Drive Time
6h 26m
Distance
381.8 mi
614 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$62
one way
Photo: Renan Tagliaferro
The drive from Buffalo, NY to Washington Heights, NY covers 381.8 miles and takes about 6h 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Perkins Drive, South Elmwood Avenue, Church Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $62.16 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
190.9 miles from Buffalo, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 13m into the drive .
Expect a 6h 26m drive with frequent turns across 381.8 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
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 26m, 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 Washington Heights, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Perkins Drive | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| South Elmwood Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Church Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 190 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 190 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Niagara Thruway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 90 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| New York State Thruway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Buffalo, NY and Washington Heights, NY.
Start on Niagara Square
Exit the rotary onto Perkins Drive
At the end of the road, turn left onto South Elmwood Avenue
Keep slight right
At the end of the road, turn right onto Church Street
Take the exit straight toward I 190, NY 5 West: Skyway, Peace Bridge, Canada
Keep slight left to continue on I 190 South, NY 5 West: Skyway
Merge slight left onto Niagara Thruway
Keep slight right to continue on I 90 West: Erie
Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway
Take the exit slight right toward NY 400, NY 16: West Seneca, East Aurora
Continue on Aurora Expressway
Take the exit slight right toward US 20A, NY 78: East Aurora
Turn left onto Main Street
Continue on Big Tree Road
Continue on Varysburg Road
Continue on West Buffalo Road
Continue on West Buffalo Street
Continue on Perry Center Road
Continue on Perry Road
Turn right onto Mount Morris Road
Continue on North Main Street
Continue on Sonyea Road
Take the ramp slight right
Merge slight left onto Genesee Expressway
Merge slight right onto Southern Tier Expressway
Keep slight right to continue on I 81 South: Scranton
Keep slight right to continue on Grand Army of the Republic Highway
Continue on I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, Milford
Keep slight right to continue on I 380 South: Mount Pocono
Keep slight left to continue on I 80 East: Stroudsburg
Merge slight right onto Keystone Shortway
Keep slight right to continue on Christopher Columbus Highway
Keep slight left to continue on I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York City
Keep slight right to continue on Leonia, Teaneck
Turn right onto Leonia
Turn straight onto Degraw Avenue
Continue on Fort Lee Road
Continue on Main Street
Take the ramp left toward George Washington Bridge
Merge slight left onto Bergen Boulevard
Take the exit slight left toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level
Merge slight left
Keep slight left
Continue on George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Take the exit slight right toward NY 9A: Henry Hudson Parkway, West 178th Street
Keep slight left to continue on West 178th Street
Turn left onto Wadsworth Avenue
Turn left onto West 181st Street
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 84 miles or 1h 25m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 190.9 miles or 3h 13m 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 25m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Washington Heights, 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 381.8 miles and 6h 26m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 190.9 mi from Buffalo, NY · 3h 13m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
191 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 84 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 190.9 miles from Buffalo, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Washington Heights, 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 Washington Heights, NY.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$62.16 one way
$124.31 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $67.36 | $134.71 |
| premium | $4.88 | $73.40 | $146.80 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $84.82 | $169.65 |
Estimated Tolls: $16.00
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
$62
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$103–$128
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 133.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 114.5 | 1 | $40.09 | $18.33 |
| Efficient EV | 95.5 | 1 | $33.41 | $15.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 152.7 | 1 | $53.45 | $24.44 |
Gas CO2
134 kg
EV CO2
45 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Buffalo on Sunday
Local time
6:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Washington Heights on Sunday
Local time
6:21 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
53°F
Syracuse, NY
191 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.
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Return Trip
Washington Heights, NY to Buffalo, NYPlan the drive back the other way.
Explore more options from Buffalo, NY or browse trips ending in Washington Heights, NY.
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