Origin
Buffalo, NY
Afternoon in Buffalo on Sunday
Local time
4:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Buffalo, NY to Suffern, NY
Drive Time
7h 19m
Distance
349.8 mi
563 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$57
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 9m
★
6 AM
7h 20m
8 AM
7h 41m
10 AM
7h 27m
12 PM
7h 25m
3 PM
7h 28m
5 PM
7h 40m
8 PM
7h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Trip Overview
Traveling from Buffalo to Suffern covers roughly 349.8 miles and takes about 7 hours and 19 minutes of pure driving time. Because the route is primarily highway-focused, you can comfortably manage this trip in a single day, though it requires a significant time commitment behind the wheel. You should budget approximately $57 for fuel to complete the transit across New York State. While the journey stays within the Northeast region, you will transition from the western edge of the state toward the lower Hudson Valley. This route is ideal for travelers who prioritize efficiency over wandering off the main path. Whether you are heading to the suburbs of New York City or just passing through, it serves as a straightforward connection between two major points.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
174.9 miles from Buffalo, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 45m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip is dominated by major thoroughfares, with 80% of your travel spent on fast-paced highways. You will rely heavily on I-86, the Southern Tier Expressway, and the Genesee Expressway to make steady progress toward your destination. Expect a consistent rhythm, highlighted by a longest uninterrupted stretch of 130.4 miles on I-86. While the road personality is largely defined by interstate travel, the shift between these specific expressways keeps the drive from feeling entirely stagnant. You can anticipate a reliable, high-speed experience that favors steady momentum rather than complex, technical local maneuvers.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 38 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 86 is the longest continuous segment at about 130.4 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 86 and Southern Tier Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 349.8 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.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 22 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
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
Use the left / right lanes.
Toward I 190 South, NY 5 West: Skyway
8
5.5 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 90 West: Erie
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 54-61
Toward I 90 West: Erie
8
7.1 mi into trip
|
~10m in
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 54
Toward NY 400, NY 16: West Seneca, East Aurora
8
332.8 mi into trip
|
~6h 57m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York City
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the none lane.
Toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York City
8
347.5 mi into trip
|
~7h 15m in
Take the exit toward NY 17 North, NY 59: Sloatsburg, Suffern
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 15A
Toward NY 17 North, NY 59: Sloatsburg, Suffern
Towns Along This Route
On the drive from Buffalo, NY to Suffern, NY, road signs begin pointing toward New York along the way.
New York
202.5 mi in
|
~4h 17m
|
via I 86; NY 17
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 86 | 130.4 mi | 2h 40m |
| Southern Tier Expressway | 104.5 mi | 2h 2m |
| Genesee Expressway | 32.6 mi | 37m |
| New York State Thruway | 14.4 mi | 16m |
| Aurora Expressway | 12.4 mi | 14m |
| Varysburg Road | 10.9 mi | 15m |
| Big Tree Road | 10.5 mi | 15m |
| Perry Center Road | 7.4 mi | 10m |
Longest stretch:
I 86
— 130.4 mi, about 2h 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buffalo, NY and Suffern, NY.
1
Start on NY 384
100 ft
·
2 sec
·
Niagara Square
2
Continue on Perkins Drive
321 ft
·
16 sec
·
Perkins Drive
3
At end of road, turn left onto NY 5
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
South Elmwood Avenue
4
Keep slight right at fork
206 ft
·
8 sec
5
At end of road, turn right onto Church Street
501 ft
·
16 sec
·
Church Street
Use the right lane.
6
Take the exit
175 ft
·
4 sec
Toward I 190, NY 5 West: Skyway, Peace Bridge, Canada
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
Toward I 190 South, NY 5 West: Skyway
Use the left / right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 190
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Niagara Thruway
Use the none lane.
9
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 54-61
Toward I 90 West: Erie
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 90
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
New York State Thruway
11
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
57 sec
Exit 54
Toward NY 400, NY 16: West Seneca, East Aurora
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on NY 400
12 mi
·
14 min
·
Aurora Expressway
Use the none lane.
