Drive Time
7h 39m
Distance
437.8 mi
705 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$69
one way
Photo: Abhishek Navlakha
The drive from Islip Terrace, NY to Buffalo, NY covers 437.8 miles and takes about 7h 39m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on NY 27A, Montauk Highway, NY 27 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $69.10 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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
218.9 miles from Islip Terrace, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 49m into the drive .
Expect a 7h 39m drive with frequent turns across 437.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| NY 27A | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Montauk Highway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| NY 27 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Heckscher State Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Southern State Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Cross Island Parkway North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Cross Island Parkway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| NY 24 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Islip Terrace, NY and Buffalo, NY.
Start on Sunrise Highway
Take the exit slight right toward NY 27A, CR 85: Montauk Highway, Oakdale, Great River
Turn right onto Montauk Highway
Take the ramp slight right toward To NY 27: Southern Parkway west, New York
Merge slight left onto Heckscher State Parkway
Continue on Southern State Parkway
Keep slight left to continue on Southern State Parkway
Take the exit slight right toward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone Bridge
Merge slight left onto Cross Island Parkway
Take the exit slight right toward NY 24: UBS Arena-Belmont Park
Keep slight left to continue on NY 24 West: Hempstead Avenue
Keep slight right to continue on Cross Island Parkway North, Hempstead Avenue West
Keep slight right to continue on Hempstead Avenue West
Continue on Grandstand, Hempstead Avenue West
Keep slight left to continue on Hempstead Avenue
Turn right onto Hempstead Avenue
Turn left onto Jamaica Avenue
Turn right onto 212th Street
Continue on Clearview Expressway
Continue on Throgs Neck Bridge
Continue on Throgs Neck Expressway
Keep slight left to continue on Cross Bronx Expressway
Keep slight left to continue on Trans-Manhattan Expressway
Continue on George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Continue straight
Keep slight left
Keep slight left
Take the exit slight right toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Keep slight left to continue on I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Merge slight left onto New Jersey Turnpike
Take the exit slight right toward I 80 West: Paterson, Hackensack
Continue on Christopher Columbus Highway
Keep slight left to continue on Keystone Shortway
Keep slight left to continue on Keystone Shortway
Take the exit slight right toward I 380 North: Scranton
Continue straight
Merge slight right
Keep slight left to continue on I 86: Corning
Keep slight left to continue on Genesee Expressway
Take the exit slight right toward NY 36: Mount Morris, Letchworth Park
Turn left onto Sonyea Road
Continue on Main Street
Continue on Mount Morris Road
Turn left onto Perry Road
Continue on Leicester Road
Continue on East Buffalo Street
Continue on West Buffalo Road
Continue on Varysburg Road
Continue on Big Tree Road
Take the ramp slight right
Merge slight left onto Aurora Expressway
Keep slight right to continue on I 90 East: Buffalo
Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway
Take the exit slight right toward I 190 North: Downtown Buffalo, Niagara Falls
Continue on Niagara Thruway
Take the exit slight right toward Buffalo, Outer Harbor, Church Street
Continue on Church Street
Turn left onto Delaware Avenue
Enter the roundabout toward Niagara Square
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 96 miles or 1h 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 218.9 miles or 3h 49m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 36m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Buffalo, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Islip Terrace, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Islip Terrace, NY
This is one driving day of about 437.8 miles and 7h 39m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 218.9 mi from Islip Terrace, NY · 3h 49m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
219 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 96 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 218.9 miles from Islip Terrace, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Regular Gas
$69.10 one way
$138.20 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $77.24 | $154.47 |
| premium | $4.86 | $83.79 | $167.57 |
| diesel | $4.69 | $80.91 | $161.81 |
Estimated Tolls: $29.10
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
$69
Tolls
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$123–$148
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 153.2 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $46 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 131.3 | 1 | $45.97 | $21.01 |
| Efficient EV | 109.5 | 1 | $38.31 | $17.51 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 175.1 | 2 | $61.29 | $28.02 |
Gas CO2
153 kg
EV CO2
51 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Islip Terrace on Saturday
Local time
9:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Buffalo on Saturday
Local time
9:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
59°F
Ramapo, NY
219 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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