We are driving through Albany next saturday the 17th on our way to Vermont. I prefer to drive through cities as opposed to the bypass beltways and was wondering how I-787 through town would work? It looks like it parrallels the Hudson for a while and would I link back up on I-90 or go to 7 if that is a nonstop throughway? Is 7 an expressway or are there traffic stops on the link back to I-87? We are driving up the state thruway and wondering if we will be hit with a lot of tolls on our detour. We should hit town about 1230-130 ss. patricks day afternoon. All suggestions are appreciated. Thank you.

Assuming you are starting near New York City or Westchester, I might suggest an alterate route. The Taconic State Parkway runs from Westchester to Columbia County, New York.

From there, it's about 50 miles to Bennington, Vermont.

When I skiied in Vermont in my younger days, I would occassionally take the Taconic back to NY as it is a very scenic drive with limited traffic. It doesn't head through anything more than small towns.

Getting from the end of the Taconic to Vermont will require a few twists and turns and for that last portion, I'd suggest using mapquest for the exact route.

Rte 7 between I-787 and I-87 is freeway.

You don't say where you're coming from. South or West.

If you're coming from the south then you will take the NYS Thruway to Exit 23, get on 787 and take that to Rt7 East. Once you cross the Hudson Rt 7 is no longer freeway. There are a few lights as you pass through scenic Troy, but then you'll be on open 2 lane road all the way to Vermont.

If you are coming from the West, then get off the NYS Thruway at Exit 24, Take I-87 North to Rt 7, then follow 7 to VT.

The Taconic is a more bucolic drive, but from NY City the Thruway, through Albany & Troy as I described is a faster ride to VT. Speed limit, both posted and actual is faster on the Thruway. Definitely watch out for NYS Troopers, as there are numerous blind speed trap spots along the way, or so I've heard.

The OP says "we are driving up the state thruway". To me that means coming up NYThurway/I-87 North from the south.

They're also not crossing into VT from Rte 7. They are continuing north on I-87, from what I understand. They just want to see downtown Albany.

Ah. I think you are correct. I just assumed they'd be taking Rt 7 to southern VT, and not continuing further north on the Northway (I-87).

Yes, coming from the south I787 through Albany will work fine - it's actually quicker than taking exit 24 then connecting to I87. You'll get a quick glimpse of downtown Albany - the Rockefeller buildings, the Egg, D&H building, maybe Nipper the RCA dog just north of downtown.

I-787 is a good way to see downtown Albany and might even be quicker than if you stayed on I-87 (NYS Thruway \Northway). The NYS Thruway system changes from I-87 to I-90 outside of Albany. Just take it to Route 7 (west)from I-287 back to I-87 north of Albany as previously suggested.

Thanks for the replies. We will take I-787 through Albany to rt. 7 back onto the I-87 north. Obviously I need to pay the toll when I exit the thruway. Will I have any tolls through Albany (rt. 7?) or on 787? We are going to Killington, Vt. and prefer to drive through Albany as opposed to around Albany. One more clarification. Rt. 7 is an expressway back onto 87 right? I am not going to lose much time with stop and go traffic right? We are going through about 1pm on St. Patricks Day Saturday. Thanks again Fodorites.

I-787 an the Rte 7 link back to I-87 are both freeways. Freeway = no-toll expressway.

BTW, I'll let people who drive this route often to tell you if it's faster and better to indeed take Rte 7 east into Vermont from Albany, then take US7 north towards Killington.

That may be a better route, but I'm not sure.

Best route to Killington is the Northway (I-87) to Exit 20/Ft Ann., then Rt 149 East to VT.