This 346.7-mile journey from Albion, NY to New York City, NY is estimated to take about 7 hours and 25 minutes of driving time, making it a manageable, though long, single-day trip. You'll primarily be on I-81 and the New York State Thruway, with a portion of the Keystone Shortway also factored in. The estimated fuel cost for this drive is around $57. The route traverses the Northeast region of the US, offering a direct path from western New York to the bustling metropolis. With two planned stops, you can break up the drive effectively.
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
173.3 miles from Albion, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
98.8 mi
1h 57m
Keystone Shortway
63.3 mi
1h 19m
New York State Thruway
30 mi
34m
I 380
23.6 mi
25m
Western Expressway
20.1 mi
26m
Essex Freeway
15.8 mi
20m
East Lake Road
9.9 mi
14m
State Highway 41
9.8 mi
13m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 98.8 mi, about 1h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Albion, NY and New York City, NY.
1
Start on NY 98
0.4 mi·49 sec·North Main Street
2
Turn left onto NY 31
1.4 mi·1 min·East Avenue
3
Continue on NY 31
3.8 mi·4 min·State Route 31
4
Continue on NY 31
1.1 mi·1 min·Fancher Road
5
Turn straight onto NY 31
0.3 mi·18 sec·State Route 31
6
Continue on NY 31
2.3 mi·2 min·Holley Road
7
Continue on NY 31
0.5 mi·36 sec·West Albion Street
8
Continue on NY 31
0.1 mi·7 sec·Wright Street
9
Continue on NY 31
408 ft·5 sec·Public Square
10
Continue on NY 31
382 ft·5 sec·Mechanic Street
11
Continue on NY 31
0.5 mi·1 min·State Street
12
Continue on NY 31
1.6 mi·2 min·Brockport-Holley Road
13
Continue on NY 31
1.0 mi·1 min·West Avenue
14
Turn right onto NY 19 Truck; NY 31
1.5 mi·1 min·Redman Road
15
Turn left onto NY 19 Truck; NY 31
1.2 mi·1 min·Fourth Section Road
16
Continue on NY 31
4.8 mi·5 min·Brockport-Spencerport Road
17
Continue on NY 531
7.5 mi·8 min·NY 531
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 490 East: Rochester
19
Merge onto I 490
20 mi·26 min·Western Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·42 sec
Toward I 90 East: Albany
21
Merge onto I 90
30 mi·34 min·New York State Thruway
22
Take the exit
0.5 mi·58 sec
Exit 41Toward NY 414: Waterloo, ClydeUse the slight right lane.
23
Keep slight right at fork
327 ft·7 sec
24
Continue on NY 414
0.3 mi·35 sec·State Route 414
25
Turn left onto NY 318
4.1 mi·7 min·NY 318
Use the left lane.
26
At end of road, turn left onto US 20; NY 5
1.9 mi·2 min·Auburn Road
27
Continue on US 20; NY 5
9.6 mi·11 min·Clark Street Road
Use the straight lane.
28
Turn right onto State Street
226 ft·12 sec·State Street
29
Turn left onto Dill Street
0.1 mi·21 sec·Dill Street
30
Continue on Loop Road
458 ft·16 sec·Loop Road
31
Turn left onto Genesee Street
5.5 mi·9 min·Genesee Street
32
Continue on US 20
2.2 mi·4 min·West Genesee Street Road
33
Turn right onto NY 41
0.5 mi·45 sec·East Lake Street
34
Continue on NY 41
9.4 mi·13 min·East Lake Road
35
Continue on NY 41
4.8 mi·7 min·State Route 41
36
Continue on NY 41
0.5 mi·49 sec·East Lake Road
37
Continue on NY 41
9.8 mi·13 min·State Highway 41
38
Turn right onto NY 281
1.2 mi·2 min·North West Street
39
Take the ramp
0.7 mi·1 min
Use the left lane.
40
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 81 South: Binghamton
41
Merge onto I 81
45 mi·54 min·I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
42
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
53 mi·1 hr 3 min·I 81
Toward I 81 South: ScrantonUse the straight lane.
43
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.
44
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.
45
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
24 mi·25 min·I 380
Exit 4Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
46
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 1BToward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
47
Merge onto I 80
63 mi·1 hr 19 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
48
Take the exit
0.7 mi·49 sec
Exit 47AToward I 280 East: The Oranges, Newark
49
Continue on I 280
16 mi·20 min·Essex Freeway
Use the straight / right lanes.
50
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 17AToward CR 508 East: Jersey City
51
Merge onto CR 508
2.0 mi·3 min·Newark-Jersey City Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
52
Continue on NJ 7
0.5 mi·43 sec·New Wittpenn Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
53
Take the exit
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward NJ 139 East: Hoboken, Holland TunnelUse the slight right lane.
54
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward Holland Tunnel, Lincoln TunnelUse the straight / slight left lanes.
55
Turn straight
0.3 mi·35 sec
Use the straight lane.
