,874 ft
Highest Point
1,780 ft
~136.6 mi in
Elevation Range
1,636 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Albany, NY to Massena, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Keene Valley along the way.
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
Massena is in upstate New York right on the Saint Lawrence River which forms the border with Canada.
There is a bridge to the Canadian town of Cornwall a few miles downriver. Forty miles (60 km) upriver is another bridge linking Ogdensburg, New York to Prescott, Ontario.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 51m. Total distance: 212.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 97.7 miles on Adirondack Northway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 9 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 Massena, 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. There are 9 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 8.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 106.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Saratoga National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Massena, NY, but most travelers stay overnight.
