Origin
Nelson, NY
Morning in Nelson on Saturday
Local time
7:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Nelson, 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
2h 56m
Distance
173.2 mi
279 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 45m
★
6 AM
2h 56m
8 AM
3h 19m
10 AM
3h 4m
12 PM
3h 2m
3 PM
3h 5m
5 PM
3h 17m
8 PM
2h 49m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Nelson, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Nelson, NY to Buffalo, NY covers 173.2 miles and takes about 2h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 20, Albany Street, Forman Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.51 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
86.6 miles from Nelson, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 28m into the drive .
About the Cities
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 2h 56m. Total distance: 173.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 56m 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 2h 56m drive with frequent turns across 173.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 32 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 20 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Nelson, NY to Buffalo, NY is easy. At 2h 56m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Nelson, NY to Buffalo, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 20 | — | — |
| Albany Street | — | — |
| Forman Street | — | — |
| Ledyard Avenue | — | — |
| Syracuse Road | — | — |
| Cazenovia Road | — | — |
| Washington Street | — | — |
| East Seneca Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
US 20
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Nelson, NY and Buffalo, NY.
1
Start on US 20
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
US 20
2
Continue on Albany Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Albany Street
3
Turn left onto Forman Street
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Forman Street
4
Turn right onto Ledyard Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Ledyard Avenue
5
Take the exit slight right toward Syracuse Road
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
Syracuse Road
6
Merge slight left onto Syracuse Road
3.3 mi
·
4 min
·
Syracuse Road
7
Continue on Cazenovia Road
4.0 mi
·
6 min
·
Cazenovia Road
8
Continue on Washington Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Street
9
Continue on East Seneca Street
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
East Seneca Street
10
Turn right onto Fayette Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Fayette Street
11
Continue on Highbridge Road
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
Highbridge Road
12
Continue on East Genesee Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Genesee Street
13
Take the exit slight right toward I 481 North: Syracuse
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
I 481 North: Syracuse
14
Merge slight left
1.1 mi
·
1 min
15
Take the exit slight left toward I 690 West: Syracuse
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 690 West: Syracuse
16
Continue straight
13 mi
·
16 min
17
Take the exit slight right toward I 90
344 ft
·
8 sec
·
I 90
18
Continue on I 90
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
I 90
19
Keep slight left to continue on I 90
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
I 90
20
Continue straight
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
21
Keep slight right to continue on I 90 West: Buffalo
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
I 90 West: Buffalo
22
Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway
131 mi
·
2 hr 32 min
·
New York State Thruway
23
Take the exit slight right toward NY 33 West: Buffalo
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
·
NY 33 West: Buffalo
24
Merge slight left onto Kensington Expressway
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Kensington Expressway
25
Keep slight left to continue on Oak Street
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
Oak Street
26
Continue on Oak Street
430 ft
·
14 sec
·
Oak Street
27
Turn right onto Genesee Street
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Genesee Street
28
Turn right onto East Huron Street
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
East Huron Street
29
Turn left onto Franklin Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Franklin Street
30
Turn right onto Genesee Street
404 ft
·
12 sec
·
Genesee Street
31
Enter the roundabout toward Niagara Square
390 ft
·
12 sec
·
Niagara Square
32
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 86.6 miles from Nelson, NY, or about 1h 28m 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 38 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 86.6 miles or 1h 28m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 24m
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 Nelson, 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 Nelson, NY
This is one driving day of about 173.2 miles and 2h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Nelson, 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 86.6 mi from Nelson, NY · 1h 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
87 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 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 86.6 miles from Nelson, 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
$28.51 one way
$57.02 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
61 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $30.83 | $61.66 |
| premium | $4.92 | $33.57 | $67.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $38.24 | $76.48 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 60.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 52 | 0 | $18.19 | $8.31 |
| Efficient EV | 43.3 | 0 | $15.15 | $6.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 69.3 | 0 | $24.25 | $11.08 |
Gas CO2
61 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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
Morning in Buffalo on Saturday
Local time
7:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
43°F
Auburn, NY
87 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
2 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
2h 56m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Nelson, NY to Buffalo, NY covers 173.2 miles and takes about 2h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 20, Albany Street, Forman Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 86.6 miles from Nelson, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $28.51 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Nelson, NY to Buffalo, NY is easy. At 2h 56m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Nelson, NY to Buffalo, NY is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Nelson, 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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