56
Merge onto NJ 139
0.7 mi·1 min·Conrail Viaduct
57
Continue on NJ 139
0.4 mi·32 sec·12th Street Viaduct
58
Continue on I 78
0.3 mi·54 sec·12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
59
Keep slight left at fork onto I 78
2.0 mi·4 min·Holland Tunnel
Toward Holland Tunnel, Manhattan
60
Take the exit
305 ft·10 sec
Toward BrooklynUse the straight / slight right lanes.
61
Continue on Beach Street
121 ft·7 sec·Beach Street
Toward Brooklyn, 6th Avenue, Walker StreetUse the straight lane.
62
Turn slight right onto Walker Street
0.2 mi·1 min·Walker Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
63
Turn right onto Broadway
0.4 mi·1 min·Broadway
Use the straight lane.
64
Arrive at destination
Broadway
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7-hour, 25-minute drive, consider an early morning departure to avoid peak traffic, especially as you approach New York City. With two stops suggested, plan for one about halfway through to stretch your legs and refuel. The $57 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always check prices along your route. A key piece of advice for this specific drive is to be mindful of the "turn-heavy local drive" profile; don't get too comfortable on the highway stretches, as you'll need to be alert for upcoming transitions. Having your GPS ready for these changes will be helpful.
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 173.3 miles from Albion, NY, or about 3h 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.8 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 76 miles or 1h 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 173.3 miles or 3h 47m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New York City, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Albion, 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 Albion, NY
This is one driving day of about 346.7 miles and 7h 25m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 miles from Albion, 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 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 79.4 and 342 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
79.4 mi into trip|~1h 37m 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
7
176.3 mi into trip|~3h 50m in|I 81
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81 toward I 81 South: Scranton
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 81 South: Scranton
9
229.7 mi into trip|~4h 54m 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...
7
341.8 mi into trip|~7h 13m in
Take the exit toward NJ 139 East: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward NJ 139 East: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel
8
342 mi into trip|~7h 14m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Toward Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$57.07 one way
$114.14 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg121 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$61.71
$123.42
premium
$4.92
$67.20
$134.39
diesel
$5.61
$76.55
$153.09
Estimated Tolls: $17.64
Holland Tunnel
$16.00
New York State Thruway
(30 mi)$1.50
Newark-Jersey City Turnpike
(2 mi)$0.14
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
$57
Tolls
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$100–$125
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 121.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
104
1
$36.40
$16.64
Efficient EV
86.7
0
$30.34
$13.87
EV Truck/SUV
138.7
1
$48.54
$22.19
Gas CO2
121 kg
EV CO2
41 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 15, 2026
Origin
Albion, NY
Morning
in Albion on Sunday
Local time
8:05 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
New York City, NY
Morning
in New York City on Sunday
Local time
8:05 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
8 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
7h 25m 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.
African Burial Ground National Monument
National Monument
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...
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...
1 mi from route
~2 min detour
Free
near mile 373.3
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...
1 mi from route
~1 min detour
Free
near mile 373.3
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...
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...
1 mi from route
~3 min detour
Free
near mile 373.3
From 1794 to 1966, the U.S. Army presence on Governors Island played a vital role in the social, political, and economic life of New York City. The island then served as the headquarters of the U.S. C...
2 mi from route
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 373.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a varied driving experience on this route, characterized by a "turn-heavy local drive" profile. While 56% of the journey is on highways, the extensive use of the New York State Thruway and I-81 suggests significant stretches of faster travel. However, the "turn-heavy" description implies you'll encounter more frequent changes in direction and potentially slower sections as you navigate between major roadways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll experience is 98.8 miles on I-81, offering a good opportunity to settle in.
Only 56% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
64 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 79.4 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 346.7 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 79.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 176.3 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 229.7 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Albion, NY and New York City, NY, road signs point toward Clyde, Mt Pocono, Milford and Newark.
New York (known as "The Big Apple", "NYC," and often called "New York City") is a global center for media, entertainment, art, fashion, research, finance, and trade. The bustling, cosmopolitan heart of the 4th largest metropolis in the world and by far the most populous city in the United States, New York has long been a key entry point and a defining city for the nation.
From the Statue of Liberty in the harbor to the Empire State Building towering over the Manhattan skyline, from the tunnels of the subway to the riches of Wall Street, from the bright signs of Times Square to the naturalistic beauty of Central Park, and from Yankee Stadium in the Bronx to Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York's landmarks are quintessential American landmarks. The city's neighborhoods and streets are so iconic they have become ingrained into the American consciousness.
Top landmarks
•Statue of Liberty — American icon in New York, United States
•National September 11 Memorial & Museum — memorial & museum in New York City commemorating the September 11, 2001 attacks
•Plaza Hotel — hotel in Midtown Manhattan, New York City
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 25m. Total distance: 346.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 25m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
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.
Expect about $17.64 in tolls one way, starting with Holland Tunnel. 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 New York City, 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 79.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 176.3 miles (I 81): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 229.7 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — African Burial Ground National Monument, Castle Clinton National Monument and Federal Hall 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 7.4 hours each way, a round trip means 14.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at New York City, NY before the return drive.
