Albion, NY to Smithtown, NY is 397.1 miles and takes about 8h 25m via I 81 and New York State Thruway, with a fuel budget near $65 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Northeast region, primarily traversing New York State. The route is designed for two recommended days of travel, allowing for a more relaxed pace. You'll encounter a mix of highway driving and surface roads as you make your way across the state. Consider this a straightforward, functional drive with minimal scenic detours.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
198.6 miles from Albion, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 81
98.8 mi
1h 57m
Keystone Shortway
80 mi
1h 37m
New York State Thruway
30 mi
34m
I 380
23.6 mi
25m
Western Expressway
20.1 mi
26m
Long Island Expressway
14.2 mi
19m
Northern State Parkway
13.7 mi
18m
East Lake Road
9.9 mi
14m
Longest stretch:
I 81
— 98.8 mi, about 1h 57m
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 168 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,210 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,900
Quietest
1 AM
~430 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.8×
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 Albion, NY and Smithtown, 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
80 mi·1 hr 37 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
48
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·5 min·Christopher Columbus Highway
Toward I 95: George Washington Bridge Lower LevelUse the slight right lane.
49
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·23 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
50
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 70A-BToward Leonia, TeaneckUse the slight right lane.
51
Turn right
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 70AToward LeoniaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
52
Turn straight onto CR 56
454 ft·9 sec·Degraw Avenue
53
Continue on CR 56
1.1 mi·2 min·Fort Lee Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
54
Continue on CR 56
469 ft·13 sec·Main Street
55
Take the ramp
472 ft·12 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge
56
Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46
0.3 mi·28 sec·Bergen Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
57
Take the exit
312 ft·4 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level
58
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.3 mi·20 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
59
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
60
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
61
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
62
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.7 mi·6 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
63
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.
64
Merge onto I 295
0.6 mi·58 sec·Throgs Neck Expressway
65
Continue on I 295
2.0 mi·3 min·Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
66
Continue on I 295
3.2 mi·3 min·Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
67
Take the exit
0.2 mi·27 sec
Exit 4E-WToward I 495: Manhattan, Eastern Long IslandUse the straight / slight right lanes.
68
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 4EToward I 495 East: Long Island Expressway, Eastern Long Island
69
Merge onto I 495
14 mi·19 min·Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
70
Take the exit
0.4 mi·52 sec
Exit 42Toward N East: HauppaugeUse the slight right lane.
71
Merge onto N
14 mi·18 min·Northern State Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
72
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 45Toward SM North: Kings ParkUse the right lane.
73
Merge onto SA
499 ft·6 sec·Sagtikos State Parkway
74
Continue on SM
1.7 mi·1 min·Sunken Meadow State Parkway
75
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit SM3EToward NY 25 East: Jericho Turnpike East, SmithtownUse the slight right lane.
76
Turn slight right onto NY 25
3.9 mi·5 min·Jericho Turnpike
77
Continue on NY 25; NY 25A
0.6 mi·54 sec·West Main Street
Use the left lane.
78
Arrive at destination
NY 25; NY 25A
Trip Plan
Given the 8h 25m estimated drive time, this trip is best split over two days. Aim to depart early on your first day to cover a good portion of the 397.1 miles. Plan for about two stops to break up the drive and refuel. With a fuel cost estimated around $65, keep an eye on gas prices as you travel. The longest continuous stretch is nearly 100 miles on I 81, so ensure you're well-fueled before entering that segment. The transition from highway to surface roads will require adjusting your pace.
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.
This drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 198.6 miles from Albion, NY, or about 4h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 98.8 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 87 miles or 1h 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 198.6 miles or 4h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 198.6 miles or 4h 17m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Smithtown, 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.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Albion, NY
Aim for roughly 199 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Smithtown, NY
Aim for roughly 199 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 87 miles from Albion, NY.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
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 44
5 decision points cluster between mile 79.4 and 354 — 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
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...
8
344.3 mi into trip|~7h 9m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, Ne...
9
344.6 mi into trip|~7h 10m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Leonia, Teaneck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 70A-B
Toward Leonia, Teaneck
8
354 mi into trip|~7h 24m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$64.24 one way
$128.48 round trip
$4.11/gal25.4 MPG avg139 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$69.71
$139.42
premium
$4.85
$75.79
$151.59
diesel
$4.80
$74.98
$149.96
Estimated Tolls: $24.32
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
New York State Thruway
(30 mi)$1.50
Jericho Turnpike
(3.9 mi)$0.27
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
$64
Tolls
$24
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$219–$329
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 138.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
119.1
1
$41.70
$19.06
Efficient EV
99.3
1
$34.75
$15.88
EV Truck/SUV
158.8
1
$55.59
$25.41
Gas CO2
139 kg
EV CO2
46 kg (67% 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
Albion, NY
Late night
in Albion on Sunday
Local time
4:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Smoke
N 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Smithtown, NY
Late night
in Smithtown on Sunday
Local time
4:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
70°F
Smoke
NW 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
84°F
Barton, NY
199 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
7 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
8h 25m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
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.
Harriet Tubman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
Women’s Rights National Historical Park tells the story of the first Women’s Rights Convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York on July 19-20, 1848. It is a story of struggles for civil rights, human r...
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...
6 mi from route
~15 min detour
Free
near mile 342.3
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...
6 mi from route
~16 min detour
Free
near mile 342.3
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...
10 mi from route
~24 min detour
Free
near mile 342.3
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 342.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features a 56% highway share, meaning you'll spend a significant portion on major interstates. The longest stretch without a major break is 98.8 miles on I 81, so plan for extended periods of consistent speed. You'll transition from interstate cruising to surface roads, which will likely involve more frequent stops and lower average speeds. Expect a noticeable change in driving conditions as you move between these road types.
Only 56% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
78 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 44 significant decision points across 397.1 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 229.7 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 344.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
1,831 ft45 ft
Total Climb
3,074 ft
Total Descent
3,554 ft
Highest Point
1,831 ft
~255.3 mi in
Elevation Range
1,786 ft
Notable High Points
1,480 ft at ~198.6 miles+540 ft prominence
1,831 ft at ~255.3 miles+891 ft prominence
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 Smithtown, NY, road signs point toward Clyde, Mt Pocono, Milford, New York City, Leonia and Teaneck - among others.
Smithtown is a town of 117,000 people (2016) in Suffolk County, on Long Island, in New York. Smithtown is comprised of the villages and hamlets of Commack (in part, with the Town of Huntington), Fort Salonga (in part, with the Town of Huntington), Hauppauge (in part, with the Town of Islip), Head of the Harbor, Kings Park, Lake Ronkonkoma (in part with the Town of Brookhaven and Town of Islip), Nesconset, Nissequogue, Smithtown, St. James, & Village of the Branch.
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.
Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 199 miles on day one.
Expect about $24.32 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.
Yes — we found about 32 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 Smithtown, 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 32 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 229.7 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 344.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, Women's Rights National Historical Park and General Grant 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 8.4 hours each way, a round trip means 16.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Smithtown, NY before the return drive.
