Origin
Southold, NY
Afternoon in Southold on Wednesday
Local time
1:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Southold, NY to Buffalo, NY
Data updated 0 seconds ago
Drive Time
9h 59m
Distance
467.9 mi
753 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$77
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
9h 50m
★
6 AM
9h 59m
8 AM
10h 17m
10 AM
10h 5m
12 PM
10h 4m
3 PM
10h 6m
5 PM
10h 16m
8 PM
9h 54m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Southold, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Southold, NY to Buffalo, NY covers 467.9 miles and takes about 9h 59m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 2-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on I 86, Christopher Columbus Highway, I 81 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 100 miles on I 86. At current regular gas prices, budget about $77.02 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
234 miles from Southold, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 5h 4m into the drive .
Loading map...
Drive Character
This is a 9h 59m highway drive covering 467.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 86 and Christopher Columbus Highway. The longest continuous stretch is about 100 miles on I 86.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 59 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.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 86 and Christopher Columbus Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 22.7 miles in.
Route Complexity
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 38 significant decision points across 467.9 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 22.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 78.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 78.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 38 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
22.7 mi into trip
|
~37m in
Turn left toward I 495 West: New York
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Toward I 495 West: New York
8
78.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 52m in
Take the exit toward Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Bridge, Kennedy Airport
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 31N-S
Toward Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Bridge,...
10
78.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 53m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 31N
Toward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone B...
8
82.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 58m in
Take the exit toward I 295 North: Throgs Neck Bridge, Bronx, New England
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 33
Toward I 295 North: Throgs Neck Bridge, Bronx,...
8
94.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 16m in
Take the exit toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
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.
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Southold, NY and Buffalo, NY, road signs point toward Kennedy Airport, Cross Island Parkway North, Bronx, New England, Upper Level and Njtp South: Hackensack - among others.
Kennedy Airport
78.4 mi in
|
~1h 52m
Cross Island Parkway North
78.7 mi in
|
~1h 53m
Bronx
82.1 mi in
|
~1h 58m
New England
82.1 mi in
|
~1h 58m
Upper Level
91.8 mi in
|
~2h 12m
|
via I 95; US 1
Njtp South: Hackensack
94.3 mi in
|
~2h 16m
Hackensack
96.9 mi in
|
~2h 19m
Letchworth Park
402.5 mi in
|
~8h 21m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 86 | 100 mi | 1h 56m |
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 68.2 mi | 1h 20m |
| I 81 | 58.1 mi | 1h 9m |
| Long Island Expressway | 55.4 mi | 1h 14m |
| Genesee Expressway | 32.9 mi | 37m |
| I 380 | 27.7 mi | 30m |
| Keystone Shortway | 17.3 mi | 24m |
| 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 Southold, NY and Buffalo, NY.
1
Start on Youngs Avenue
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Youngs Avenue
2
Turn left onto CR 48; Truck NY 25
8.9 mi
·
12 min
·
Middle Road
3
Continue on CR 48; Truck NY 25
5.3 mi
·
8 min
·
Sound Avenue
4
Turn left onto CR 43
3.4 mi
·
6 min
·
Northville Turnpike
5
At end of road, turn left onto CR 73
138 ft
·
12 sec
·
Roanoke Avenue
6
Turn right onto Railroad Avenue
0.1 mi
·
26 sec
·
Railroad Avenue
7
Turn left onto Griffing Avenue
149 ft
·
6 sec
·
Griffing Avenue
8
Turn right onto Court Street
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
·
Court Street
9
Continue on CR 94A
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
Center Drive Spur
10
Merge onto CR 94
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Nugent Drive
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on CR 94
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
Edwards Avenue
12
Turn left
291 ft
·
6 sec
Toward I 495 West: New York
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on this road
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
this road
Toward I 495 West: New York
14
Merge onto I 495
55 mi
·
1 hr 14 min
·
Long Island Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 31N-S
Toward Cross Island Parkway, Whitestone Bridge, Kennedy Airport
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Exit 31N
Toward Cross Island Parkway North, Whitestone Bridge
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
17
Merge onto CI
3.1 mi
·
4 min
·
Cross Island Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 33
Toward I 295 North: Throgs Neck Bridge, Bronx, New England
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Merge onto I 295
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Throgs Neck Bridge
20
Continue on I 295
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Throgs Neck Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 295
6.6 mi
·
8 min
·
Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95; US 1
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Trans-Manhattan Expressway
Toward Upper Level
23
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.6 mi
·
59 sec
·
George Washington Bridge (upper level)
24
Continue on I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
25
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
0.6 mi
·
39 sec
·
I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; NJTP
0.1 mi
·
8 sec
·
I 95 EXPR; NJTP
27
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
29
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
New Jersey Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 69
Toward I 80 West: Paterson, Hackensack
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Continue on I 80
68 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
·
Christopher Columbus Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
32
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi
·
8 min
·
Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
12 mi
·
15 min
·
Keystone Shortway
34
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 293
Toward I 380 North: Scranton
35
Continue on I 380
28 mi
·
30 min
·
I 380
Use the straight lane.
