Origin
Guilderland, NY
Evening in Guilderland on Sunday
Local time
7:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Guilderland, NY to Albany, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
20m
Distance
11.3 mi
18 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 18m
★
6 AM
0h 20m
8 AM
0h 24m
10 AM
0h 21m
12 PM
0h 21m
3 PM
0h 21m
5 PM
0h 23m
8 PM
0h 19m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Guilderland, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are traveling from Guilderland to Albany, you are looking at a quick 12.1-mile trip that typically takes about 18 minutes. This short commute is best suited as a simple day trip, requiring no overnight stays or complex logistics. You will primarily navigate via Western Avenue, the Adirondack Northway, and I-90 East to reach your destination. With a fuel cost estimate of just $2, this is an incredibly budget-friendly transit within the Northeast region. It is a straightforward, practical route that serves as a functional link between the two locations. Because the distance is so manageable, you have total flexibility in your scheduling.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 4.2 mi | 5m |
| Western Avenue | 3.9 mi | 7m |
| Henry Johnson Boulevard | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Washington Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Adirondack Northway | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| US 9 | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Central Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| Willow Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 4.2 mi, about 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Guilderland, NY and Albany, NY.
1
Start on Willow Street
82 ft
·
10 sec
·
Willow Street
2
Turn left onto US 20
3.9 mi
·
7 min
·
Western Avenue
3
Turn left
39 ft
·
7 sec
4
Take the ramp
234 ft
·
5 sec
5
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
this road
6
Merge onto Adirondack Northway
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
Adirondack Northway
7
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 1E
Toward I 90 East: Albany, Boston
Use the slight right lane.
8
Merge onto I 90
4.2 mi
·
5 min
·
I 90
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 6
Toward US 9: Loudonville, Arbor Hill
Use the slight right lane.
10
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.
11
Turn straight onto US 9
0.3 mi
·
22 sec
·
US 9
12
Continue on US 9
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Henry Johnson Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
13
Turn left onto NY 5
508 ft
·
16 sec
·
Central Avenue
14
Turn slight left onto NY 5
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Avenue
15
Turn right
30 ft
·
2 sec
16
Arrive at destination
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 9.6 — 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
|
US 20 / Western Avenue
Turn left onto US 20 / Western Avenue
Navigation decision point
8
4.5 mi into trip
|
~9m in
Take the exit toward I 90 East: Albany, Boston
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 1E
Toward I 90 East: Albany, Boston
5
5.1 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
I 90
Merge onto I 90
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
9.3 mi into trip
|
~15m 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
9.6 mi into trip
|
~16m 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
$1.86 one way
$3.72 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $2.01 | $4.02 |
| premium | $4.92 | $2.19 | $4.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $2.49 | $4.99 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$2
Estimated CO2 emission: 4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.4 | 0 | $1.19 | $0.54 |
| Efficient EV | 2.8 | 0 | $0.99 | $0.45 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 4.5 | 0 | $1.58 | $0.72 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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
Evening in Albany on Sunday
Local time
7:33 PM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 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
20m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate cruise. This route features a 0% highway share, meaning you will spend your time navigating local surface streets and thoroughfares. You will find that there is no long-haul stretches here, as the longest uninterrupted segment is 0 miles on Western Avenue. The road requires your full attention due to the frequency of turns and the nature of local traffic patterns. Behind the wheel, you will experience a constant, evolving environment that keeps you engaged throughout the 18-minute duration.
40% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 4.2 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 20 / Western Avenue.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 10 decision points packed into just 11.3 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 20m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 20 / Western Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.1 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
293 ft
141 ft
Total Climb
174 ft
Total Descent
242 ft
Highest Point
293 ft
~2.4 mi in
Elevation Range
153 ft
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 Guilderland, NY and Albany, NY, road signs point toward Boston and Arbor Hill.
Boston
4.5 mi in
|
~9m
Arbor Hill
9.3 mi in
|
~15m
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 20m. Total distance: 11.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (40%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 4.2 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 (US 20 / Western Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 4.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.1 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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