Origin
Colton, NY
Late night in Colton on Saturday
Local time
5:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Colton, NY to Buffalo, NY
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 46m
Distance
285 mi
459 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$47
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 33m
★
6 AM
4h 46m
8 AM
5h 13m
10 AM
4h 56m
12 PM
4h 53m
3 PM
4h 57m
5 PM
5h 12m
8 PM
4h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Colton, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Colton, NY to Buffalo, NY covers 285 miles and takes about 4h 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Highway 56, Colton-Pierrepont Road, Main Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $46.91 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
142.5 miles from Colton, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 23m into the drive .
About the Cities
Starting in Colton, NY
Full guide →Arriving in Buffalo, NY
Full guide →The largest city in New York State's Niagara Frontier, Buffalo is a city full of surprises. Though Buffalo is sometimes the butt of jokes about chicken wings, its long-suffering sports teams, and the mountains of snow under which it is supposedly buried each winter, those in the know tell a different story: one of vibrant nightlife, world-class museums and cultural attractions, tight-knit neighborhoods with strong community spirit – and the sunniest summers in Northeastern United States.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 46m. Total distance: 285 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 46m drive with frequent turns across 285 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 26 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Highway 56 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.
This is a straightforward 4h 46m 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 Colton, NY to Buffalo, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Highway 56 | — | — |
| Colton-Pierrepont Road | — | — |
| Main Street | — | — |
| Highway 68 | — | — |
| East Main Street | — | — |
| Gouverneur Street | — | — |
| Preston Street | — | — |
| I 781 West | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Highway 56
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Colton, NY and Buffalo, NY.
1
Start on State Highway 56
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
State Highway 56
2
Turn right onto Colton-Pierrepont Road
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Colton-Pierrepont Road
3
Turn right onto Main Street
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
Main Street
4
Continue on State Highway 68
7.9 mi
·
11 min
·
State Highway 68
5
Turn left onto East Main Street
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
6
Turn left onto Gouverneur Street
25 mi
·
28 min
·
Gouverneur Street
7
Continue on Preston Street
27 mi
·
31 min
·
Preston Street
8
Take the exit slight right toward I 781 West
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
I 781 West
9
Continue straight
4.0 mi
·
4 min
10
Keep slight left to continue on I 81 South: Watertown
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
I 81 South: Watertown
11
Merge slight left
65 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
12
Keep slight right
0.5 mi
·
33 sec
13
Continue straight
4.2 mi
·
4 min
14
Take the exit slight right toward I 90: Albany, Buffalo
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 90: Albany, Buffalo
15
Keep slight right to continue on I 90 West: Buffalo
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
I 90 West: Buffalo
16
Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway
138 mi
·
2 hr 40 min
·
New York State Thruway
17
Take the exit slight right toward NY 33 West: Buffalo
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
NY 33 West: Buffalo
18
Merge slight left onto Kensington Expressway
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Kensington Expressway
19
Keep slight left to continue on Oak Street
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
Oak Street
20
Continue on Oak Street
430 ft
·
14 sec
·
Oak Street
21
Turn right onto Genesee Street
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Genesee Street
22
Turn right onto East Huron Street
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
East Huron Street
23
Turn left onto Franklin Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Franklin Street
24
Turn right onto Genesee Street
404 ft
·
12 sec
·
Genesee Street
25
Enter the roundabout toward Niagara Square
390 ft
·
12 sec
·
Niagara Square
26
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 142.5 miles from Colton, NY, or about 2h 23m 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 63 miles or 1h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 142.5 miles or 2h 23m 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 54m
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 Colton, 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 Colton, NY
This is one driving day of about 285 miles and 4h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Colton, 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 142.5 mi from Colton, NY · 2h 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
143 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 63 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 142.5 miles from Colton, 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
$46.91 one way
$93.83 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
100 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $50.73 | $101.46 |
| premium | $4.92 | $55.24 | $110.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $62.92 | $125.85 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 85.5 | 1 | $29.92 | $13.68 |
| Efficient EV | 71.3 | 0 | $24.94 | $11.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 114 | 1 | $39.90 | $18.24 |
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
33 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
Buffalo, NY
Late night in Buffalo on Saturday
Local time
5:15 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
40°F
West Monroe, NY
143 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
13 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 46m 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 Colton, NY to Buffalo, NY covers 285 miles and takes about 4h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Highway 56, Colton-Pierrepont Road, Main Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 142.5 miles from Colton, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $46.91 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 4h 46m 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 Colton, NY to Buffalo, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Colton, NY to Buffalo, NY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
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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