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Create accountDrive Time
47m
Distance
35 mi
56 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
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station data
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Alabama, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
The drive from Buffalo, NY to Alabama, NY covers 35 miles and takes about 47m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on New York State Thruway, Kensington Expressway, Alleghany Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 19.7 miles on New York State Thruway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.70 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
17.5 miles from Buffalo, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 24m into the drive .
Expect a 47m drive with frequent turns across 35 miles of local and secondary roads.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
281 ft
Total Descent
234 ft
Highest Point
867 ft
~30.6 mi in
Elevation Range
269 ft
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Washington Street.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 35 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (Elm Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto Washington Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto Elm Street
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward NY 33 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Take the exit toward I 90 East: Niagara Falls, Albany
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward NY 77: Pembroke, Medina
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Between Buffalo, NY and Alabama, NY, road signs point toward Albany and Medina.
Albany
Medina
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New York State Thruway | 19.7 mi | 23m |
| Kensington Expressway | 6.8 mi | 9m |
| Alleghany Road | 6.6 mi | 9m |
| Genesee Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Washington Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Court Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Niagara Square | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Lafayette Square | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Buffalo, NY and Alabama, NY.
Start on NY 384
Continue on Court Street
Continue on Lafayette Square
Turn left onto Washington Street
Turn right onto Genesee Street
Turn left onto Elm Street
Take the exit
Continue on NY 33
Take the exit
Merge onto I 90
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Turn left onto NY 77
Turn right onto Lewiston Road
Arrive at destination
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 35 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 17.5 miles or 24m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 39m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alabama, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Buffalo, NY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Buffalo, NY
This is one driving day of about 35 miles and 47m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 17.5 mi from Buffalo, NY · 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 17.5 miles from Buffalo, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Alabama, NY usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Alabama, NY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$5.70 one way
$11.40 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $6.17 | $12.35 |
| premium | $4.88 | $6.73 | $13.46 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $7.78 | $15.55 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.98
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$32–$57
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.68 | $1.68 |
| Efficient EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.06 | $1.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14 | 0 | $4.90 | $2.24 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Buffalo on Sunday
Local time
4:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
32°F
Mostly Cloudy
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 1:11AM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Destination
Afternoon in Alabama on Sunday
Local time
4:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
31°F
Mostly Cloudy
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 12 at 1:11AM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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