Origin
Stafford, NY
Morning in Stafford on Saturday
Local time
6:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Stafford, 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
1h 3m
Distance
47.2 mi
76 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 58m
★
6 AM
1h 3m
8 AM
1h 13m
10 AM
1h 7m
12 PM
1h 6m
3 PM
1h 7m
5 PM
1h 13m
8 PM
1h 0m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Stafford, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Stafford to Buffalo is 47.2 miles and takes about 1 hour 3 minutes via New York State Thruway, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward drive connecting two points within New York. You'll be traveling through the Northeast region, with the route primarily utilizing the New York State Thruway. Given its short duration and modest distance, this trip is ideal for a same-day excursion, offering a simple way to get from Stafford to Buffalo without significant time commitment.
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 1h 3m. Total distance: 47.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
This route is characterized as a 'turn-heavy local drive,' with only 14% of the journey on highways. You'll spend most of your time on local roads like East Main Street Road, which means frequent turns and varied speed limits. However, there's a significant stretch of 31.2 miles on the New York State Thruway, offering a period of more consistent, higher-speed travel. Expect the road to change from more rural or suburban settings to increasingly urban environments as you approach Buffalo.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 15 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 31.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.5 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.2 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 7.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 39.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 46 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
7.5 mi into trip
|
~12m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 90 West
7
39.3 mi into trip
|
~50m 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
46 mi into trip
|
~1h 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
6
46.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m in
|
Genesee Street
Turn right onto Genesee Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
46.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 2m 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 | 31.2 mi | 36m |
| Kensington Expressway | 6.4 mi | 8m |
| East Main Street Road | 6.1 mi | 9m |
| Oak Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Genesee Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Huron Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Franklin Street | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Niagara Square | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 31.2 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Stafford, NY and Buffalo, NY.
1
Start on NY 5
6.1 mi
·
9 min
·
East Main Street Road
2
Turn right onto NY 98
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Oak Street
3
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
4
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 90 West
5
Merge onto I 90
31 mi
·
36 min
·
New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 51W
Toward NY 33 West: Buffalo
Use the slight right lane.
7
Merge onto NY 33
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Kensington Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
Toward Oak Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on Oak Street
428 ft
·
14 sec
·
Oak Street
10
Turn right onto Genesee Street
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Genesee Street
Use the right lane.
11
Turn right onto East Huron Street
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
East Huron Street
12
Turn left onto Franklin Street
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Franklin Street
Use the left lane.
13
Turn right onto Genesee Street
402 ft
·
11 sec
·
Genesee Street
14
Enter roundabout onto NY 384
391 ft
·
11 sec
·
Niagara Square
15
Arrive at destination
NY 384
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 23.6 mi from Stafford, NY · 32m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
24 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23.6 miles from Stafford, 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.77 one way
$15.54 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $8.40 | $16.80 |
| premium | $4.92 | $9.15 | $18.30 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.42 | $20.84 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.56
New York State Thruway
(31.2 mi)
$1.56
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Tolls
$2
Total
$9
Estimated CO2 emission: 16.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.2 | 0 | $4.96 | $2.27 |
| Efficient EV | 11.8 | 0 | $4.13 | $1.89 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.9 | 0 | $6.61 | $3.02 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
6:04 AM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Mostly Clear
SE 7 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 18 at 2:37AM EDT until April 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Burlington VT
40°F
Pembroke, NY
24 mi in
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
11 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 3m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Stafford, NY to Buffalo, NY covers 47.2 miles and takes about 1h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are New York State Thruway, Kensington Expressway, East Main Street Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 23.6 miles from Stafford, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.77 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 47.2 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 7.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 39.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 46 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Stafford, 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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