The route proceeds northwest along a two-rural street that parallels US 9 until the intersection with Day Road, where it turns westward.

A short distance northward, NY 9J crosses into Rensselaer County and enters the town of Schodack.

The route continues through Castleton-on-Hudson's northern portion as North Main Street before leaving the village for more rural areas along the banks of the Hudson River.

[3] Not far from Stony Point, the route crosses into the town of East Greenbush, a suburb of the city of Rensselaer.

The route passes east of an oil refinery for Sunoco as it enters Rensselaer, where NY 9J serves several other commercial and residential buildings along a stretch leading to an interchange with US 9 and US 20 (Columbia Turnpike).