It extends for 2.91 miles (4.68 km) from an intersection with NY 9R in the town of Colonie to a junction with U.S. Route 4 (US 4) in the city of Troy.

NY 9R, known as Columbia Street west of this point, turns north to follow Baker Avenue while NY 470 heads east on the two-lane Columbia Street into Cohoes.

At the first intersection east of the overpass, NY 470 turns north to parallel the old line along Bedford Street.

Here, the surroundings become more commercial as the route heads toward the city's historic downtown.

NY 470 heads east across both of the densely populated islands and over the Hudson River via the 112th Street Bridge into the Lansingburgh neighborhood of Troy, in Rensselaer County.