Traveling from Clifton Park to Queens covers 180 miles and typically takes about 3 hours and 6 minutes of drive time. Because this route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, it is best approached as a focused one-day trip. Budget approximately $28 for fuel to complete the journey between these two Northeast locations. While the duration is manageable for a single day, the heavy reliance on local traffic means you should prepare for a consistent, hands-on driving experience. This trip is ideal for those who prefer avoiding highway monotony in favor of a more direct, localized path through New York.
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
87.3 miles from Clifton Park, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 87
118.6 mi
2h 17m
NJ 17
14.1 mi
18m
Adirondack Northway
12.4 mi
16m
NJ 4
6.7 mi
9m
Cross Bronx Expressway
4.4 mi
5m
Van Wyck Expressway
4.3 mi
6m
Whitestone Expressway
2.3 mi
3m
Liberty Avenue
1.5 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 87
— 118.6 mi, about 2h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clifton Park, NY and Queens, NY.
1
Start on Old Route 146
75 ft·5 sec·Old Route 146
2
Turn right onto US 9
0.1 mi·16 sec·Halfmoon Parkway
3
Turn slight right
417 ft·16 sec
4
Turn straight onto NY 146
0.4 mi·41 sec·State Highway 146
Use the left lane.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 87 South: AlbanyUse the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 87
12 mi·16 min·Adirondack Northway
Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87
0.3 mi·31 sec·I 87
Exit 1E-WToward I 87 South, I 90: Boston, Albany, New York, BuffaloUse the slight right lane.
8
Continue on I 87
0.5 mi·51 sec·I 87
Exit 1WToward I 87 South, I 90 West: New York, Buffalo
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 87
118 mi·2 hr 16 min·I 87
Toward I 87 South: New YorkUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 17
0.9 mi·59 sec·NY 17
Exit 15Toward I 287 South, NJ 17 South: New JerseyUse the slight right lane.
11
Continue on I 287; NJ 17
0.5 mi·39 sec·I 287; NJ 17
12
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 17
14 mi·18 min·NJ 17
Exit 66Toward NJ 17 South: MahwahUse the slight left / straight lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.1 mi·19 sec
Toward NJ 4, GSP South: Paterson, Fort Lee, New York
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NJ 4 East: Fort Lee, New York
15
Merge onto NJ 4
0.3 mi·24 sec·NJ 4
Use the right lane.
16
Continue on NJ 4
6.4 mi·8 min·NJ 4
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·18 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington BridgeUse the straight / slight left lanes.
18
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.7 mi·54 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
20
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.7 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
22
Continue on I 95; US 1
4.4 mi·5 min·Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.9 mi·2 min
Exit 6AToward I 678 South: Whitestone Bridge, QueensUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Merge onto I 678
0.8 mi·1 min·Hutchinson River Expressway
25
Continue on I 678
1.3 mi·2 min·Bronx-Whitestone Bridge
26
Continue on I 678
2.3 mi·3 min·Whitestone Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto I 678
4.3 mi·6 min·Van Wyck Expressway
Toward I 678 South: Kennedy AirportUse the slight left lane.
28
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 6Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue, Atlantic AvenueUse the right lane.
29
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·13 sec
Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica AvenueUse the slight right lane.
30
Turn straight onto Van Wyck Expressway West
0.9 mi·2 min·Van Wyck Expressway West
Use the straight / right lanes.
31
Turn right onto Liberty Avenue
1.5 mi·4 min·Liberty Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
32
Turn left onto 104th Street
205 ft·9 sec·104th Street
33
Arrive at destination
104th Street
Trip Plan
Since this route involves significant local road travel, plan for at least one stop to break up the drive and rest. Flexibility is your biggest advantage here, as you can easily adjust your pace to account for the turn-heavy nature of the route. Aim to depart outside of peak traffic hours to ensure your 3-hour and 6-minute estimate remains accurate. Keep your $28 fuel budget in mind, but consider carrying a bit extra if you encounter heavy local congestion that impacts your vehicle's efficiency. A concrete tip for this specific path: verify your GPS settings to ensure you are comfortable with a route that avoids major highways entirely.
