Albany NY to Syracuse NY drive: Best stops, distance & time
The best road trip stops on the Albany to Syracuse are Schenectady NY, Utica NY and the International Boxing Hall of Fame. The distance from Albany NY to Syracuse NY is 147 miles, with a 2h8m driving time.
Planning an Albany to Syracuse road trip itinerary
The Albany to Syracuse drive connects two of the bigger cities in upstate New York.
Albany is the capital of New York State, and the New York State Capitol is the top attraction. It’s a bombastic piece of 19th century opulence, and walk-in tours are available.
The other key attraction is the New York State Museum, which covers a massive range of topics. One minute it’s the ice age, the next it’s fire engines or birds.
Other top Albany experiences include after dark ghost tours.
Good Syracuse experiences include axe-throwing, scavenger hunts and the Erie Canal Museum.
Albany NY to Syracuse NY distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Albany to Syracuse is 147 miles. That makes for a driving time of around two hours and eight minutes. The quickest route is along the I-90.
The best stops to add to an Albany NY to Syracuse NY road trip itinerary are Schenectady NY, Utica NY and the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Albany to Syracuse road trip attractions: Schenectady NY
Schenectady is a county seat, with a good handful of things to do. MiSci is a classic hands-on science museum, although the sections have a more interesting focus than those elsewhere. The exhibits on design are particularly good.
There’s also the VIA Aquarium, where you can feed stingrays and watch the reptile shows.
Best stops between Albany and Syracuse: Utica NY
Munson, which is both a school of art and an art museum, is the top attraction in Utica. It’s inside an architecturally-striking International School building, and has a solid art collection. The strong European Modernism section includes works by the likes of Dalí and Kandinsky, but the American art section is arguably more interesting.
While in Utica, you can also stop at Utica Zoo.
Albany to Syracuse drive: Albany International Boxing Hall of Fame
In Canastota NY, the International Boxing Hall of Fame celebrates the greatest boxers of all time. There are induction ceremonies every year, but for most visitors, the IBHAK is a chance to learn more about great pugilists from Muhammad Ali to Carl Froch.
As a museum, it’s not as good as it could be, and it feels oddly low budget compared to Halls of Fame for other sports.
More Albany NY road trips
Albany NY to Chicago | Albany to Niagara Falls | Albany NY to Syracuse NY.
More Syracuse road trips
Syracuse to Buffalo | Syracuse to Chicago | Syracuse to Niagara Falls | Syracuse to Rochester.