Origin
Charlton, NY
Late night in Charlton on Sunday
Local time
12:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Charlton, NY to Albany, NY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 26, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
47m
Distance
31.3 mi
50 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 43m
★
6 AM
0h 47m
8 AM
0h 55m
10 AM
0h 50m
12 PM
0h 49m
3 PM
0h 50m
5 PM
0h 55m
8 PM
0h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Charlton, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Albany, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Charlton, NY to Albany, NY is 31.3 miles and takes about 47m via New York State Thruway, with a fuel budget near $5 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within New York, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Expect a drive that involves a good amount of turning, so keep your attention focused. It's a straightforward journey that's easy to complete in a single day, making it ideal for a quick transfer or a short scenic excursion.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New York State Thruway | 13.4 mi | 15m |
| I 90 | 6.1 mi | 8m |
| Swaggertown Road | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| Rector Road | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| Bolt Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Closson Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Amsterdam Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| Sacandaga Road | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 13.4 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Charlton, NY and Albany, NY.
1
Start on CR 51
62 ft
·
7 sec
·
Charlton Road
2
Turn left onto CR 52
2.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Swaggertown Road
3
Turn right onto CR 34
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Bolt Road
4
Turn left onto NY 147
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Sacandaga Road
5
Turn right onto Closson Road
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Closson Road
6
Turn left onto CR 49
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Ridge Road
7
Turn right onto Rector Road
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Rector Road
8
At end of road, turn left onto NY 5
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Amsterdam Road
9
Turn right onto NY 890
0.6 mi
·
49 sec
·
NY 890
10
Take the exit
1.3 mi
·
2 min
Toward I 90
11
Merge onto I 90
13 mi
·
15 min
·
New York State Thruway
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
I 90
Exit 24
Toward I 87 North, I 90 East: Albany, Montreal
Use the slight left lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 6
Toward US 9: Loudonville, Arbor Hill
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
Toward US 9 South: Arbor Hill, Henry Johnson Boulevard
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
16
Turn straight onto US 9
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
US 9
17
Continue on US 9
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Henry Johnson Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
18
Turn left onto NY 5
508 ft
·
16 sec
·
Central Avenue
19
Turn slight left onto NY 5
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Avenue
20
Turn right
30 ft
·
2 sec
21
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 15.6 miles from Charlton, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 155 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 29.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CR 52 / Swaggertown Road
Turn left onto CR 52 / Swaggertown Road
Navigation decision point
9
23.3 mi into trip
|
~33m in
|
I 90
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 toward I 87 North, I 90 East: Albany, Montreal
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 24
Toward I 87 North, I 90 East: Albany, Montreal
6
24.4 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
I 90
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
29.3 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the exit toward US 9: Loudonville, Arbor Hill
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 6
Toward US 9: Loudonville, Arbor Hill
9
29.6 mi into trip
|
~43m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 9 South: Arbor Hill, Henry Johnson Boulevard
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Toward US 9 South: Arbor Hill, Henry Johnson Bo...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$5.09 one way
$10.17 round trip
$4.13/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.47 | $5.51 | $11.01 |
| premium | $4.87 | $6.00 | $11.99 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $6.66 | $13.32 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.67
New York State Thruway
(13.4 mi)
$0.67
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Tolls
$1
Total
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 11 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.4 | 0 | $3.29 | $1.50 |
| Efficient EV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.74 | $1.25 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.5 | 0 | $4.38 | $2.00 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Albany, NY
Late night in Albany on Sunday
Local time
12:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
69°F
Scattered Rain Showers
N 6 to 10 mph
29% chance
Live forecast
54°F
Rotterdam, NY
16 mi in
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
15 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
47m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This route features a significant amount of local driving, characterized by frequent turns. While 22% of the journey is on highways like the New York State Thruway and I-90, you'll also navigate local roads such as Swaggertown Road. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 13.4 miles, indicating that you won't be on the interstate for the entire duration. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience that shifts between faster highway speeds and more deliberate navigation through community roads.
Only 22% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.4 mi on New York State Thruway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 early in the drive near CR 52 / Swaggertown Road.
Driving Effort
8/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 31.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 47m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 52 / Swaggertown Road): Navigation decision point; at 23.3 miles (I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.4 miles (I 90): 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 Charlton, NY and Albany, NY, road signs point toward Montreal and Arbor Hill.
Montreal
23.3 mi in
|
~33m
|
via I 90
Arbor Hill
29.3 mi in
|
~42m
About the Cities
Arriving in Albany, NY
Full guide →Founded 1686
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
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 47m. Total distance: 31.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.4 miles on New York State Thruway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.67 in tolls one way, starting with New York State Thruway. 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.
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 Albany, NY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CR 52 / Swaggertown Road): Navigation decision point; at 23.3 miles (I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 24.4 miles (I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Saratoga National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Albany, NY before heading back.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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