This 259.8-mile drive from Buffalo, NY, to Morristown, NY, is a manageable one-day trip, estimated to take about 5 hours and 6 minutes. The route primarily utilizes the New York State Thruway and I-81, offering a fairly direct path through the Northeast region. With a fuel cost estimated at $43, it's an economical option for a single day's adventure. The journey feels like a mixed drive, balancing highway speeds with potential for more local road experiences. This trip is well-suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop.
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
129.9 miles from Buffalo, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 34m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 6m. Total distance: 259.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
Expect a mixed drive on this 259.8-mile journey, with 45% of the route on highways. You'll encounter a substantial 138.6-mile stretch on the New York State Thruway, providing a good opportunity for consistent speed. Later, the route transitions to I-81 and then NY-37, which may offer a change in scenery and driving pace. This combination means you'll experience both efficient highway travel and potentially more varied local road conditions as you approach Morristown.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 19 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 138.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Washington Street.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 259.8 miles you will encounter 14 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 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 14 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.3 mi into trip|~1m in|Washington Street
Turn left onto Washington Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.8 mi into trip|~2m in|Elm Street
Turn left onto Elm Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
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
8
146.8 mi into trip|~2h 53m in
Take the exit toward I 81: Watertown, Binghamton
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 36
Toward I 81: Watertown, Binghamton
6
216.8 mi into trip|~4h 15m in
Take the exit toward NY 342: Black River, Carthage
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 48
Toward NY 342: Black River, Carthage
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Buffalo, NY and Morristown, NY, road signs point toward Binghamton, Watertown and Carthage.
Binghamton
146.8 mi in|~2h 53m
Watertown
147.5 mi in|~2h 55m
Carthage
216.8 mi in|~4h 15m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New York State Thruway
138.6 mi
2h 40m
I 81
68.8 mi
1h 19m
NY 37
41.3 mi
47m
Kensington Expressway
6.8 mi
9m
Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
NY 342
0.6 mi
<1m
Genesee Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Washington Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 138.6 mi, about 2h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buffalo, NY and Morristown, NY.
1
Start on NY 384
0.1 mi·18 sec·Niagara Square
2
Continue on Court Street
0.2 mi·27 sec·Court Street
3
Continue on Lafayette Square
372 ft·18 sec·Lafayette Square
4
Turn left onto Washington Street
0.2 mi·45 sec·Washington Street
5
Turn right onto Genesee Street
0.3 mi·49 sec·Genesee Street
6
Turn left onto Elm Street
263 ft·7 sec·Elm Street
Use the left lane.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·15 sec
Toward NY 33 East
8
Continue on NY 33
6.8 mi·9 min·Kensington Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·46 sec
Toward I 90 East: Niagara Falls, AlbanyUse the right lane.
10
Merge onto I 90
139 mi·2 hr 40 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Take the exit
497 ft·14 sec
Exit 36Toward I 81: Watertown, BinghamtonUse the slight right lane.
12
Continue on this road
0.6 mi·1 min·this road
Exit 36Toward I 81: Watertown, Binghamton
13
Turn straight
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse Airport, Watertown
14
Merge onto I 81
69 mi·1 hr 19 min·I 81
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·53 sec
Exit 48Toward NY 342: Black River, Carthage
16
Turn straight onto NY 342
0.6 mi·52 sec·NY 342
17
Turn left onto NY 37
41 mi·47 min·NY 37
18
Turn left onto Main Street
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Street
19
Arrive at destination
Main Street
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour, 6-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Buffalo to maximize your daylight and minimize traffic. With only one recommended stop, you can plan your breaks strategically, perhaps around the halfway point or when you transition from the New York State Thruway to I-81. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longer highway stretches, and aim to refuel before you hit the 138.6-mile mark on the Thruway if needed. The estimated fuel cost of $43 makes budgeting straightforward for this single-day trip.
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 129.9 miles from Buffalo, NY, or about 2h 34m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 138.6 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 57 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 129.9 miles or 2h 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Morristown, 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 259.8 miles and 5h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 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 138.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 129.9 mi from Buffalo, NY
· 2h 34m into the drive
The midpoint is around 129.9 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 138.6 miles.
Arriving in Morristown, NY
The final approach into Morristown, 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 Morristown, NY.
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Women's Rights National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Women’s Rights National Historical Park tells the story of the first Women’s Rights Convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York on July 19-20, 1848. It is a story of struggles for civil rights, human r...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 107.5
Harriet Tubman was guided by a deep faith and devotion to family, freedom, and community. After emancipating herself and members of her family, she moved them from Ontario, Canada to Fleming and Aubur...
10 mi from route
~25 min detour
Free
near mile 116.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.76 one way
$85.53 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg91 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$46.24
$92.48
premium
$4.92
$50.35
$100.71
diesel
$5.61
$57.36
$114.72
Estimated Tolls: $6.93
New York State Thruway
(138.6 mi)$6.93
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
$43
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$75–$100
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 90.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
77.9
0
$27.28
$12.47
Efficient EV
65
0
$22.73
$10.39
EV Truck/SUV
103.9
1
$36.37
$16.63
Gas CO2
91 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Buffalo, NY
Evening
in Buffalo on Friday
Local time
6:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 12 mph82% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Morristown, NY
Evening
in Morristown on Friday
Local time
6:52 PM
EDT
Current temp
38°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
29 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
5h 6m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 Morristown, NY covers 259.8 miles and takes about 5h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are New York State Thruway, I 81, NY 37. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 129.9 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 $42.76 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 259.8 miles you will encounter 14 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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.
Between Buffalo, NY and Morristown, NY, road signs point toward Binghamton, Watertown and Carthage.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Women's Rights National Historical Park and Harriet Tubman National Historical Park.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