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 87.3 miles from Clifton Park, NY, or about 1h 44m 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 38 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 87.3 miles or 1h 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 50m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Queens, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Clifton Park, 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 Clifton Park, NY
This is one driving day of about 174.6 miles and 3h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Clifton Park, 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 13.3 and 171.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
13.3 mi into trip|~18m 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
131.9 mi into trip|~2h 36m 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
133.3 mi into trip|~2h 37m 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
162.1 mi into trip|~3h 17m in
Take the exit toward I 678 South: Whitestone Bridge, Queens
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 6A
Toward I 678 South: Whitestone Bridge, Queens
9
171.9 mi into trip|~3h 33m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward Hillside Avenue, Jamaica Avenue
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.74 one way
$57.48 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg61 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$31.08
$62.15
premium
$4.92
$33.84
$67.68
diesel
$5.61
$38.55
$77.10
Estimated Tolls: $22.55
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Whitestone Bridge
$6.55
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
$29
Tolls
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.4
0
$18.33
$8.38
Efficient EV
43.7
0
$15.28
$6.98
EV Truck/SUV
69.8
0
$24.44
$11.17
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (67% 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 Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Clifton Park, NY
Afternoon
in Clifton Park on Sunday
Local time
4:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Queens, NY
Afternoon
in Queens on Sunday
Local time
4:22 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Mostly Cloudy
NE 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 18 at 2:37AM EDT until April 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Burlington VT
49°F
Ramapo, NY
87 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
12 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
3h 40m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Hamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
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...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 156.5
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...
3 mi from route
~7 min detour
Free
near mile 156.5
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...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 174.6
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...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 174.6
Spanning 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York City, the park is both the gateway from the ocean into New York Harbor, and the gateway to the National Park Service for...
9 mi from route
~23 min detour
Free
near mile 174.6
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...
9 mi from route
~24 min detour
Free
near mile 174.6
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that demands your full attention behind the wheel. Unlike a standard interstate cruise, this 180-mile journey features a 0% highway share, meaning you will navigate Route 146, Halfmoon Parkway, and Highway 146 for the duration of the trip. Because the longest stretch of uninterrupted driving is 0 miles, you will be navigating frequent turns and transitions rather than long, straightaways. The road maintains a consistent local character that keeps you engaged throughout the entire three-hour transit from the Capital District down toward the city.
89% 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 13.3 miles in near I 87.
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 23 significant decision points across 174.6 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 13.3 miles (I 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 131.9 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 133.3 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.
Between Clifton Park, NY and Queens, NY, road signs point toward Albany, New York, Buffalo, Gsp South: Paterson and Fort Lee.
Clifton Park is a city in the Hudson Valley in the Capital District region of New York. It is in Saratoga County between Albany and Saratoga Springs in upstate New York. Home of one of the largest school districts in the state, it has plenty of attractions, and close access to Albany and Saratoga.
Top landmarks
•Cyrus Rexford House — historic house in Rexford, New York state, USA
Queens is a crescent-shaped (with a tail) borough traversing the north-to-south width of Long Island and including two of the major New York City area airports, LaGuardia (LGA IATA) and John F. Kennedy International (JFK IATA). It also carries the largest ethnic diversity in its area of any region in the world, with many small enclaves. Jackson Heights, for example, includes a huge Indian area, followed by a Colombian area, and then a Mexican area. Each offers a wide array of authentic shops, native-style cuisine, and festivals modified only slightly by the generally colder New York City experience.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 40m. Total distance: 174.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). 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 $22.55 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.
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 Queens, 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 13.3 miles (I 87): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 131.9 miles (NY 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 133.3 miles (NJ 17): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial and African Burial Ground National Monument (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.4 hours — manageable with a long break at Queens, NY, but most travelers stay overnight.
