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Trip from Morristown, NY to Buffalo, NY

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

5h 4m

Distance

258.5 mi

416 km

Drive Score

10/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$43

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 51m ★
6 AM
5h 4m
8 AM
5h 31m
10 AM
5h 14m
12 PM
5h 11m
3 PM
5h 15m
5 PM
5h 30m
8 PM
4h 56m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Morristown, NY, NY

Morristown, NY

Renan Tagliaferro

Trip Overview

This 258.5-mile journey from Morristown, NY, to Buffalo, NY, is a straightforward drive that can comfortably be completed in about 5 hours. The route predominantly utilizes the New York State Thruway, with portions on I-81 and State Highway 37, making it a largely highway-focused trip. With an estimated fuel cost of $43, it's an economical option for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. This drive stays within the Northeast region, offering a consistent travel experience across New York State.

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

129.2 miles from Morristown, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 31m into the drive .

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Drive Character

Expect a mixed drive experience on this route, with 45% of it being highway travel. The New York State Thruway forms the backbone of this trip, offering long, uninterrupted stretches, including one that extends for 138.1 miles. While much of the drive features the efficiency of major roadways, you'll also encounter sections of I-81 and State Highway 37, which may offer a slightly different driving feel. Overall, it’s a practical route designed for covering distance efficiently.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
New York State Thruway is the longest continuous segment at about 138.1 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 111.9 miles in.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 258.5 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 111.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 112.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 250.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

8
111.9 mi into trip | ~2h 10m in

Take the exit toward I 90: Albany, Buffalo

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 25A Toward I 90: Albany, Buffalo
7
112.4 mi into trip | ~2h 11m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 90 West: Buffalo

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 90 West: Buffalo
7
250.6 mi into trip | ~4h 51m in

Take the exit toward NY 33 West: Buffalo

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 51W Toward NY 33 West: Buffalo
7
257.3 mi into trip | ~5h 1m in

Keep slight left at fork toward Oak Street

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward Oak Street
7
258.2 mi into trip | ~5h 3m in | Franklin Street

Turn left onto Franklin Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
New York State Thruway 138.1 mi 2h 40m
I 81 68.3 mi 1h 18m
State Highway 37 27.2 mi 31m
State Route 37 13.3 mi 15m
Kensington Expressway 6.4 mi 8m
North Main Street 0.9 mi 1m
NY 342 0.8 mi 1m
Main Street 0.7 mi 1m
Longest stretch: New York State Thruway — 138.1 mi, about 2h 40m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Morristown, NY and Buffalo, NY.

1

Start on Main Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · Main Street
2

Turn right onto NY 37

9.2 mi · 11 min · State Highway 37
3

Continue on NY 37

0.9 mi · 1 min · North Main Street
4

Continue on NY 37

18 mi · 20 min · State Highway 37
5

Continue on NY 37

13 mi · 15 min · State Route 37
6

Turn right onto NY 342

0.8 mi · 1 min · NY 342
7

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 20 sec
8

Merge onto I 81

64 mi · 1 hr 13 min · I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight right at fork onto I-81

0.5 mi · 33 sec · I-81
10

Continue on I 81

4.2 mi · 4 min · I 81
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.5 mi · 1 min
Exit 25A Toward I 90: Albany, Buffalo Use the slight right lane.
12

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 19 sec
Toward I 90 West: Buffalo Use the slight right lane.
13

Merge onto I 90

138 mi · 2 hr 40 min · New York State Thruway
Use the straight lane.
14

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 46 sec
Exit 51W Toward NY 33 West: Buffalo Use the slight right lane.
15

Merge onto NY 33

6.4 mi · 8 min · Kensington Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 39 sec
Toward Oak Street Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Continue on Oak Street

428 ft · 14 sec · Oak Street
18

Turn right onto Genesee Street

0.2 mi · 39 sec · Genesee Street
Use the right lane.
19

Turn right onto East Huron Street

0.1 mi · 34 sec · East Huron Street
20

Turn left onto Franklin Street

0.1 mi · 22 sec · Franklin Street
Use the left lane.
21

Turn right onto Genesee Street

402 ft · 11 sec · Genesee Street
22

Enter roundabout onto NY 384

391 ft · 11 sec · Niagara Square
23

Arrive at destination

NY 384

Trip Plan

Given the 5-hour duration, this trip is well-suited for a single day. To make the most of your drive, consider an early morning departure from Morristown to avoid potential traffic, especially as you approach Buffalo. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in choosing where to refuel or stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch on the New York State Thruway is over 138 miles, so planning your last fuel-up before that segment is a good idea.

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 129.2 miles from Morristown, NY, or about 2h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 138.1 miles.

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 80 miles or 1h 33m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 129.2 miles or 2h 31m 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 7m

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 Morristown, 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 Morristown, NY

This is one driving day of about 258.5 miles and 5h 4m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Morristown, 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.
The longest stretch is on New York State Thruway for about 138.1 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 129.2 mi from Morristown, NY · 2h 31m into the drive

city in and county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Syracuse, NY

129 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.

Popular next leg

Syracuse, NY to Buffalo, NY

149.4 mi · 2h 22m

Pacing Suggestions

Syracuse, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Syracuse, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 129.2 miles from Morristown, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before New York State Thruway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 138.1 miles.

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.

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

$42.55 one way

$85.10 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 90 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.52 $46.01 $92.02
premium $4.92 $50.10 $100.20
diesel $5.61 $57.07 $114.15

Estimated Tolls: $6.90

New York State Thruway (138.1 mi) $6.90

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

$43

Tolls

$7

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$74–$99

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 90.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $27 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 77.6 0 $27.14 $12.41
Efficient EV 64.6 0 $22.62 $10.34
EV Truck/SUV 103.4 1 $36.19 $16.54

Gas CO2

90 kg

EV CO2

30 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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.

Forecast data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Morristown, NY

Late night in Morristown on Wednesday

Local time

3:03 AM

EDT

Current temp

49°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Buffalo, NY

Late night in Buffalo on Wednesday

Local time

3:03 AM

EDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

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.

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

3 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

5h 4m 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 Morristown, NY to Buffalo, NY covers 258.5 miles and takes about 5h 4m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are New York State Thruway, I 81, State Highway 37. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 129.2 miles from Morristown, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $42.55 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 demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 258.5 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 111.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 112.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 250.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Morristown, NY to Buffalo, NY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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