Origin
Fort Wadsworth, NY
Night in Fort Wadsworth on Thursday
Local time
9:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Fort Wadsworth, NY to Buffalo, NY
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
8h 2m
Distance
377.3 mi
607 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$61
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 54m
★
6 AM
8h 3m
8 AM
8h 20m
10 AM
8h 9m
12 PM
8h 7m
3 PM
8h 10m
5 PM
8h 19m
8 PM
7h 58m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Fort Wadsworth, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 377.3-mile journey from Fort Wadsworth, NY to Buffalo, NY will take approximately 8 hours and 2 minutes of driving time. Given the duration, it's best split over two recommended days to avoid a marathon driving session. You'll primarily be on I-86 and I-81, with a section of the Genesee Expressway, making it a highway-focused drive. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $61. This route stays within the Northeast region, traversing familiar New York landscapes. It's a practical choice for those prioritizing direct travel between these two points.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
188.6 miles from Fort Wadsworth, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 1m into the drive .
Drive Character
With 70% of this drive on highways, expect a predominantly interstate experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 100 miles on I-86, offering a good opportunity to cover ground efficiently. While largely highway-focused, the inclusion of the Genesee Expressway and sections of I-81 provides variety in the road's personality. This means you'll experience both high-speed cruising and potentially more varied conditions as you transition between these major arteries, keeping the driving engaging without being overly demanding.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 58 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 86 is the longest continuous segment at about 100 miles.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
1,912 ft
98 ft
Total Climb
3,075 ft
Total Descent
2,575 ft
Highest Point
1,912 ft
~107.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,814 ft
Notable High Points
1,912 ft at ~107.8 miles
+816 ft prominence
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 86 and I 81. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 9.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 39 significant decision points across 377.3 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 9.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 39 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
9.1 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Take the exit toward NJ 439 North: Bayway Avenue, Elizabeth
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 3B; 3C
Toward NJ 439 North: Bayway Avenue, Elizabeth
8
9.2 mi into trip
|
~16m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NJ 439 West: Elizabeth, Bayway Avenue
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 3B
Toward NJ 439 West: Elizabeth, Bayway Avenue
8
31.1 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Take the exit toward NJ 10: Dover, Whippany
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 39
Toward NJ 10: Dover, Whippany
8
371.2 mi into trip
|
~7h 53m in
Take the exit toward I 190 North: Downtown Buffalo, Niagara Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 53
Toward I 190 North: Downtown Buffalo, Niagara F...
8
376.6 mi into trip
|
~8h in
Take the exit toward Buffalo, Outer Harbor, Church Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 7
Toward Buffalo, Outer Harbor, Church Street
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Fort Wadsworth, NY and Buffalo, NY, road signs point toward Morristown, Whippany and Letchworth Park.
Morristown
19.9 mi in
|
~35m
Whippany
31.1 mi in
|
~48m
Letchworth Park
311.9 mi in
|
~6h 25m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 86 | 100 mi | 1h 56m |
| I 81 | 58.1 mi | 1h 9m |
| Genesee Expressway | 32.9 mi | 37m |
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 29 mi | 34m |
| I 380 | 27.7 mi | 30m |
| Keystone Shortway | 17.3 mi | 24m |
| NJ 10 | 12.8 mi | 18m |
| Aurora Expressway | 12.5 mi | 14m |
Longest stretch:
I 86
— 100 mi, about 1h 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Fort Wadsworth, NY and Buffalo, NY.
1
Start on Battery Road
0.2 mi
·
53 sec
·
Battery Road
2
Turn straight onto McClean Avenue
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
McClean Avenue
3
Turn right onto Lily Pond Avenue
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Lily Pond Avenue
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Turn left
435 ft
·
15 sec
Toward I 278 West: Goethals Bridge, Elizabeth
Use the left lane.
5
Continue on Narrows Road North
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Narrows Road North
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Toward I 278 West: Staten Island Expressway, Goethals Bridge, Elizabeth
7
Merge onto I 278
4.8 mi
·
7 min
·
Staten Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto Staten Island Expressway
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
Staten Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on I 278
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Goethals Bridge
10
Take the exit
150 ft
·
4 sec
Exit 3B; 3C
Toward NJ 439 North: Bayway Avenue, Elizabeth
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Exit 3B
Toward NJ 439 West: Elizabeth, Bayway Avenue
12
Turn left onto NJ 439
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
Brunswick Avenue
13
Turn right onto NJ 439
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
·
Bayway
Use the right lane.
14
Turn right onto CR 623
2.0 mi
·
5 min
·
South Broad Street
Use the straight lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto NJ 27
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
North Broad Street
16
Turn left onto CR 628
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Hillside Avenue
Use the left lane.
17
Turn right onto CR 509
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
Chestnut Avenue
Use the right lane.
