Drive Time
6h 46m
Distance
385 mi
620 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$61
one way
Photo: Abhishek Navlakha
The drive from Kensington, NY to Buffalo, NY covers 385 miles and takes about 6h 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Coney Island Avenue, Church Avenue, Prospect Expressway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $60.77 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
192.5 miles from Kensington, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 23m into the drive .
Expect a 6h 46m drive with frequent turns across 385 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Coney Island Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Church Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Prospect Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 278 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Gowanus Expressway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Hugh L Carey Tunnel | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| NY 9A North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| West Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Kensington, NY and Buffalo, NY.
Start on Albemarle Road
Turn right onto Coney Island Avenue
Turn left onto Church Avenue
Turn right onto Prospect Expressway
Keep slight left to continue on I 278 East: Queens, Bronx
Merge slight left onto Gowanus Expressway
Keep slight left to continue on Hugh L Carey Tunnel, Manhattan
Keep slight right to continue on NY 9A North: West Street, Holland Tunnel, Lincoln Tunnel, George Washington Bridge
At the end of the road, turn right onto West Street
Turn right onto Vestry Street
Turn left onto Hudson Street
Take the exit slight right toward I 78: Holland Tunnel, New Jersey
Merge slight left onto Holland Tunnel
Continue on 14th Street
Keep slight left to continue on 14th Street Viaduct
Continue on NJ 139 Lower Level
Continue on Pulaski Skyway
Take the exit slight right toward US 1-9 North: Secausus
Turn right onto Tonnelle Avenue
Turn straight
Merge slight right
Take the exit slight left toward I 80 West: Dover, Del Water Gap
Continue on Interstate 80 West
Take the exit slight left toward I 80 West: Delaware Water Gap
Merge slight left onto 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 85 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 192.5 miles or 3h 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 5h 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Buffalo, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Kensington, 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 Kensington, NY
This is one driving day of about 385 miles and 6h 46m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 192.5 mi from Kensington, NY · 3h 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
193 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 85 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 192.5 miles from Kensington, 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
$60.77 one way
$121.53 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.48 | $67.92 | $135.84 |
| premium | $4.86 | $73.68 | $147.36 |
| diesel | $4.69 | $71.15 | $142.30 |
Estimated Tolls: $32.00
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
$61
Tolls
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$118–$143
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 134.7 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 115.5 | 1 | $40.43 | $18.48 |
| Efficient EV | 96.3 | 1 | $33.69 | $15.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 154 | 1 | $53.90 | $24.64 |
Gas CO2
135 kg
EV CO2
45 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
Afternoon in Kensington on Saturday
Local time
12:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Buffalo on Saturday
Local time
12:55 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
53°F
Syracuse, NY
193 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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