Origin
Ballston Spa, NY
Morning in Ballston Spa on Tuesday
Local time
6:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ballston Spa, NY to Brooklyn, NY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 55m
Distance
185.9 mi
299 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 43m
★
6 AM
3h 56m
8 AM
4h 21m
10 AM
4h 5m
12 PM
4h 2m
3 PM
4h 6m
5 PM
4h 20m
8 PM
3h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ballston Spa, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Brooklyn, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Ballston Spa to Brooklyn is 185.9 miles and takes about 3h 55m via I 87, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive primarily stays within New York, taking you from the Northeast region down to the bustling borough of Brooklyn. Given its predominantly highway profile and manageable duration, this route is well-suited for a single-day trip. You'll spend most of your time on major roadways, making it a straightforward option for getting from point A to point B without extensive planning.
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
92.9 miles from Ballston Spa, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 53m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 87 | 118.6 mi | 2h 17m |
| NJ 17 | 22.7 mi | 29m |
| Adirondack Northway | 20.3 mi | 25m |
| NJ 3 | 4.2 mi | 4m |
| State Highway 67 | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| Tonnelle Avenue | 2.6 mi | 3m |
| Holland Tunnel | 1.9 mi | 4m |
| NY 27 | 1.8 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 87
— 118.6 mi, about 2h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ballston Spa, NY and Brooklyn, NY.
1
Start on NY 67
67 ft
·
8 sec
·
West High Street
2
Turn right onto NY 50; NY 67
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Church Avenue
3
Turn left onto NY 67
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 67
4
Enter roundabout onto NY 67
115 ft
·
1 sec
·
Dunning Street
5
Continue on NY 67
513 ft
·
12 sec
·
Dunning Street
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
7
Merge onto I 87
20 mi
·
25 min
·
Adirondack Northway
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
I 87
Exit 1E-W
Toward I 87 South, I 90: Boston, Albany, New York, Buffalo
Use the slight right lane.
9
Continue on I 87
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
I 87
Exit 1W
Toward I 87 South, I 90 West: New York, Buffalo
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87
118 mi
·
2 hr 16 min
·
I 87
Toward I 87 South: New York
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17
0.9 mi
·
59 sec
·
NY 17
Exit 15
Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New Jersey
Use the slight right lane.
12
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
0.5 mi
·
39 sec
·
I 287; NJ 17
13
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17
23 mi
·
29 min
·
NJ 17
Exit 66
Toward NJ 17 South: Mahwah
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
Toward NJ 3 East: New York
15
Merge onto NJ 3
4.2 mi
·
4 min
·
NJ 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on US 1; US 9
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Tonnelle Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto US 1; US 9
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
Tonnelle Avenue
Toward NJ 139 East, US 1 South, US 9 South: Hoboken, Holland Tunnel, Tonnele Avenue, Jersey City, Pulaski Skyway
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
Toward Hoboken, Holland Tunnel
Use the left lane.
19
Merge onto NJ 139
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Conrail Viaduct
20
Continue on NJ 139
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
·
12th Street Viaduct
21
Continue on I 78
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
12th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 78
1.9 mi
·
4 min
·
Holland Tunnel
Toward Holland Tunnel, Manhattan
23
Take the exit
428 ft
·
14 sec
Toward NY 9A
24
Turn slight left onto Laight Street
0.2 mi
·
48 sec
·
Laight Street
Toward NY 9A
25
At end of road, turn left onto NY 9A
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
West Street
Use the straight lane.
26
Take the exit
2.6 mi
·
5 min
Exit 2
Toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Brooklyn
Use the left lane.
27
Continue on I 278
0.6 mi
·
50 sec
·
Gowanus Expressway
28
Take the exit onto NY 27
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
NY 27
Exit 24
Toward NY 27 East: Prospect Expressway
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
29
Take the exit onto NY 27
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
NY 27
Exit 5
Toward NY 27 East: SUNY Downstate Medical Center
Use the slight right lane.
30
Turn left onto NY 27
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Caton Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
31
Continue on NY 27
0.4 mi
·
31 sec
·
Linden Boulevard
Use the left lane.
