How far is Boston, NY from Albany, NY?

The driving distance from Boston, NY to Albany, NY is about 305.6 miles (491.8 km), with a travel time of about 04h 49m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 253.1 miles (407.4 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 38m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
305.62 mi
04h 49m
Flight
253.15 mi
407.4 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Boston.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
253.15 mi
Kilometers
407.4 km
Flight Time
00h 30m

Driving Distance

Road route
305.62 mi
Kilometers
491.84 km
Drive Time
04h 49m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 49m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Albany
Sat, Apr 18, 10:51 AM EDT
Return by in Boston
Sat, Apr 18, 3:40 PM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Boston
2026-04-18T06:02
Arrive Albany
Sat, Apr 18, 10:51 AM EDT
Route Timing
04h 49m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:49 AM to 12:49 PM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
7:22 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Boston
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Van Buren
NY

Town in New York, United States

From Boston
152.1 mi
02h 24m
To Albany
153.5 mi
02h 24m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
72°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 20 mph S
Destination
68°F
Saturday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
5 to 12 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Boston and Albany.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Boston and Albany.

  1. 1

    Start on Boston Cross Road

    10 m · 1 sec · Boston Cross Road

  2. 2

    Continue on Mill Street

    2383 ft · 2 min · Mill Street

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto West Tillen Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · West Tillen Road

  4. 4

    Continue on Rice Road

    123 m · 8 sec · Rice Road

  5. 5

    Take the ramp right

    1696 ft · 41 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    14.9 mi · 18 min

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway

    279.9 mi · 5 hr 25 min · New York State Thruway

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on I 87 North, I 90 East: Albany, Montreal

    1.2 mi · 2 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    4.9 mi · 7 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward US 9: Loudonville, Arbor Hill

    1529 ft · 29 sec

  11. 11

    Keep slight right to continue on US 9 South: Arbor Hill, Henry Johnson Boulevard

    1488 ft · 28 sec

  12. 12

    Turn straight onto US 9

    1444 ft · 22 sec · US 9

  13. 13

    Continue on Henry Johnson Boulevard

    2809 ft · 1 min · Henry Johnson Boulevard

  14. 14

    Turn left onto Central Avenue

    155 m · 17 sec · Central Avenue

  15. 15

    Turn slight left onto Washington Avenue

    2658 ft · 1 min · Washington Avenue

  16. 16

    Turn right

    9 m · 2 sec

  17. 17

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Boston and Albany.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
17 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
4
2 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
5.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
New York State Thruway
280 mi · 92%
Rice Road
15.3 mi · 5%
I 87 North
6.05 mi · 2%
West Tillen Road
1.11 mi
US 9
0.56 mi
Henry Johnson Boulevard
0.53 mi
Longest Stretch

New York State Thruway

Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway

280 mi · 05h 25m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 49m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+52.5 mi
253.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Van Buren
02h 24m from Boston
Leave By
7:22 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Boston and Partly Sunny near Albany.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Boston to Albany?

The road trip is about 305.6 miles (491.8 km) and usually takes 04h 49m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Van Buren is a useful midpoint, sitting about 152.1 miles from Boston and 153.5 miles from Albany.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 253.1 miles (407.4 km), while the road route adds roughly 52.5 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:22 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $43.22 one way or $86.43 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 95.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Boston and Partly Sunny near Albany.

Stop Ideas Near Van Buren

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Van Buren and the surrounding midpoint area.
City Hall Cafe
Coffee break 10.7 mi away

City Hall Cafe

Syracuse , NY
300 S State St, Syracuse, NY 13202
Rating 4.6/5 32 reviews Coffee shop
Syracuse City Hall
Meeting point 10.7 mi away

Syracuse City Hall

Syracuse , NY
233 E Washington St, Syracuse, NY 13202
Rating 4.0/5 26 reviews City Hall

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Van Buren.

RAIL

Empire Expo Center

8 mi away
581 State Fair Blvd
RAIL

William F. Walsh Regional Transportation Center

13 mi away
131 Alliance Bank Parkway
RAIL

Rome station

70 mi away
6599 Martin Street
RAIL

Union Station

88 mi away
321 Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Boston and Albany. Straight-line distance: 253.15 mi (407.4 km).

Boston

#1 Boston

Town in New York, USA

Population8,069
Coordinates42.6289500, -78.7375300
Altitude287
CountryUnited States
Albany

#2 Albany

The capital of New York State.

Population95,429
Coordinates42.6525800, -73.7562300
Altitude45
CountryUnited States
Start: Boston Cross Road (-78.737523, 42.628929)
End: Washington Avenue (-73.756162, 42.652644)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 492 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)10h 10m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 38m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)06h 06m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 05m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 21m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 48m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.78 gal
40.82 L · about $43.22
Round trip
$86.43
21.56 gal · 81.64 L
Estimated CO2
95.8 kg one way
Round trip: 191.6 kg / 422 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.01 $43.22 $86.43
Mid-grade $4.48 $48.31 $96.61
Premium $4.86 $52.40 $104.80
Diesel $4.69 $50.60 $101.20

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in New York · Apr 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Boston and Albany. The current time is 06:02:40.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.