Origin
Buffalo, NY
Evening in Buffalo on Monday
Local time
5:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Buffalo, NY to Elmhurst, NY
Drive Time
6h 48m
Distance
391.8 mi
631 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$64
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 37m
★
6 AM
6h 48m
8 AM
7h 12m
10 AM
6h 57m
12 PM
6h 54m
3 PM
6h 58m
5 PM
7h 11m
8 PM
6h 41m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Elmhurst, NY
Mel Audelo
Trip Overview
The drive from Buffalo, NY to Elmhurst, NY covers 391.8 miles and takes about 6h 48m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Perkins Drive, South Elmwood Avenue, Church Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $63.78 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
195.9 miles from Buffalo, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 24m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 48m drive with frequent turns across 391.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 60 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Perkins Drive is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 48m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Buffalo, NY to Elmhurst, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Perkins Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Elmwood Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Church Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 190 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 190 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Niagara Thruway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 90 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| New York State Thruway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Perkins Drive
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buffalo, NY and Elmhurst, NY.
1
Start on Niagara Square
102 ft
·
3 sec
·
Niagara Square
2
Exit the rotary onto Perkins Drive
322 ft
·
16 sec
·
Perkins Drive
3
At the end of the road, turn left onto South Elmwood Avenue
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
South Elmwood Avenue
4
Keep slight right
207 ft
·
8 sec
5
At the end of the road, turn right onto Church Street
502 ft
·
16 sec
·
Church Street
6
Take the exit straight toward I 190, NY 5 West: Skyway, Peace Bridge, Canada
174 ft
·
4 sec
·
I 190, NY 5 West: Skyway, Peace Bridge, Canada
7
Keep slight left to continue on I 190 South, NY 5 West: Skyway
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
I 190 South, NY 5 West: Skyway
8
Merge slight left onto Niagara Thruway
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Niagara Thruway
9
Keep slight right to continue on I 90 West: Erie
0.4 mi
·
28 sec
·
I 90 West: Erie
10
Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
New York State Thruway
11
Take the exit slight right toward NY 400, NY 16: West Seneca, East Aurora
0.6 mi
·
57 sec
·
NY 400, NY 16: West Seneca, East Aurora
12
Continue on Aurora Expressway
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Aurora Expressway
13
Take the exit slight right toward US 20A, NY 78: East Aurora
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
US 20A, NY 78: East Aurora
14
Turn left onto Main Street
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
Main Street
15
Continue on Big Tree Road
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Big Tree Road
16
Continue on Varysburg Road
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Varysburg Road
17
Continue on West Buffalo Road
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
West Buffalo Road
18
Continue on West Buffalo Street
4.6 mi
·
8 min
·
West Buffalo Street
19
Continue on Perry Center Road
7.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Perry Center Road
20
Continue on Perry Road
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Perry Road
21
Turn right onto Mount Morris Road
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Mount Morris Road
22
Continue on North Main Street
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
North Main Street
23
Continue on Sonyea Road
4.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Sonyea Road
24
Take the ramp slight right
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
25
Merge slight left onto Genesee Expressway
33 mi
·
37 min
·
Genesee Expressway
26
Merge slight right onto Southern Tier Expressway
105 mi
·
2 hr 2 min
·
Southern Tier Expressway
27
Keep slight right to continue on I 81 South: Scranton
53 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
I 81 South: Scranton
28
Keep slight right to continue on I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono
29
Continue on I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, Milford
3.7 mi
·
4 min
·
I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, Milford
30
Keep slight right to continue on I 380 South: Mount Pocono
24 mi
·
25 min
·
I 380 South: Mount Pocono
31
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East: Stroudsburg
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 80 East: Stroudsburg
32
Merge slight right onto Keystone Shortway
71 mi
·
1 hr 27 min
·
Keystone Shortway
33
Take the exit slight right toward US 46 East: Wayne, Clifton, Lincoln Tunnel
