Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
8h 2m
Distance
380 mi
612 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$63
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Eltingville, NY
Peter Olexa
Buffalo, NY to Eltingville, NY is 380 miles and takes about 8h 2m via Southern Tier Expressway, I 81, and Keystone Shortway, with a fuel budget near $63 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive focuses on the Northeast region, taking you across New York and into Pennsylvania before returning to New York. It's a highway-heavy trip, best suited for those who prefer covering ground efficiently. With a recommended two-day duration, you can break up the journey comfortably, making it a manageable drive for most travelers.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
190 miles from Buffalo, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 2m into the drive .
The largest city in New York State's Niagara Frontier, Buffalo is a city full of surprises. Though Buffalo is sometimes the butt of jokes about chicken wings, its long-suffering sports teams, and the mountains of snow under which it is supposedly buried each winter, those in the know tell a different story: one of vibrant nightlife, world-class museums and cultural attractions, tight-knit neighborhoods with strong community spirit – and the sunniest summers in Northeastern United States.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
This route is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 74% of it utilizing major expressways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Southern Tier Expressway, which offers the longest uninterrupted stretch at 104.5 miles. While the journey involves some interstate travel, the inclusion of routes like the Keystone Shortway can offer a slightly different driving experience compared to a pure interstate loop. Expect a consistent pace for much of the drive, allowing for relatively quick progress.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern Tier Expressway and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 33 significant decision points across 380 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 7.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Keep slight left at fork toward I 190 South, NY 5 West: Skyway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 90 West: Erie
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward NY 400, NY 16: West Seneca, East Aurora
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6 toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto US 206 toward SH 183 North, US 206 South: Netcong, Somerville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Buffalo, NY and Eltingville, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford, Sh 183 North, Somerville and Princeton.
Mt Pocono
Milford
Sh 183 North
Somerville
Princeton
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Tier Expressway | 104.5 mi | 2h 2m |
| I 81 | 53.4 mi | 1h 3m |
| Keystone Shortway | 44.4 mi | 57m |
| Genesee Expressway | 32.6 mi | 37m |
| I 380 | 23.6 mi | 25m |
| I 287 | 22 mi | 25m |
| US 206 | 17.9 mi | 28m |
| Aurora Expressway | 12.4 mi | 14m |
Step-by-step road directions between Buffalo, NY and Eltingville, NY.
Start on NY 384
Continue on Perkins Drive
At end of road, turn left onto NY 5
Keep slight right at fork
At end of road, turn right onto Church Street
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 190
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 90
Take the exit
Continue on NY 400
Take the exit
Turn left onto US 20A; NY 78
Continue on US 20A; NY 78
Continue on US 20A
Continue on US 20A
Continue on US 20A
Continue on US 20A
Continue on CR 64
Turn right onto NY 36
Continue on NY 36
Continue on NY 36
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 390
Merge onto I 86
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
Continue on I 84; I 380
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 80
Take the exit onto US 206
Keep slight right at fork onto US 206
Continue on US 206
Take the exit
Merge onto I 287
Keep slight left at fork onto I 287
Continue on NJ 440
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto NY 440
Keep slight left at fork onto KWV
Take the exit
Turn straight onto Drumgoole Road East
Turn right onto Arden Avenue
Turn left onto Amboy Road
Turn left onto Richmond Avenue
Arrive at destination
Given the 8-hour drive time and recommended two-day pace, consider departing mid-morning on your first day to allow for a leisurely start and reach a comfortable stopping point. With two designated stops and a longest stretch of over 100 miles, plan your fuel and rest breaks accordingly, especially as you transition between the Southern Tier Expressway and I-81. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the Pennsylvania section; while the overall fuel cost is estimated at $63, it's always wise to top off when convenient on longer highway stretches.
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.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 84 miles or 1h 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 190 miles or 4h 2m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 190 miles or 4h 2m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 38m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Eltingville, 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.
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Buffalo, NY
Aim for roughly 190 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Eltingville, NY
Aim for roughly 190 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 190 mi from Buffalo, NY · 4h 2m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
190 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Ithaca, NYNight 1
190 mi · about 4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Ithaca, NY after about 190 miles or 4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsA short stop after about 84 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 190 miles from Buffalo, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Southern Tier Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 104.5 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 190 miles or 4 hours on the road.
The final approach into Eltingville, 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 Eltingville, NY.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Eltingville, NY with some flexibility left in the schedule.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$62.55 one way
$125.10 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $67.64 | $135.27 |
| premium | $4.92 | $73.65 | $147.30 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $83.90 | $167.80 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.30
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
$63
Tolls
$0
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$193–$303
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 133 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 114 | 1 | $39.90 | $18.24 |
| Efficient EV | 95 | 1 | $33.25 | $15.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 152 | 1 | $53.20 | $24.32 |
Gas CO2
133 kg
EV CO2
44 kg (67% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Buffalo on Saturday
Local time
1:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Afternoon in Eltingville on Saturday
Local time
1:07 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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