32
Turn right onto Nostrand Avenue
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Nostrand Avenue
33
Arrive at destination
Nostrand Avenue
Trip Plan
For this relatively short, single-day drive, leaving in the late morning or early afternoon can help you avoid the worst of rush hour traffic as you get closer to Brooklyn. With a total duration under 4 hours, you might only need one brief stop for fuel or a quick break. The longest stretch of highway is over 118 miles, so ensure you're comfortable with that duration before setting out. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as gas prices can fluctuate, and the $31 budget is an estimate.
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 92.9 miles from Ballston Spa, NY, or about 1h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 118.6 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 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 92.9 miles or 1h 53m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Brooklyn, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ballston Spa, 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 Ballston Spa, NY
This is one driving day of about 185.9 miles and 3h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from Ballston Spa, 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 I 87 for about 118.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
93 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 92.9 miles from Ballston Spa, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 87 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 118.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 235 decision points cluster between mile 24.7 and 179.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
24.7 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
I 87
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87 toward I 87 South, I 90: Boston, Albany, New York, Buffalo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1E-W
Toward I 87 South, I 90: Boston, Albany, New Yo...
9
143.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 51m 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
144.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 53m 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
174.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 31m in
Take the exit toward Hoboken, Holland Tunnel
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward Hoboken, Holland Tunnel
8
179.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 42m in
Take the exit toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Brooklyn
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Exit 2
Toward Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Brooklyn
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.60 one way
$61.20 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
65 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $33.09 | $66.18 |
| premium | $4.92 | $36.03 | $72.06 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $41.04 | $82.09 |
Estimated Tolls: $16.00
Holland Tunnel
$16.00
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
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 55.8 | 0 | $19.52 | $8.92 |
| Efficient EV | 46.5 | 0 | $16.27 | $7.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 74.4 | 0 | $26.03 | $11.90 |
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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.
Destination
Brooklyn, NY
Morning in Brooklyn on Tuesday
Local time
6:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
55°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
63°F
Ramapo, NY
93 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
6 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
3h 55m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is mostly highway, with 82% of the 185.9 miles covered on major roads like I 87 and NJ 17. You'll encounter a significant stretch of 118.6 miles on I 87 before transitioning. Expect a consistent cruising experience for the majority of the drive, with the highway portion likely featuring frequent exits and merges as you approach the New York City area. The final segment will shift away from the highway.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 118.6 mi on I 87.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 87 and NJ 17. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 24.7 miles in near I 87.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 23 significant decision points across 185.9 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 24.7 miles (I 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 143.3 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 144.7 miles (NJ 17): 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Ballston Spa, NY and Brooklyn, NY, road signs point toward Albany, New York, Buffalo, Jersey City, Pulaski Skyway and Hoboken - among others.
Albany
24.7 mi in
|
~33m
|
via I 87
New York
24.7 mi in
|
~33m
|
via I 87
Buffalo
24.7 mi in
|
~33m
|
via I 87
Jersey City
174.4 mi in
|
~3h 30m
|
via US 1; US 9
Pulaski Skyway
174.4 mi in
|
~3h 30m
|
via US 1; US 9
Hoboken
174.5 mi in
|
~3h 31m
Manhattan
176.2 mi in
|
~3h 34m
|
via I 78
About the Cities
Arriving in Brooklyn, NY
Full guide →Founded 1634
Brooklyn, the "Borough of Homes and Churches," is one of the five boroughs of New York City. It used to be a separate city, and still feels much like one. It has about 2.5 million inhabitants. If separated from the rest of New York City, Brooklyn would be the 4th most populous American city. Brooklyn is on the westernmost point of Long Island and shares a land boundary with Queens, which partially encircles Brooklyn to the north, east and south; Manhattan lies across the East River to the west and north of Brooklyn, and Staten Island is across the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge to the southwest. Brooklyn is enjoying a period of growth and affluence not seen since before World War II. The Brooklyn Academy of Music boasts world-class theater performances, and the nearby Barclays Center is the home of the NBA's Brooklyn Nets.
Top landmarks
- • Brooklyn Bridge — bridge in New York City, crossing the East River
- • Brooklyn Museum — art museum in Brooklyn, New York
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 55m. Total distance: 185.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 118.6 miles on I 87. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $16.00 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 Brooklyn, 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 24.7 miles (I 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 143.3 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 144.7 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Brooklyn, NY, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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