Origin
Chatham, NY
Night in Chatham on Wednesday
Local time
10:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
28°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Chatham, NY to Buffalo, NY
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
5h
Distance
315.8 mi
508 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$52
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 47m
★
6 AM
5h 0m
8 AM
5h 27m
10 AM
5h 10m
12 PM
5h 7m
3 PM
5h 11m
5 PM
5h 26m
8 PM
4h 52m
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 Chatham, NY to Buffalo, NY covers 315.8 miles and takes about 5h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Austerlitz Street, Spring Street, Highway 295 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $51.98 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
157.9 miles from Chatham, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 30m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 5h drive with frequent turns across 315.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 24 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Austerlitz 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.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Chatham, NY to Buffalo, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Austerlitz Street | — | — |
| Spring Street | — | — |
| Highway 295 | — | — |
| Birge Hill Road | — | — |
| Taconic State Parkway | — | — |
| I 90 West | — | — |
| New York State Thruway Berkshire Connector | — | — |
| I 87 North | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Austerlitz Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Chatham, NY and Buffalo, NY.
1
Start on Austerlitz Street
33 ft
·
2 sec
·
Austerlitz Street
2
Enter the roundabout and take exit 4 toward Austerlitz Street
197 ft
·
3 sec
·
Austerlitz Street
3
Exit the roundabout onto Austerlitz Street
0.1 mi
·
27 sec
·
Austerlitz Street
4
Turn left onto Spring Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Spring Street
5
Continue on State Highway 295
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 295
6
Turn right onto Birge Hill Road
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Birge Hill Road
7
Take the ramp right
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
8
Merge slight left onto Taconic State Parkway
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Taconic State Parkway
9
Keep slight left to continue on I 90 West: Albany
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
I 90 West: Albany
10
Continue straight
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
11
Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway Berkshire Connector
14 mi
·
16 min
·
New York State Thruway Berkshire Connector
12
Keep slight right to continue on I 87 North: Albany, Buffalo
0.5 mi
·
45 sec
·
I 87 North: Albany, Buffalo
13
Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway
14 mi
·
15 min
·
New York State Thruway
14
Keep slight left to continue on New York State Thruway
274 mi
·
5 hr 16 min
·
New York State Thruway
15
Take the exit slight right toward NY 33 West: Buffalo
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
NY 33 West: Buffalo
16
Merge slight left onto Kensington Expressway
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Kensington Expressway
17
Keep slight left to continue on Oak Street
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
Oak Street
18
Continue on Oak Street
430 ft
·
14 sec
·
Oak Street
19
Turn right onto Genesee Street
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Genesee Street
20
Turn right onto East Huron Street
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
East Huron Street
21
Turn left onto Franklin Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Franklin Street
22
Turn right onto Genesee Street
404 ft
·
12 sec
·
Genesee Street
23
Enter the roundabout toward Niagara Square
390 ft
·
12 sec
·
Niagara Square
24
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
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 157.9 miles from Chatham, NY, or about 2h 30m 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 69 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 157.9 miles or 2h 30m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Buffalo, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Chatham, 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 Chatham, NY
This is one driving day of about 315.8 miles and 5h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 miles from Chatham, 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 157.9 mi from Chatham, NY · 2h 30m 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 69 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 157.9 miles from Chatham, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Buffalo, NY
The final approach into Buffalo, 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 Buffalo, 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
$51.98 one way
$103.97 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
111 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $56.21 | $112.42 |
| premium | $4.92 | $61.21 | $122.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $69.72 | $139.45 |
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: 110.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 94.7 | 1 | $33.16 | $15.16 |
| Efficient EV | 79 | 0 | $27.63 | $12.63 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 126.3 | 1 | $44.21 | $20.21 |
Gas CO2
110 kg
EV CO2
37 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.
Destination
Buffalo, NY
Night in Buffalo on Wednesday
Local time
10:39 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
39°F
Johnstown, 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
18 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
5h 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 Chatham, NY to Buffalo, NY covers 315.8 miles and takes about 5h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Austerlitz Street, Spring Street, Highway 295. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 157.9 miles from Chatham, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $51.98 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 straightforward 5h drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Chatham, NY to Buffalo, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Chatham, NY to Buffalo, NY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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