Trip from Buffalo, NY to Ithaca, NY

Drive Time

3h 21m

Distance

153.6 mi

247 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$25

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min

4 AM

3h 9m ★

6 AM

3h 21m

8 AM

3h 45m

10 AM

3h 29m

12 PM

3h 27m

3 PM

3h 31m

5 PM

3h 44m

8 PM

3h 14m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

Ithaca, NY

Beth Fitzpatrick

Trip Overview

The drive from Buffalo, NY to Ithaca, NY covers 153.6 miles and takes about 3h 21m 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, State Highway 96, State Highway 89 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 94.2 miles on New York State Thruway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.01 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

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

76.8 miles from Buffalo, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 32m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 21m drive with frequent turns across 153.6 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 36 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

New York State Thruway is the longest continuous segment at about 94.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Washington Street.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 153.6 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 0.3 miles (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (Elm Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 22 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0.3 mi into trip | ~1m in | Washington Street

Turn left onto Washington Street

Navigation decision point

0.8 mi into trip | ~2m in | Elm Street

Turn left onto Elm Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

7.9 mi into trip | ~12m in

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

Use the right lane. Toward I 90 East: Niagara Falls, Albany

102.4 mi into trip | ~2h 2m in

Take the exit toward NY 14: Geneva, Lyons

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 42 Toward NY 14: Geneva, Lyons

153.5 mi into trip | ~3h 20m in | East Seneca Street

Turn right onto East Seneca Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

Towns Along This Route

Between Buffalo, NY and Ithaca, NY, road signs point toward Albany, Lyons and Waterloo.

Albany

7.9 mi in | ~12m

Lyons

102.4 mi in | ~2h 2m

Waterloo

103.3 mi in | ~2h 3m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
New York State Thruway	94.2 mi	1h 49m
State Highway 96	16.4 mi	23m
State Highway 89	10.1 mi	13m
Trumansburg Road	8.8 mi	13m
Kensington Expressway	6.8 mi	9m
Ovid Street	2.8 mi	4m
Ernsberger Road	2.4 mi	4m
Townline Road	1.8 mi	3m

Longest stretch: New York State Thruway — 94.2 mi, about 1h 49m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Buffalo, NY and Ithaca, NY.

Start on NY 384

0.1 mi · 18 sec · Niagara Square

Continue on Court Street

0.2 mi · 27 sec · Court Street

Continue on Lafayette Square

372 ft · 18 sec · Lafayette Square

Turn left onto Washington Street

0.2 mi · 45 sec · Washington Street

Turn right onto Genesee Street

0.3 mi · 49 sec · Genesee Street

Turn left onto Elm Street

263 ft · 7 sec · Elm Street

Use the left lane.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 15 sec

Toward NY 33 East

Continue on NY 33

6.8 mi · 9 min · Kensington Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 46 sec

Toward I 90 East: Niagara Falls, Albany Use the right lane.

Merge onto I 90

94 mi · 1 hr 49 min · New York State Thruway

Use the straight / right lanes.

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 50 sec

Exit 42 Toward NY 14: Geneva, Lyons Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight right at fork

213 ft · 5 sec

Merge onto NY 14

0.3 mi · 28 sec · NY 14

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 35 sec

Toward Waterloo

Turn straight onto NY 96

6.2 mi · 9 min · State Highway 96

Continue on NY 96

0.2 mi · 17 sec · North Road

Turn right onto NY 96

0.9 mi · 1 min · North Virginia Street

Continue on NY 96

0.3 mi · 26 sec · Washington Street

Turn right onto NY 96

346 ft · 17 sec · West River Street

Turn left onto NY 96

0.3 mi · 38 sec · Fayette Street

Continue on NY 96

6.2 mi · 8 min · State Highway 96

Turn left onto NY 336

1.8 mi · 3 min · Townline Road

At end of road, turn right onto NY 414

2.8 mi · 4 min · Ovid Street

Turn left onto CR 128

2.4 mi · 4 min · Ernsberger Road

At end of road, turn right onto NY 89

10 mi · 13 min · State Highway 89

Turn right onto CR 141

0.9 mi · 1 min · County Road 141

Continue on CR 141A

1.5 mi · 2 min · Powell Road

Turn left onto NY 96

4.0 mi · 5 min · State Highway 96

Continue on NY 96

0.1 mi · 11 sec · Trumansburg Road

Continue on NY 96

1.4 mi · 2 min · West Main Street

Continue on NY 96

8.7 mi · 12 min · Trumansburg Road

Continue on NY 96

1.0 mi · 2 min · Cliff Street

Continue on NY 96

1.1 mi · 2 min · West Buffalo Street

Use the straight lane.

Turn right onto Parker Street

330 ft · 16 sec · Parker Street

Turn right onto East Seneca Street

0.1 mi · 21 sec · East Seneca Street

Use the straight lane.

Arrive at destination

NY 79

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 76.8 miles from Buffalo, NY, or about 1h 32m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94.2 miles.

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 80 miles or 1h 36m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 76.8 miles or 1h 32m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 39m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ithaca, 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 153.6 miles and 3h 21m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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.

The longest stretch is on New York State Thruway for about 94.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 76.8 mi from Buffalo, NY · 1h 32m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Thompson, NY

77 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

Victor, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Rochester, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 76.8 miles from Buffalo, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before New York State Thruway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 94.2 miles.

Arriving in Ithaca, NY

The final approach into Ithaca, 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 Ithaca, 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

$25.01 one way

$50.01 round trip

$4.14/gal 25.4 MPG avg 54 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.48	$27.10	$54.20
premium	$4.88	$29.53	$59.06
diesel	$5.64	$34.12	$68.25

Estimated Tolls: $4.71

New York State Thruway (94.2 mi) $4.71

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

$25

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$55–$80

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 53.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	46.1	$16.13	$7.37
Efficient EV	38.4	$13.44	$6.14
EV Truck/SUV	61.4	$21.50	$9.83

Gas CO2

54 kg

EV CO2

18 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast data refreshed 1 hour ago

Origin

Buffalo, NY

Morning in Buffalo on Monday

Local time

9:35 AM

EDT

Current temp

66°F

Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy

SW 17 to 28 mph 82% chance Live forecast

Wind Advisory

Wind Advisory issued April 13 at 12:55AM EDT until April 13 at 2:00PM EDT by NWS Burlington VT

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 13 at 12:22AM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY

Destination

Ithaca, NY

Morning in Ithaca on Monday

Local time

9:35 AM

EDT

Current temp

53°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

50°F

Thompson, NY

77 mi in

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 cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

3h 21m on the road

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Buffalo, NY to Ithaca, NY covers 153.6 miles and takes about 3h 21m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are New York State Thruway, State Highway 96, State Highway 89. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 76.8 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 $25.01 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Between Buffalo, NY and Ithaca, NY, road signs point toward Albany, Lyons and Waterloo.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

Ithaca, NY to Buffalo, NY

Plan the drive back the other way.

153.3 mi 2h 45m

Explore more options from Buffalo, NY or browse trips ending in Ithaca, NY.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NY road trips.

Explore maps for Buffalo, NY or Ithaca, NY on MapSof.net.

Trip from Buffalo, NY to Ithaca, NY

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Ithaca, NY

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Buffalo, NY

Ithaca, NY

Same local time

13 degrees cooler at arrival

3h 21m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

Was this route helpful?

Explore More

Continue From Ithaca, NY

More from Buffalo, NY

More trips to Ithaca, NY