Albany Exit 24 on the New York State Thruway, where I-90 East and I-87 North split toward Albany and Montreal. Photo: Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Few interchanges in New York State spark more mid-trip confusion, last-second lane changes, and bewildered GPS recalculations than Exit 24 in Albany. It is one of Upstate New York’s major highway crossroads, where the north-south route of Interstate 87 meets the east-west route of Interstate 90. Yet to many drivers passing through, the layout can feel completely counterintuitive.
Drivers heading north on I-87 suddenly find that staying on I-87 requires leaving the Thruway mainline, while drivers traveling east on I-90 discover that remaining on the Thruway carries them south on I-87 instead. Add the disappearance of the old Exit 24 toll plaza after the conversion to cashless tolling, and this is an interchange where reading the overhead signs early matters. Here is the straightforward breakdown of why the highway identities change at Exit 24, why the exit numbers reset, and how to navigate the major transitions.
Important: Highway signs, lane assignments, construction conditions, and traffic patterns can change. Use this guide for trip planning, but always follow posted signs, current traffic controls, and real-time navigation when approaching the interchange.
1. The Highway Identity Crisis: Why Exit 24 Confuses Drivers
To navigate Exit 24 without stress, you first have to understand the cartographic quirk that traps unfamiliar drivers: The New York State Thruway and Interstate 87 are not the same thing.
- From New York City to Albany: The Thruway mainline carries I-87 North.
- At Albany’s Exit 24: The Thruway mainline turns west and carries I-90 West toward Schenectady, Utica, Syracuse, Rochester, and Buffalo.
- What happens to I-87? I-87 leaves the Thruway and continues north on the toll-free Adirondack Northway, running past Saratoga Springs and Lake George to the Canadian border, where Quebec Autoroute 15 continues toward Montreal.
- What happens to I-90? I-90 arrives from the west on the Thruway, leaves the Thruway at Exit 24, and continues east as a toll-free Interstate through Albany. It crosses the Hudson River on the Patroon Island Bridge and later meets the Thruway’s Berkshire Connector at Exit B1 before continuing toward Massachusetts.
The simplest way to think about it is that the Thruway is the physical toll-road system, while I-87 and I-90 are Interstate route designations carried by different portions of that system. At Exit 24, the route numbers split away from the physical Thruway in different directions. The New York State Thruway Authority currently lists Exit 24 as the interchange for Albany, Montreal, I-90 East, and I-87 North.
2. Why the Exit Numbers Reset
Few things disorient out-of-town drivers more than watching exit numbers suddenly start over. Interstate 87 in New York passes through three separate exit-numbering systems:
- The Major Deegan Expressway: I-87 uses the Major Deegan’s exit sequence through the Bronx.
- The New York State Thruway: When the Thruway begins at the New York City line, its mainline exit numbering starts again at Exit 1 and continues north to Exit 24 in Albany before the Thruway turns west as I-90.
- The Adirondack Northway: The Northway has its own exit sequence beginning in the Albany interchange area and continuing north toward the Canadian border.
There is even an unusual bit of history behind the Northway numbers. For decades, drivers went directly from Exit 2 to Exit 4 because a future Exit 3 had been reserved for a planned connection with Interstate 687. That expressway was never built. A modern Exit 3 serving Albany Shaker Road and Albany International Airport finally opened in 2019. Today, drivers leaving Albany encounter Exit 2 for the Central Avenue/Wolf Road area, Exit 3 for Albany Shaker Road and airport access, and Exit 4 for the Wolf Road/Albany Shaker Road area.
3. How to Navigate Albany Exit 24
Scenario A: Driving North from NYC or Downstate to Saratoga Springs, Lake George, or the Adirondacks
This is one of the most common trips and one of the easiest places to make a mistake. As you approach Albany from Catskill and Coxsackie on I-87 North, do not assume that staying on the physical Thruway mainline will keep you on I-87. Beyond the interchange, the Thruway continues west as I-90 toward Schenectady and Buffalo.
- Action: Follow the overhead signs for Exit 24 / I-87 North / I-90 East / Albany / Montreal and move into the signed exit lanes early.
- The Fork: After leaving the Thruway mainline, continue following signs for I-87 North / Montreal to enter the Adirondack Northway. Do not continue onto I-90 East if your destination is Saratoga Springs, Lake George, or the North Country.
