Origin
Buffalo, NY
Afternoon in Buffalo on Friday
Local time
2:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 3m
Distance
293.3 mi
472 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$48
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Gates, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
The drive from Buffalo, NY to Gates, NY covers 293.3 miles and takes about 6h 3m 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 $48.28 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
146.7 miles from Buffalo, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 1m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 3m. Total distance: 293.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 3m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Expect a 6h 3m drive with frequent turns across 293.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
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 3m, 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 Gates, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| 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.
Step-by-step road directions between Buffalo, NY and Gates, NY.
Start on Niagara Square
Exit the rotary onto Court Street
Continue on Lafayette Square
Turn left onto Washington Street
Turn right onto Genesee Street
Turn left onto Elm Street
Take the exit straight toward NY 33 East
Continue on Kensington Expressway
Take the exit slight right toward I 90 East: Niagara Falls, Albany
Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway
Take the exit slight right toward NY 30: Amsterdam
Continue straight
Turn right
Keep slight right to continue on Church Street
Continue on State Highway 67
Continue on Amsterdam Road
Continue on West High Street
Turn left onto Milton Avenue
Turn right onto Malta Avenue
Turn left onto US 9
Take the ramp straight toward I 87 North
Merge slight left onto Adirondack Northway
Take the exit slight right toward NY 9P, NY 29: Saratoga Springs, Schuylerville
Keep slight right
Turn straight onto Union Avenue
Turn right onto Henning Road
Turn right onto Lake Avenue
Continue on Route 29
Turn right onto Bryant Bridge Road
Turn left onto Burgoyne Road
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 65 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 146.7 miles or 3h 1m 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 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Gates, NY than in the middle of the route.
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 293.3 miles and 6h 3m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 146.7 mi from Buffalo, NY · 3h 1m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
147 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.
A short stop after about 65 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 146.7 miles from Buffalo, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Gates, 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 Gates, NY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$48.28 one way
$96.56 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $52.21 | $104.41 |
| premium | $4.92 | $56.85 | $113.69 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $64.76 | $129.51 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 102.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 88 | 1 | $30.80 | $14.08 |
| Efficient EV | 73.3 | 0 | $25.66 | $11.73 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 117.3 | 1 | $41.06 | $18.77 |
Gas CO2
103 kg
EV CO2
34 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Buffalo on Friday
Local time
2:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Gates on Friday
Local time
2:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
26°F
Unavailable
39°F
Whitesboro, NY
147 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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