Kantu Peruvian Cuisine Restaurant
Near the start, short detour
Forest Hills, New York
Hours: 12–9 pm
+13475310873
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 12m
Distance
155.1 mi
250 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Richmond Hill, NY
Wikimedia Commons
This straightforward 155-mile drive from Richmond Hill, NY, to Albany, NY, is easily manageable in about 3 hours and 12 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With 96% of the journey on highways, you can expect a focused driving experience. The estimated fuel cost is around $26, which is quite budget-friendly for a trip of this length. You'll primarily be on NY 17 and NJ 17, with a brief stint on NJ 4, keeping you moving efficiently through the Northeast region. This route offers a practical way to travel between these two New York locations without needing an overnight stay.
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
77.6 miles from Richmond Hill, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 40m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NY 17 | 111.7 mi | 2h 8m |
| NJ 17 | 14.7 mi | 18m |
| NJ 4 | 6.7 mi | 9m |
| Van Wyck Expressway | 4.9 mi | 7m |
| I 95 | 4.8 mi | 6m |
| Whitestone Expressway | 2 mi | 2m |
| I 787 | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| Bronx-Whitestone Bridge | 1.3 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Richmond Hill, NY and Albany, NY.
Start on Jamaica Avenue
Turn left onto Van Wyck Expressway
Continue on 138th Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 678
Merge onto I 678
Continue on I 678
Continue on I 678
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 95
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; US 1
Continue on I 95; US 1
Continue on I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; NJTP
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto NJ 4
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto NJ 17
Continue on NJ 17
Continue on NJ 17
Continue on NJ 17
Continue on I 287; NY 17
Keep slight left at fork onto NY 17
Take the exit
Continue on I 787
Take the exit
Turn straight onto Quay Street
Turn left onto NY 5
Turn left onto NY 5
At end of road, turn right onto NY 5
Turn straight onto NY 5
Turn left
Arrive at destination
Given the relatively short duration of just over 3 hours, this trip is ideal for a flexible departure. Aiming to leave early in the morning can help you avoid potential traffic congestion in the New York metropolitan area. You'll have one primary stretch of 111.7 miles on NY 17, so plan for a break before or after that segment. With a fuel cost estimate of $26, it's an economical journey. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer stretches, to ensure you're prepared for any necessary stops.
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.
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 34 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77.6 miles or 1h 40m 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Albany, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Richmond Hill, 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 Richmond Hill, NY
This is one driving day of about 155.1 miles and 3h 12m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
78 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.
A short stop after about 34 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 77.6 miles from Richmond Hill, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before NY 17 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 111.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Restaurant
Forest Hills, New York
Near the start, short detour
Hours: 12–9 pm
+13475310873
Cafe Tropical Restaurant
Hackensack, New Jersey
Cafe Madison
Albany, New York
Top Coffee Stop
Saddle River, New Jersey
Early in the drive, right off the route
Hours: 11:30 am–3 pm
+12012822300
Marimba Cafe
Hackensack, New Jersey
Lily and Liam
Englewood, New Jersey
Near the start, short detour
Forest Hills, New York
Hours: 12–9 pm
+13475310873
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Hackensack, New Jersey
Hours: 7 am–10 pm
+12018800669
Near the end, short detour
Albany, New York
Hours: 7:30 am–2 pm
+15189351094
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Paramus, New Jersey
Hours: 11 am–9 pm
+12014871088
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Catskill, New York
Hours: 11 am–8 pm
+15189432200
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Hackensack, New Jersey
Hours: 8 am–8 pm
+12015602269
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Leeds, New York
Hours: 10 am–7 pm
+15189439363
Visit websiteLater in the drive, short detour
Leeds, New York
Hours: 4–9 pm
+15187193430
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, right off the route
Saddle River, New Jersey
Hours: 11:30 am–3 pm
+12012822300
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Hackensack, New Jersey
Hours: 7 am–7 pm
+12012563010
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Englewood, New Jersey
Hours: Closed
+12015675111
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
South Hackensack, New Jersey
Hours: 10 am–7 pm
+12014265898
Visit websiteNear the start, ~10 min detour
Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey
Hours: 7 am–8 pm
+12014259120
Near the start, ~12 min detour
New York, New York
+19172614093
Around the midpoint, right off the route
Central Valley, New York
Hours: 8 am–10 pm
+18777983752
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, right off the route
Central Valley, New York
Hours: 7 am–8 pm
+18774943833
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, right off the route
Central Valley, New York
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887800062
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Harriman, New York
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Newburgh, New York
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18777983752
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Newburgh, New York
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18337484267
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Newburgh, New York
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18336322778
Visit websiteEarly in the drive, ~9 min detour
Mahwah, New Jersey
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Hackensack, New Jersey
Hours: 12–9 pm
+12014401329
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Hackensack, New Jersey
Hours: 10 am–12 pm
+12013433545
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
River Edge, New Jersey
Hours: 9 am–11 pm
+16093887728
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Teaneck, New Jersey
Hours: 7 am–10 pm
+12018362403
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Englewood, New Jersey
Hours: Closed
+12014085555
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Paramus, New Jersey
Hours: 10:30 am–8:30 pm
+12017334359
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Paramus, New Jersey
Hours: 10 am–8 pm
+12016202125
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Hackensack, New Jersey
Hours: 10 am–5 pm
+12019680808
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 10 and 25.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 95 South, I 278 West, I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, Manhattan, New Haven Connecticut
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South, I 278 West: George Washington Bridge, Manhattan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 4 West: Paramus
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork toward NJ 17 North: Mahwah
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$25.53 one way
$51.06 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $27.61 | $55.21 |
| premium | $4.92 | $30.06 | $60.12 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $34.24 | $68.49 |
Estimated Tolls: $22.55
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
$26
Tolls
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 46.5 | 0 | $16.29 | $7.44 |
| Efficient EV | 38.8 | 0 | $13.57 | $6.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 62 | 0 | $21.71 | $9.93 |
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Richmond Hill on Sunday
Local time
12:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Mostly Sunny
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 18 at 1:15PM EDT until April 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Burlington VT
Destination
Late night in Albany on Sunday
Local time
12:25 AM
EDT
Current temp
34°F
Unavailable
49°F
Ramapo, NY
78 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Expect a highway-focused drive for the vast majority of this trip, with 96% of the route utilizing major roadways. The longest continuous stretch you'll encounter is 111.7 miles, primarily on NY 17, allowing for extended periods of consistent speed and minimal interruptions. This means you'll spend most of your time on high-speed roads, which can be efficient but may offer fewer opportunities for spontaneous roadside exploration. The nature of the drive will be consistent, emphasizing forward progress rather than varied scenery or winding lanes.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NY 17 and NJ 17. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10 miles in.
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 25 significant decision points across 155.1 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 10 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Richmond Hill, NY and Albany, NY, road signs point toward Manhattan, New Haven Connecticut, Upper Level, Njtp South: Hackensack, Gsp South and Gsp North - among others.
Manhattan
New Haven Connecticut
Upper Level
Njtp South: Hackensack
Gsp South
Gsp North
Newark
Mahwah
New York State Thruway North: Albany
Founded 1868
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 12m. Total distance: 155.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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