Origin
Buffalo, NY
Morning in Buffalo on Thursday
Local time
11:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Buffalo, NY to Chatham, NY
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
6h 12m
Distance
316.2 mi
509 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$52
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 0m
★
6 AM
6h 12m
8 AM
6h 38m
10 AM
6h 21m
12 PM
6h 19m
3 PM
6h 23m
5 PM
6h 37m
8 PM
6h 5m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Chatham, NY
Peter Olexa
Trip Overview
The drive from Buffalo, NY to Chatham, NY covers 316.2 miles and takes about 6h 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Court Street, Lafayette Square, Washington Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $52.05 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
158.1 miles from Buffalo, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 6m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 12m. Total distance: 316.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 12m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 6h 12m drive with frequent turns across 316.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Court Street 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 12m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Buffalo, NY to Chatham, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Court Street | — | — |
| Lafayette Square | — | — |
| Washington Street | — | — |
| Genesee Street | — | — |
| Elm Street | — | — |
| NY 33 East | — | — |
| Kensington Expressway | — | — |
| I 90 East | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Court Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buffalo, NY and Chatham, NY.
1
Start on Niagara Square
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Niagara Square
2
Exit the rotary onto Court Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Court Street
3
Continue on Lafayette Square
374 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
262 ft
·
8 sec
·
Elm Street
7
Take the exit straight toward NY 33 East
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
·
NY 33 East
8
Continue on Kensington Expressway
6.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Kensington Expressway
9
Take the exit slight right toward I 90 East: Niagara Falls, Albany
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
I 90 East: Niagara Falls, Albany
10
Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway
273 mi
·
5 hr 15 min
·
New York State Thruway
11
Keep slight right to continue on New York State Thruway
15 mi
·
16 min
·
New York State Thruway
12
Take the exit slight right toward Massachusetts Turnpike, Boston
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike, Boston
13
Continue on New York State Thruway Berkshire Connector
15 mi
·
16 min
·
New York State Thruway Berkshire Connector
14
Take the exit slight right toward NY 295: Taconic Parkway
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
NY 295: Taconic Parkway
15
Continue on Taconic State Parkway
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Taconic State Parkway
16
Take the exit slight right toward NY 295: Chatham, East Chatham
0.1 mi
·
1 min
·
NY 295: Chatham, East Chatham
17
Continue on Hartigan Road
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
Hartigan Road
18
At the end of the road, turn right onto State Highway 295
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 295
19
Continue on Spring Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Spring Street
20
Turn right onto Austerlitz Street
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Austerlitz Street
21
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 158.1 miles from Buffalo, NY, or about 3h 6m 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 70 miles or 1h 22m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 158.1 miles or 3h 6m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chatham, 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 316.2 miles and 6h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 158.1 mi from Buffalo, NY · 3h 6m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
158 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 70 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 158.1 miles from Buffalo, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Chatham, NY
The final approach into Chatham, 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 Chatham, 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
$52.05 one way
$104.10 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
111 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $56.28 | $112.56 |
| premium | $4.92 | $61.29 | $122.57 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $69.81 | $139.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$52
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$77–$102
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 110.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 94.9 | 1 | $33.20 | $15.18 |
| Efficient EV | 79.1 | 0 | $27.67 | $12.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 126.5 | 1 | $44.27 | $20.24 |
Gas CO2
111 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (67% 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
Chatham, NY
Morning in Chatham on Thursday
Local time
11:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
28°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
39°F
Whitesboro, NY
158 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
22 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
6h 12m 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 Chatham, NY covers 316.2 miles and takes about 6h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Court Street, Lafayette Square, Washington Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 158.1 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 $52.05 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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 12m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Buffalo, NY to Chatham, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Buffalo, NY to Chatham, NY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Chatham, NY
More trips to Chatham, NY
Explore more options from Buffalo, NY or browse trips ending in Chatham, NY.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NY road trips.
Explore maps for Buffalo, NY or Chatham, NY on MapSof.net.