Origin
Hudson, NY
Late night in Hudson on Sunday
Local time
3:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hudson, 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
51m
Distance
38 mi
61 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 47m
★
6 AM
0h 51m
8 AM
1h 0m
10 AM
0h 54m
12 PM
0h 54m
3 PM
0h 55m
5 PM
0h 59m
8 PM
0h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hudson, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick transition between Hudson and Albany, this 38-mile trek is an ideal day trip. You can comfortably complete the journey in about 51 minutes, making it a highly efficient connection within the Northeast region. Budgeting approximately $6 for fuel should cover your needs for this short transit. Because the trip is quite brief, there is no need to plan for overnight stays or mid-route stops. Navigating via a combination of the New York State Thruway, Rhinebeck-Hudson Road, and State Highway 23 provides a straightforward path between these two New York cities. This route is best suited for travelers who prefer a direct, no-fuss commute rather than an extended scenic tour.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New York State Thruway | 27.6 mi | 31m |
| Rhinebeck-Hudson Road | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| State Highway 23 | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| I 787 | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Rip Van Winkle Bridge | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| South 3rd Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| CR 23B | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| State Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 27.6 mi, about 31m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hudson, NY and Albany, NY.
1
Start on Warren Street
82 ft
·
11 sec
·
Warren Street
2
Turn left onto NY 9G; NY 23B
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
South 3rd Street
3
Continue on NY 9G; NY 23B
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Rhinebeck-Hudson Road
4
Take the ramp
341 ft
·
6 sec
Toward NY 9G, NY 23 West
5
Merge onto NY 9G; NY 23
0.4 mi
·
33 sec
·
Rhinebeck-Hudson Road
Use the right lane.
6
Enter roundabout onto NY 23
10 ft
·
0 sec
·
Rip Van Winkle Bridge
Toward Rip Van Winkle Bridge, Catskill
7
Continue on NY 23
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
Rip Van Winkle Bridge
Toward Rip Van Winkle Bridge, Catskill
8
Continue on NY 23
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 23
Use the left lane.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward NYST, I 87: Jefferson Heights, Leeds
10
Turn right onto CR 23B
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
CR 23B
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Toward NYST, I 87
12
Continue on this road
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
this road
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 87 North: Albany, Mass Turnpike
14
Merge onto I 87
28 mi
·
31 min
·
New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 23
Toward I 787, US 9W: Albany, Troy
Use the slight right lane.
16
Continue on I 787
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
I 787
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 4
Toward US 9 North, US 20 West: Downtown Albany
Use the slight right lane.
18
Turn straight onto Quay Street
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
Quay Street
19
Turn left onto NY 5
0.2 mi
·
42 sec
·
NY 5
20
Turn left onto NY 5
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
State Street
21
At end of road, turn right onto NY 5
182 ft
·
5 sec
·
Eagle Street
22
Turn straight onto NY 5
498 ft
·
19 sec
·
Washington Avenue
23
Turn left
30 ft
·
2 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 19 miles from Hudson, 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 165 decision points cluster between mile 3.2 and 37.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
3.2 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
NY 23 / Rip Van Winkle Bridge
Enter roundabout onto NY 23 / Rip Van Winkle Bridge toward Rip Van Winkle Bridge, Catskill
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Rip Van Winkle Bridge, Catskill
7
7.2 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 87 North: Albany, Mass Turnpike
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 87 North: Albany, Mass Turnpike
8
35.1 mi into trip
|
~45m in
Take the exit toward I 787, US 9W: Albany, Troy
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 23
Toward I 787, US 9W: Albany, Troy
8
36.9 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward US 9 North, US 20 West: Downtown Albany
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 4
Toward US 9 North, US 20 West: Downtown Albany
6
37.9 mi into trip
|
~50m in
|
NY 5 / Eagle Street
At end of road, turn right onto NY 5 / Eagle Street
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$6.26 one way
$12.51 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
13 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $6.76 | $13.53 |
| premium | $4.92 | $7.37 | $14.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.39 | $16.78 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.38
New York State Thruway
(27.6 mi)
$1.38
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$1
Total
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.99 | $1.82 |
| Efficient EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.32 | $1.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.32 | $2.43 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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
3:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
36°F
New Baltimore, NY
19 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
1 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
51m 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 that balances regional roads with brief bursts of interstate travel. While only 9% of your journey takes place on highways, you will encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 27.6 miles while cruising on the New York State Thruway. The personality of this drive shifts as you move away from local thoroughfares like Rhinebeck-Hudson Road and State Highway 23 toward the more controlled environment of the Thruway. This transition requires you to remain alert, as the road conditions change from technical local turns to the consistent pace of the highway. It is a functional drive that requires your full attention to navigate the mix of road types effectively.
Only 9% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 27.6 mi on New York State Thruway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 3.2 miles in near NY 23 / Rip Van Winkle Bridge.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 16 decision points packed into just 38 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 51m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.2 miles (NY 23 / Rip Van Winkle Bridge): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Hudson, NY and Albany, NY, road signs point toward Catskill, Nyst, Leeds, Mass Turnpike and Troy.
Catskill
3.2 mi in
|
~5m
|
via NY 23
Nyst
6.3 mi in
|
~10m
Leeds
6.3 mi in
|
~10m
Mass Turnpike
7.2 mi in
|
~12m
Troy
35.1 mi in
|
~45m
About the Cities
Starting in Hudson, NY
Full guide →Founded 1785
Hudson is a beautiful small former whaling city in Columbia County, part of New York's Hudson Valley.
Top landmarks
- • Hudson Historic District — historic district in Hudson, New York
- • Houses at 37–47 North Fifth Street — historic house
- • Rossman-Prospect Avenue Historic District — historic district in the United States
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 51m. Total distance: 38 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
51m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 27.6 miles on New York State Thruway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.38 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: at 3.2 miles (NY 23 / Rip Van Winkle Bridge): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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