13
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward US 20A, NY 78: East Aurora
14
Turn left onto US 20A; NY 78
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
Main Street
15
Continue on US 20A; NY 78
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Big Tree Road
16
Continue on US 20A
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Varysburg Road
17
Continue on US 20A
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
West Buffalo Road
18
Continue on US 20A
4.6 mi
·
8 min
·
West Buffalo Street
19
Continue on US 20A
7.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Perry Center Road
20
Continue on CR 64
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Perry Road
21
Turn right onto NY 36
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Mount Morris Road
22
Continue on NY 36
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
North Main Street
23
Continue on NY 36
4.1 mi
·
7 min
·
Sonyea Road
24
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
25
Merge onto I 390
33 mi
·
37 min
·
Genesee Expressway
26
Merge onto I 86
105 mi
·
2 hr 2 min
·
Southern Tier Expressway
Use the none lane.
27
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17
130 mi
·
2 hr 40 min
·
I 86; NY 17
Toward New York
Use the none lane.
28
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
59 sec
Toward I 87, NYST: Albany, New York City
Use the none lane.
29
Keep slight right at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 87 Toll South: New York City
Use the slight right lane.
30
Merge onto I 87
13 mi
·
15 min
·
New York State Thruway
Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
31
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
36 sec
Exit 15A
Toward NY 17 North, NY 59: Sloatsburg, Suffern
Use the slight right lane.
32
Turn right onto Old Route 17
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
Old Route 17
33
Turn right onto NY 59
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Orange Turnpike
Use the none lane.
34
Continue on NY 59
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
Orange Avenue
35
Continue on US 202; 59
273 ft
·
7 sec
·
Orange Avenue
36
Turn left onto NY 59
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
Lafayette Avenue
Use the left lane.
37
Turn slight right onto Washington Avenue
73 ft
·
1 sec
·
Washington Avenue
38
Arrive at destination
Washington Avenue
Trip Plan
Planning for two stops is recommended to keep your energy levels consistent throughout the 349.8-mile journey. Since the drive is highway-intensive, try to leave early in the morning to avoid potential traffic bottlenecks as you approach the Suffern area. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge during the long 130.4-mile stretch on I-86, as service intervals can vary. Because this is a one-day trip, your primary advantage is flexibility; you can easily adjust your pace to account for weather or heavy traffic. Use your two planned stops to stretch your legs and refuel, ensuring you arrive at your destination refreshed rather than fatigued.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 174.9 miles from Buffalo, NY, or about 3h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 130.4 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 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 174.9 miles or 3h 45m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Suffern, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Buffalo, NY
This is one driving day of about 349.8 miles and 7h 19m.
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 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 86 for about 130.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 174.9 mi from Buffalo, NY · 3h 45m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
175 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 174.9 miles from Buffalo, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 86 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 130.4 miles.
Arriving in Suffern, NY
The final approach into Suffern, 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 Suffern, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$56.95 one way
$113.89 round trip
$4.14/gal
25.4 MPG avg
122 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $61.71 | $123.42 |
| premium | $4.88 | $67.25 | $134.49 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $77.71 | $155.43 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.02
New York State Thruway
(14.4 mi)
$0.71
Niagara Thruway
(4.9 mi)
$0.24
Orange Turnpike
(1 mi)
$0.07
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
$57
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 122.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 104.9 | 1 | $36.73 | $16.79 |
| Efficient EV | 87.5 | 0 | $30.61 | $13.99 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 139.9 | 1 | $48.97 | $22.39 |
Gas CO2
122 kg
EV CO2
41 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
Suffern, NY
Afternoon in Suffern on Sunday
Local time
4:25 PM
EDT
Current temp
57°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
11 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
7h 19m 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 Suffern, NY covers 349.8 miles and takes about 7h 19m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 86, Southern Tier Expressway, Genesee Expressway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 174.9 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 $56.95 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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 22 significant decision points across 349.8 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.
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.
On the drive from Buffalo, NY to Suffern, NY, road signs begin pointing toward New York along the way.
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