The origins of NY 418 date back to the 19th century when Thurman Station and Warrensburg were first connected by way of a road.

The highway has remained mainly unchanged since, save for the replacement of its bridges over the Schroon and the Hudson Rivers in the 1930s and 1940s, respectively.

The route continues along a northeasterly trek to Thurman Station, where it intersects with River Road in the center of the isolated community.

[3] On the opposite riverbank, the route turns eastward to follow the eastern bank of the Schroon River through an undeveloped portion of Warrensburg comprising little more than forests.

[3] The origins of NY 418 date back to 1896, by which time a road had been constructed between Thurman Station and Warrensburg.

On June 12, 1912, the contract for the project was awarded to the Joseph Walker Construction Company of Albany for $35,776[5][6] (equivalent to $1,129,535 in 2025).

[11] At some point in time, the entire length of NY 418 was included as part of the Dude Ranch Trail, a New York State Scenic Byway that connects Lake George to the Hudson River.