36
Merge onto I 81
58 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
I 81
Use the straight lane.
37
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17
100 mi
·
1 hr 56 min
·
I 86; NY 17
Toward I 86: Corning
38
Keep slight left at fork onto I 390
33 mi
·
37 min
·
Genesee Expressway
Toward I 390: Rochester
39
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 6
Toward NY 36: Mount Morris, Letchworth Park
40
Turn left onto NY 36
4.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Sonyea Road
41
Continue on NY 36
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Main Street
42
Continue on NY 36
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Mount Morris Road
43
Turn left onto CR 64
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Perry Road
44
Continue on US 20A
7.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Leicester Road
45
Continue on US 20A
4.6 mi
·
8 min
·
East Buffalo Street
46
Continue on US 20A
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
West Buffalo Road
47
Continue on US 20A
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Varysburg Road
48
Continue on US 20A
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Big Tree Road
49
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
50
Merge onto NY 400
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Aurora Expressway
51
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 90 East: Buffalo
52
Merge onto I 90
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
New York State Thruway
53
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 53
Toward I 190 North: Downtown Buffalo, Niagara Falls
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
54
Continue on I 190
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Niagara Thruway
55
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 7
Toward Buffalo, Outer Harbor, Church Street
Use the slight right lane.
56
Continue on NY 5
521 ft
·
21 sec
·
Church Street
57
Turn left onto NY 384
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Delaware Avenue
Use the left lane.
58
Enter roundabout onto NY 384
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Niagara Square
59
Arrive at destination
NY 384
Trip Plan
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 234 miles from Southold, NY, or about 5h 4m 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 103 miles or 2h 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 234 miles or 5h 4m 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 234 miles or 5h 4m
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 8h 31m
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 Southold, 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 Southold, NY
Aim for roughly 234 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Buffalo, NY
Aim for roughly 234 miles and 5 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 103 miles from Southold, 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 234 mi from Southold, NY · 5h 4m into the drive
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
234 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 Ramapo, NYOvernight Options
Night 1
234 mi · about 5h in
A practical overnight split lands near Ramapo, NY after about 234 miles or 5 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 103 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 234 miles from Southold, 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 234 miles or 5 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
$77.02 one way
$154.04 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
164 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $83.28 | $166.57 |
| premium | $4.92 | $90.69 | $181.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $103.31 | $206.61 |
Estimated Tolls: $23.38
George Washington Bridge
$16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge
$6.55
New Jersey Turnpike
(2 mi)
$0.28
Northville Turnpike
(3.4 mi)
$0.24
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
$77
Tolls
$23
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$230–$340
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 163.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $49 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 140.4 | 1 | $49.13 | $22.46 |
| Efficient EV | 117 | 1 | $40.94 | $18.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 187.2 | 2 | $65.51 | $29.95 |
Gas CO2
164 kg
EV CO2
55 kg (66% 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
Afternoon in Buffalo on Wednesday
Local time
1:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Ramapo, NY
234 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.
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
13 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
9h 59m 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 Southold, NY to Buffalo, NY covers 467.9 miles and takes about 9h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 86, Christopher Columbus Highway, I 81. 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 234 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 234 miles from Southold, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $77.02 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 38 significant decision points across 467.9 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 22.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 78.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 78.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Southold, NY and Buffalo, NY, road signs point toward Kennedy Airport, Cross Island Parkway North, Bronx, New England, Upper Level and Njtp South: Hackensack - among others.
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