Origin
Buffalo, NY
Late night in Buffalo on Friday
Local time
5:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Buffalo, NY to Windsor, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 30m
Distance
213 mi
343 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 18m
★
6 AM
4h 31m
8 AM
4h 58m
10 AM
4h 40m
12 PM
4h 38m
3 PM
4h 42m
5 PM
4h 56m
8 PM
4h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Windsor, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Trip Overview
This 213-mile journey from Buffalo to Windsor, NY, is a solid day trip, estimated to take around 4 hours and 30 minutes. Primarily utilizing the Southern Tier Expressway, Genesee Expressway, and Aurora Expressway, about 75% of this drive is on highways, making it a straightforward trip. With a projected fuel cost of $35, it's an economical option for a single-day excursion. The route stays within the Northeast region, offering a consistent driving experience. Given its manageable length and highway focus, you can comfortably complete this drive in one go, though a single planned stop might enhance the experience.
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
106.5 miles from Buffalo, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 25m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 30m. Total distance: 213 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (75%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this trip, with 75% of the mileage on major expressways. You'll experience the longest uninterrupted stretch of 104.5 miles on the Southern Tier Expressway, which offers a consistent pace. The Genesee Expressway and Aurora Expressway contribute to the overall highway character, minimizing complex intersections and maximizing forward momentum. This route is designed for efficient travel, offering a predictable and smooth experience behind the wheel.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 34 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Southern Tier Expressway is the longest continuous segment at about 104.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern Tier Expressway and Genesee Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near NY 5 / South Elmwood Avenue.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 19 significant decision points across 213 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 0.1 miles (NY 5 / South Elmwood Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.2 miles (Church Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
NY 5 / South Elmwood Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto NY 5 / South Elmwood Avenue
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
7
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
Church Street
At end of road, turn right onto Church Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
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
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Tier Expressway | 104.5 mi | 2h 2m |
| Genesee Expressway | 32.6 mi | 37m |
| Aurora Expressway | 12.4 mi | 14m |
| Varysburg Road | 10.9 mi | 15m |
| Big Tree Road | 10.5 mi | 15m |
| I 86 | 9.6 mi | 11m |
| Perry Center Road | 7.4 mi | 10m |
| Niagara Thruway | 4.9 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
Southern Tier Expressway
— 104.5 mi, about 2h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buffalo, NY and Windsor, 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
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
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
27
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17
9.6 mi
·
11 min
·
I 86; NY 17
Toward New York
28
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 79
Toward NY 79: Windsor
29
Turn left onto NY 79
0.4 mi
·
44 sec
·
Main Street
30
Turn left onto Church Street
308 ft
·
15 sec
·
Church Street
31
Continue on Church Street
281 ft
·
18 sec
·
Church Street
32
Turn left onto CR 28
182 ft
·
3 sec
·
Chapel Street
33
Turn slight right
116 ft
·
5 sec
34
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4-hour, 30-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Buffalo to avoid potential traffic and maximize daylight hours. With a single planned stop, you can break up the 213 miles effectively. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 104.5-mile stretch on the Southern Tier Expressway, as services might be less frequent. The $35 fuel cost is a good estimate, but it's always wise to have a little extra budgeted. This route is well-suited for a single-day adventure, allowing for flexibility in your timing.
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 106.5 miles from Buffalo, NY, or about 2h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.5 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 47 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 106.5 miles or 2h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Windsor, 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 213 miles and 4h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 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 Southern Tier Expressway for about 104.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 106.5 mi from Buffalo, NY · 2h 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
107 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 47 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 106.5 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.
Arriving in Windsor, NY
The final approach into Windsor, 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 Windsor, 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
$35.06 one way
$70.12 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
75 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $37.91 | $75.82 |
| premium | $4.92 | $41.28 | $82.57 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $47.03 | $94.06 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.30
Niagara Thruway
(4.9 mi)
$0.24
New York State Thruway
(1.3 mi)
$0.06
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
$35
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 74.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 63.9 | 0 | $22.37 | $10.22 |
| Efficient EV | 53.3 | 0 | $18.64 | $8.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 85.2 | 1 | $29.82 | $13.63 |
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 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.
Destination
Windsor, NY
Late night in Windsor on Friday
Local time
5:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
41°F
Bath, NY
107 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
4h 30m 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 Windsor, NY covers 213 miles and takes about 4h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Southern Tier Expressway, Genesee Expressway, Aurora 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 106.5 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 $35.06 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 is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 213 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 0.1 miles (NY 5 / South Elmwood Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.2 miles (Church Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Buffalo, NY to Windsor, NY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from OSRM over OpenStreetMap. Fuel cost uses EIA weekly regional averages. Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our methodology page documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
More trips to Windsor, NY
Explore more options from Buffalo, NY or browse trips ending in Windsor, NY.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NY road trips.