18
Turn right onto Paine Avenue
367 ft
·
12 sec
·
Paine Avenue
19
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward I 78 West
20
Merge onto I 78
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Phillipsburg-Newark Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
21
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 48
Toward NJ 24 West: Springfield, Morristown
22
Continue on NJ 24
9.4 mi
·
11 min
·
NJ 24
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight right at fork
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
Toward I 287 North: Mahwah
Use the slight right lane.
24
Merge onto I 287
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 287
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Exit 39
Toward NJ 10: Dover, Whippany
Use the slight right lane.
26
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward NJ 10 West: Dover
Use the slight left lane.
27
Continue on NJ 10
13 mi
·
18 min
·
NJ 10
Use the straight / right lanes.
28
Continue on US 46
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
US 46
29
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Toward I 80 West
30
Merge onto I 80
29 mi
·
34 min
·
Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Keystone Shortway
33
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 293
Toward I 380 North: Scranton
34
Continue on I 380
28 mi
·
30 min
·
I 380
Use the straight lane.
35
Merge onto I 81
58 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
I 81
Use the straight lane.
36
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17
100 mi
·
1 hr 56 min
·
I 86; NY 17
Toward I 86: Corning
37
Keep slight left at fork onto I 390
33 mi
·
37 min
·
Genesee Expressway
Toward I 390: Rochester
38
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 6
Toward NY 36: Mount Morris, Letchworth Park
39
Turn left onto NY 36
4.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Sonyea Road
40
Continue on NY 36
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Main Street
41
Continue on NY 36
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Mount Morris Road
42
Turn left onto CR 64
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Perry Road
43
Continue on US 20A
7.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Leicester Road
44
Continue on US 20A
4.6 mi
·
8 min
·
East Buffalo Street
45
Continue on US 20A
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
West Buffalo Road
46
Continue on US 20A
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Varysburg Road
47
Continue on US 20A
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Big Tree Road
48
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
49
Merge onto NY 400
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Aurora Expressway
50
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 90 East: Buffalo
51
Merge onto I 90
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
New York State Thruway
52
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 53
Toward I 190 North: Downtown Buffalo, Niagara Falls
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
53
Continue on I 190
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Niagara Thruway
54
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 7
Toward Buffalo, Outer Harbor, Church Street
Use the slight right lane.
55
Continue on NY 5
521 ft
·
21 sec
·
Church Street
56
Turn left onto NY 384
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Delaware Avenue
Use the left lane.
57
Enter roundabout onto NY 384
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Niagara Square
58
Arrive at destination
NY 384
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 8-hour drive, consider starting early to maximize daylight and minimize traffic. Splitting the trip over two days with two planned stops is highly recommended for comfort and safety. With 377.3 miles to cover, aim to drive roughly half the distance each day. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 100-mile stretch on I-86, as services might be less frequent. Being a highway-focused route, plan your breaks around designated rest areas or exits with amenities to ensure a smooth and efficient journey.
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 drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 188.6 miles from Fort Wadsworth, NY, or about 4h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 83 miles or 1h 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 188.6 miles or 4h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 188.6 miles or 4h 1m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 35m
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 Fort Wadsworth, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Fort Wadsworth, NY
Aim for roughly 189 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Buffalo, NY
Aim for roughly 189 miles and 4 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 83 miles from Fort Wadsworth, NY.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 86 for about 100 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 188.6 mi from Fort Wadsworth, NY · 4h 1m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
189 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Syracuse, NYOvernight Options
Night 1
189 mi · about 4h in
A practical overnight split lands near Syracuse, NY after about 189 miles or 4 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 83 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 188.6 miles from Fort Wadsworth, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 86 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 100 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 189 miles or 4 hours on the road.
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.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Buffalo, NY with some flexibility left in the schedule.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$61.42 one way
$122.85 round trip
$4.14/gal
25.4 MPG avg
132 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $66.56 | $133.12 |
| premium | $4.88 | $72.53 | $145.07 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $83.82 | $167.65 |
Estimated Tolls: $16.31
Goethals Bridge
$16.00
Niagara Thruway
(4.9 mi)
$0.24
New York State Thruway
(1.3 mi)
$0.07
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
$61
Tolls
$16
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$208–$318
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 132 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 113.2 | 1 | $39.62 | $18.11 |
| Efficient EV | 94.3 | 1 | $33.01 | $15.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 150.9 | 1 | $52.82 | $24.15 |
Gas CO2
132 kg
EV CO2
44 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
Night in Buffalo on Thursday
Local time
9:30 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Partly Sunny
SW 15 mph
11% chance
Live forecast
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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
12 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
8h 2m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Fort Wadsworth, NY to Buffalo, NY covers 377.3 miles and takes about 8h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 86, I 81, Genesee Expressway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 2-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 189 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 188.6 miles from Fort Wadsworth, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $61.42 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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 39 significant decision points across 377.3 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 9.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 9.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 31.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Fort Wadsworth, NY and Buffalo, NY, road signs point toward Morristown, Whippany and Letchworth Park.
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