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
·
US 46 East: Wayne, Clifton, Lincoln Tunnel
34
Merge slight right
2.1 mi
·
2 min
35
Continue straight
1.6 mi
·
1 min
36
Turn slight left
11 mi
·
11 min
37
Take the exit slight right toward NJ 495 East: Lincoln Tunnel, Kennedy Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
NJ 495 East: Lincoln Tunnel, Kennedy Boulevard
38
Merge slight right
1.1 mi
·
1 min
39
Take the exit slight right toward Weehawken, Hoboken, Ferries to New York City
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
·
Weehawken, Hoboken, Ferries to New York City
40
Continue on South Marginal Highway
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
South Marginal Highway
41
Turn right onto Boulevard East
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Boulevard East
42
Take the ramp right toward Lincoln Tunnel, New York City
125 ft
·
15 sec
·
Lincoln Tunnel, New York City
43
Turn right onto Lincoln Tunnel access
0.2 mi
·
57 sec
·
Lincoln Tunnel access
44
Merge slight left onto Lincoln Tunnel
1.6 mi
·
4 min
·
Lincoln Tunnel
45
Keep slight right to continue on Dyer Avenue
266 ft
·
7 sec
·
Dyer Avenue
46
Keep slight right to continue on 36th Street, Downtown, Madison Square Garden
335 ft
·
8 sec
·
36th Street, Downtown, Madison Square Garden
47
Continue on Dyer Avenue
351 ft
·
20 sec
·
Dyer Avenue
48
Turn left onto West 36th Street
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
West 36th Street
49
Take the ramp straight toward I 495: Queens-Midtown Tunnel
69 ft
·
2 sec
·
I 495: Queens-Midtown Tunnel
50
Keep slight left
2.5 mi
·
4 min
51
Take the exit slight right toward I 278: Staten Island, Bronx, LaGuardia Airport
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
·
I 278: Staten Island, Bronx, LaGuardia Airport
52
Keep slight left to continue on I 495 Alternate: Maurice Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 495 Alternate: Maurice Avenue
53
Keep slight right to continue on Maurice Avenue
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
Maurice Avenue
54
Turn straight onto Borden Avenue
285 ft
·
16 sec
·
Borden Avenue
55
Turn left onto Maurice Avenue
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Maurice Avenue
56
Continue on Maurice Avenue
223 ft
·
8 sec
·
Maurice Avenue
57
Continue on 51st Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
51st Avenue
58
Turn slight right onto Queens Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
57 sec
·
Queens Boulevard
59
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
43 ft
·
2 sec
·
Grand Avenue
60
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 195.9 miles from Buffalo, NY, or about 3h 24m into the drive.
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 86 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 195.9 miles or 3h 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 5h 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elmhurst, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 391.8 miles and 6h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 86 miles from Buffalo, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 195.9 mi from Buffalo, NY · 3h 24m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
196 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 86 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 195.9 miles from Buffalo, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Elmhurst, NY
The final approach into Elmhurst, 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 Elmhurst, NY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$63.78 one way
$127.57 round trip
$4.14/gal
25.4 MPG avg
137 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $69.12 | $138.24 |
| premium | $4.88 | $75.32 | $150.64 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $87.04 | $174.09 |
Estimated Tolls: $16.00
Lincoln Tunnel
$16.00
Niagara Thruway
$0.00
New York State Thruway
$0.00
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
$64
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$105–$130
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 137.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 117.5 | 1 | $41.14 | $18.81 |
| Efficient EV | 98 | 1 | $34.28 | $15.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 156.7 | 1 | $54.85 | $25.08 |
Gas CO2
137 kg
EV CO2
46 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Elmhurst, NY
Evening in Elmhurst on Monday
Local time
5:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
13 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 48m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Buffalo, NY to Elmhurst, NY covers 391.8 miles and takes about 6h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Perkins Drive, South Elmwood Avenue, Church Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 195.9 miles from Buffalo, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $63.78 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 48m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Buffalo, NY to Elmhurst, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Buffalo, NY to Elmhurst, NY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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