Origin
Buffalo, NY
Evening in Buffalo on Sunday
Local time
5:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Buffalo, NY to Tonawanda, NY
Drive Time
17m
Distance
12.7 mi
20 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$2
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 16m
★
6 AM
0h 18m
8 AM
0h 21m
10 AM
0h 19m
12 PM
0h 18m
3 PM
0h 19m
5 PM
0h 20m
8 PM
0h 17m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tonawanda, NY
Beth Fitzpatrick
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick transition between Buffalo and Tonawanda, this 12.7-mile route is a straightforward option that takes roughly 17 minutes to complete. Because the distance is so manageable, you can easily tackle this drive in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate local streets, including Perkins Drive, South Elmwood Avenue, and Church Street, rather than dealing with interstate traffic. With a fuel budget of just $2, this is an incredibly economical way to travel within the Northeast region. It serves as a practical, no-fuss connection that allows you to move between these two points with minimal planning or expense.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
6.3 miles from Buffalo, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 8m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel from start to finish. This route features a 0% highway share, meaning you will spend the entire 17-minute duration navigating surface streets. Because there are no long highway stretches, you should prepare for a series of turns rather than long, uninterrupted cruising. You will not find any extended straightaways here, as the longest stretch is 0 miles on Perkins Drive. It is a strictly urban-style commute that requires your full attention to navigation rather than the mindless driving often associated with regional interstates.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 14 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. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Buffalo, NY to Tonawanda, NY is easy. At 17m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Buffalo, NY to Tonawanda, 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 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Niagara Thruway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| NY 324 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Sheridan Drive | 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 Tonawanda, 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
·
7 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 right to continue on I 190 North: Peace Bridge, Canada
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
I 190 North: Peace Bridge, Canada
8
Merge slight left onto Niagara Thruway
6.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Niagara Thruway
9
Take the exit slight right toward NY 324: Sheridan Drive, Kenmore Avenue
0.3 mi
·
25 sec
·
NY 324: Sheridan Drive, Kenmore Avenue
10
Turn slight right onto Sheridan Drive
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Sheridan Drive
11
Turn left onto Military Road
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Military Road
12
Continue on Main Street
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
13
Turn slight left onto Seymour Street
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Seymour Street
14
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, 12.7-mile journey, you have the flexibility to depart whenever it suits your schedule without worrying about complex pacing or rest stops. You won't need to plan for any stops along the way, allowing you to reach your destination in one efficient push. Given the turn-heavy nature of the route, double-check your GPS navigation before leaving to ensure you stay on track through the local street network. With your fuel costs capped at approximately $2, you can focus your budget elsewhere while enjoying the simplicity of this quick hop. Keep a close eye on local traffic patterns as you navigate through the city streets to ensure your travel time remains close to the 17-minute estimate.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 6.3 miles from Buffalo, NY, or about 8m 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 12.7 miles or 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 6.3 miles or 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Tonawanda, 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 12.7 miles and 17m.
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.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 6.3 mi from Buffalo, NY · 8m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
6 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 12.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 6.3 miles from Buffalo, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Tonawanda, NY
The final approach into Tonawanda, 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 Tonawanda, 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
$2.07 one way
$4.14 round trip
$4.14/gal
25.4 MPG avg
4 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $2.24 | $4.48 |
| premium | $4.88 | $2.44 | $4.88 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $2.82 | $5.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$27–$52
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 4.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 75% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 3.8 | 0 | $1.33 | $0.61 |
| Efficient EV | 3.2 | 0 | $1.11 | $0.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 5.1 | 0 | $1.78 | $0.81 |
Gas CO2
4 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (75% 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.
Destination
Tonawanda, NY
Evening in Tonawanda on Sunday
Local time
5:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
51°F
Kenmore, NY
6 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
4 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
17m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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 Tonawanda, NY covers 12.7 miles and takes about 17m 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 6.3 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 $2.07 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from Buffalo, NY to Tonawanda, NY is easy. At 17m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Buffalo, NY to Tonawanda, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Buffalo, NY to Tonawanda, NY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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