This 166.2-mile journey from Union to Buffalo, NY, is designed for a single day, taking approximately 3 hours and 33 minutes. Primarily utilizing the New York State Thruway, with segments on the Cherry Valley Turnpike and Chase Street, it offers a straightforward drive through the Northeast region. With an estimated fuel cost of $27, this route is an economical choice for a day trip. Expect a relatively quick travel time, making it convenient for those looking to reach their destination without an overnight stop. The overall feel is that of a practical, efficient transit between two points within New York State.
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
83.1 miles from Union, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 53m into the drive
.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 33m. Total distance: 166.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
This drive is characterized as a "turn-heavy local drive," despite a significant portion being on the New York State Thruway. With 24% of the route on highways, you'll experience a mix of faster travel and more involved local road navigation. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 100.8 miles on the New York State Thruway, offering a period of consistent cruising. However, be prepared for the "turn-heavy" nature, suggesting frequent adjustments and potentially more active driving as you transition between different road types and navigate local areas. This profile indicates a drive that requires attention to steering and navigation.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 28 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 100.8 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 56.7 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 166.2 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 56.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 56.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 158.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
56.7 mi into trip|~1h 22m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
56.9 mi into trip|~1h 22m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 West: Buffalo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 90 West: Buffalo
7
158.3 mi into trip|~3h 20m 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
165 mi into trip|~3h 30m 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
165.9 mi into trip|~3h 32m 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
100.8 mi
1h 57m
Cherry Valley Turnpike
21.8 mi
27m
Chase Street
9.8 mi
11m
East Genesee Street
7.5 mi
14m
Route 20
6.6 mi
9m
Kensington Expressway
6.4 mi
8m
NY 318
4.1 mi
7m
Oran Delphi Road
2.5 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 100.8 mi, about 1h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Union, NY and Buffalo, NY.
1
Start on Kiley Road
73 ft·9 sec·Kiley Road
2
Turn left onto CR 46
0.8 mi·2 min·Delphi Road
3
Continue on Delphi Falls Road
0.7 mi·1 min·Delphi Falls Road
4
Turn right onto Oran Delphi Road
2.5 mi·3 min·Oran Delphi Road
5
Turn left onto US 20
6.6 mi·9 min·Route 20
6
Continue on US 20
22 mi·27 min·Cherry Valley Turnpike
7
Continue on US 20
7.5 mi·14 min·East Genesee Street
8
Turn right onto US 20
0.2 mi·12 sec·North Fulton Street
9
Turn left onto US 20; NY 5
0.4 mi·1 min·Arterial West
10
Continue on US 20; NY 5; NY 38
9.8 mi·11 min·Chase Street
Use the left lane.
11
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.9 mi·2 min·Auburn Road
12
Turn right onto NY 318
4.1 mi·7 min·NY 318
13
Continue on NY 318
319 ft·10 sec·NY 318
Use the right lane.
14
Turn right onto NY 414
0.3 mi·28 sec·State Route 414
Use the right lane.
15
Continue on NY 414
217 ft·11 sec·Ridge Road
Use the left lane.
16
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
Use the left lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 West: BuffaloUse the straight / right lanes.
18
Merge onto I 90
101 mi·1 hr 57 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Exit 51WToward NY 33 West: BuffaloUse the slight right lane.
20
Merge onto NY 33
6.4 mi·8 min·Kensington Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·39 sec
Toward Oak StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on Oak Street
428 ft·14 sec·Oak Street
23
Turn right onto Genesee Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·Genesee Street
Use the right lane.
24
Turn right onto East Huron Street
0.1 mi·34 sec·East Huron Street
25
Turn left onto Franklin Street
0.1 mi·22 sec·Franklin Street
Use the left lane.
26
Turn right onto Genesee Street
402 ft·11 sec·Genesee Street
27
Enter roundabout onto NY 384
391 ft·11 sec·Niagara Square
28
Arrive at destination
NY 384
Trip Plan
Given its 3-hour and 33-minute duration, this 166.2-mile trip is easily manageable in a single day. You could depart Union in the morning and arrive in Buffalo by lunchtime, leaving ample time for activities. With only one recommended stop, flexibility is key; you can choose when and where to pull over based on your needs. A concrete tip for this route: pay close attention to signage when transitioning off the New York State Thruway onto local roads like Cherry Valley Turnpike or Chase Street, as the "turn-heavy" profile suggests these can be less intuitive. The estimated fuel cost of $27 should be factored into your budget.
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 83.1 miles from Union, NY, or about 1h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100.8 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 37 miles or 53m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 83.1 miles or 1h 53m 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 55m
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 Union, 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 Union, NY
This is one driving day of about 166.2 miles and 3h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Union, 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 100.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 83.1 mi from Union, NY
· 1h 53m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Harriet Tubman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Harriet Tubman was guided by a deep faith and devotion to family, freedom, and community. After emancipating herself and members of her family, she moved them from Ontario, Canada to Fleming and Aubur...
Women’s Rights National Historical Park tells the story of the first Women’s Rights Convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York on July 19-20, 1848. It is a story of struggles for civil rights, human r...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 54.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.36 one way
$54.72 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg58 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$29.58
$59.16
premium
$4.92
$32.21
$64.43
diesel
$5.61
$36.69
$73.39
Estimated Tolls: $6.57
New York State Thruway
(100.8 mi)$5.04
Cherry Valley Turnpike
(21.8 mi)$1.53
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
$27
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 58.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
49.9
0
$17.45
$7.98
Efficient EV
41.6
0
$14.54
$6.65
EV Truck/SUV
66.5
0
$23.27
$10.64
Gas CO2
58 kg
EV CO2
19 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Union, NY
Evening
in Union on Friday
Local time
8:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Buffalo, NY
Evening
in Buffalo on Friday
Local time
8:17 PM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 13 mph85% chanceLive forecast
41°F
Fayette, NY
83 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
15 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
3h 33m 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 Union, NY to Buffalo, NY covers 166.2 miles and takes about 3h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are New York State Thruway, Cherry Valley Turnpike, Chase Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 83.1 miles from Union, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.36 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 166.2 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 56.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 56.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 158.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Union, NY to Buffalo, NY does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Harriet Tubman National Historical Park and Women's Rights National Historical Park.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