Scenario B: Driving East from Syracuse or Utica toward Saratoga Springs or the North Country
Coming east on the Thruway past Schenectady, you are traveling on I-90 East. At Exit 24, I-90 leaves the Thruway. If you remain on the Thruway mainline, the roadway becomes I-87 South toward Kingston and New York City.
- Action: Watch for Exit 24, the left exit for I-87 North / I-90 East / Albany / Montreal.
- The Ramp: Take Exit 24 and then follow the signs for I-87 North / Montreal. The connection places you on the Northway without using local surface streets.
Scenario C: Driving East from Syracuse or Utica toward Downtown Albany, Boston, or Massachusetts
The first move is the same as if you were heading north: leave the Thruway at Exit 24. But after the interchange opens up, stay with I-90 East rather than I-87 North.
- For Downtown Albany: Follow I-90 East and use the appropriate Albany exit for your destination.
- For Boston and Massachusetts: Continue east on I-90 across the Capital Region. Farther east, I-90 joins the Thruway’s Berkshire Connector at Exit B1 and continues toward the Massachusetts Turnpike.
Scenario D: Coming South from Saratoga Springs, Lake George, or the Adirondacks
Coming south on the Northway through Clifton Park and Colonie, I-87 reaches the Albany interchange complex with I-90 and the Thruway. This is where destination signs matter more than trying to memorize a particular lane far in advance.
- If heading to New York City, Westchester, or points south: Follow signs for I-87 South / New York onto the southbound Thruway.
- If heading west toward Syracuse, Rochester, or Buffalo: Follow signs for I-90 West / Buffalo onto the westbound Thruway.
- If heading toward Downtown Albany, Rensselaer, or Boston: Follow signs for I-90 East / Albany / Boston.
4. What Cashless Tolling Changed at Exit 24
For decades, Exit 24 was dominated by a large toll plaza. On busy travel days, traffic slowed as drivers passed through toll booths, collected or surrendered tickets, paid cash, or used E-ZPass lanes. The Thruway’s ticketed system converted to cashless tolling on November 14, 2020. The remaining toll plazas were then removed and the affected ramps and interchanges were realigned, with that final phase completed in 2021.
- Keep Moving: Drivers no longer stop at a staffed toll booth at Exit 24. Tolls are collected electronically through overhead gantries using E-ZPass or Tolls by Mail.
- Choose Your Route Early: Because traffic now moves continuously through the former toll-plaza area, read the overhead signs well in advance and avoid last-second lane changes near the splits.
- Respect Posted and Advisory Speeds: Exit 24 still contains sweeping connector ramps and directional changes. Follow the posted signs rather than treating the former toll-plaza area as an open straightaway.
Drivers who use the Thruway regularly may also want to read our guide to the history of E-ZPass in New York and how the system works.
Quick-Reference Guide to Albany Exit 24
| Where You Are Coming From | Where You Want to Go | What to Follow at Exit 24 |
|---|---|---|
| Thruway North from NYC | Saratoga Springs / Lake George / Adirondacks / Montreal | Exit 24 → Follow I-87 North / Montreal |
| Thruway North from NYC | Schenectady / Syracuse / Rochester / Buffalo | Stay on the Thruway mainline as it continues west as I-90 |
| Thruway East from Syracuse | Saratoga Springs / Lake George / Adirondacks / Montreal | Left Exit 24 → Follow I-87 North / Montreal |
| Thruway East from Syracuse | Downtown Albany / Rensselaer / Boston / Massachusetts | Left Exit 24 → Follow I-90 East / Albany |
| Northway South from Saratoga | New York City / Westchester / points south | Follow I-87 South / New York |
| Northway South from Saratoga | Syracuse / Rochester / Buffalo | Follow I-90 West / Buffalo |
| Northway South from Saratoga | Albany / Rensselaer / Boston | Follow I-90 East / Albany / Boston |
For more help navigating New York’s highway system, see our New York–Canada Border Crossings guide and our New York–Massachusetts Border Crossings guide. Travelers using the Thruway can also read our look at New York State Thruway rest stops.
Sources
New York State Thruway Authority — Interchange/Exit Listing
New York State Thruway Authority — Cashless Tolling and Environmental Stewardship
New York State Department of Transportation — Interstate Highway History and Trivia
New York State Department of Transportation — Completion of the Northway Exit 3 Airport Connector
Updated September 20, 2026.
Albany Exit 24 Explained: How I-87, I-90, the Thruway, and the Northway Meet article published on ClassicNewYorkHistory.com © 2026
