This 351.1-mile journey from Verplanck, NY, to Buffalo, NY, is a substantial drive that can be tackled in a single day, though it will take approximately 7 hours and 28 minutes of pure driving time. Primarily following Long Mountain Parkway and I-86, this route offers a highway-focused experience across New York State. With a projected fuel cost of around $58, it's an efficient way to travel between these two points. You'll encounter two planned stops, making it manageable for a day trip if you're prepared for the long haul, or you could consider an overnight break to enjoy the scenery at a more relaxed pace. The drive stays within the Northeast region, offering a consistent feel throughout.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
175.6 miles from Verplanck, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 42m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 28m. Total distance: 351.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 28m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Drive Character
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive for 83% of this 351.1-mile trip. You'll spend a significant amount of time on I-86 and NY 17, which are designed for steady progress. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 107.6 miles on Long Mountain Parkway, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent speed. While primarily highway, the route offers a practical and efficient way to cover ground, allowing for a relatively straightforward driving experience as you transition from the eastern to the western part of New York.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 39 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Long Mountain Parkway is the longest continuous segment at about 107.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Mountain Parkway and I 86. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 11.2 miles in near US 6.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 351.1 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 11.2 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 285.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 345 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 24 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
11.2 mi into trip|~20m in|US 6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6 toward US 6: Central Valley, Seven Lakes Drive, New York State Thruway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 18
Toward US 6: Central Valley, Seven Lakes Drive,...
6
285.7 mi into trip|~5h 50m in
Take the exit toward NY 36: Mount Morris, Letchworth Park
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 6
Toward NY 36: Mount Morris, Letchworth Park
8
345 mi into trip|~7h 18m in
Take the exit toward I 190 North: Downtown Buffalo, Niagara Falls
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 53
Toward I 190 North: Downtown Buffalo, Niagara F...
8
350.5 mi into trip|~7h 26m in
Take the exit toward Buffalo, Outer Harbor, Church Street
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 7
Toward Buffalo, Outer Harbor, Church Street
7
350.8 mi into trip|~7h 27m in|NY 384 / Delaware Avenue
Turn left onto NY 384 / Delaware Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Verplanck, NY to Buffalo, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Letchworth Park along the way.
Letchworth Park
285.7 mi in|~5h 50m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Long Mountain Parkway
107.6 mi
2h 14m
I 86
100 mi
1h 56m
NY 17
33.7 mi
40m
Genesee Expressway
32.9 mi
37m
Aurora Expressway
12.5 mi
14m
Varysburg Road
10.9 mi
15m
Big Tree Road
10.5 mi
15m
Leicester Road
7.4 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
Long Mountain Parkway
— 107.6 mi, about 2h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Verplanck, NY and Buffalo, NY.
1
Start on Broadway
1.4 mi·3 min·Broadway
2
Turn right onto Bleakley Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·Bleakley Avenue
3
At end of road, turn left onto NY 9A
0.4 mi·39 sec·Albany Post Road
4
Turn right onto Welcher Avenue
274 ft·13 sec·Welcher Avenue
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
6
Merge onto US 9
1.8 mi·3 min·US 9
7
Turn left onto US 6; US 9; US 202
0.2 mi·12 sec·US 6; US 9; US 202
8
Enter roundabout onto Bear Mountain Bridge Road
128 ft·1 sec·Bear Mountain Bridge Road
9
Continue on Bear Mountain Bridge Road
4.2 mi·7 min·Bear Mountain Bridge Road
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Turn slight right onto US 6; US 202
319 ft·7 sec·US 6; US 202
11
Enter roundabout onto US 6
295 ft·4 sec·Palisades Interstate Parkway
12
Continue on US 6
2.5 mi·3 min·Palisades Interstate Parkway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
0.3 mi·21 sec·US 6
Exit 18Toward US 6: Central Valley, Seven Lakes Drive, New York State Thruway
14
Enter roundabout onto US 6
177 ft·2 sec·Long Mountain Parkway
15
Continue on US 6
108 mi·2 hr 14 min·Long Mountain Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on NY 17
34 mi·40 min·NY 17
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17
100 mi·1 hr 56 min·I 86; NY 17
Toward I 86: Corning
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 390
33 mi·37 min·Genesee Expressway
Toward I 390: Rochester
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 6Toward NY 36: Mount Morris, Letchworth Park
20
Turn left onto NY 36
4.3 mi·7 min·Sonyea Road
21
Continue on NY 36
1.8 mi·4 min·Main Street
22
Continue on NY 36
1.3 mi·1 min·Mount Morris Road
23
Turn left onto CR 64
2.3 mi·3 min·Perry Road
24
Continue on US 20A
7.4 mi·10 min·Leicester Road
25
Continue on US 20A
4.6 mi·8 min·East Buffalo Street
26
Continue on US 20A
1.7 mi·2 min·West Buffalo Road
27
Continue on US 20A
11 mi·15 min·Varysburg Road
28
Continue on US 20A
11 mi·15 min·Big Tree Road
29
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
30
Merge onto NY 400
13 mi·14 min·Aurora Expressway
31
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 90 East: Buffalo
32
Merge onto I 90
1.3 mi·1 min·New York State Thruway
33
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 53Toward I 190 North: Downtown Buffalo, Niagara FallsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Continue on I 190
4.9 mi·6 min·Niagara Thruway
35
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
Exit 7Toward Buffalo, Outer Harbor, Church StreetUse the slight right lane.
36
Continue on NY 5
521 ft·21 sec·Church Street
37
Turn left onto NY 384
0.2 mi·29 sec·Delaware Avenue
Use the left lane.
38
Enter roundabout onto NY 384
0.2 mi·30 sec·Niagara Square
39
Arrive at destination
NY 384
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 7-hour, 28-minute drive to Buffalo, starting early is key to avoiding potential traffic and maximizing daylight. With two recommended stops, plan to break up the 351.1 miles into manageable segments. The longest stretch is over 100 miles, so ensure you're fueled up before embarking on that portion. Given the highway-focused nature and the $58 estimated fuel cost, it's a route where you can maintain a good pace. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 107.6-mile stretch on Long Mountain Parkway, to ensure you don't need to deviate from your planned stops.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 175.6 miles from Verplanck, NY, or about 3h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.6 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 77 miles or 1h 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 175.6 miles or 3h 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h
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 Verplanck, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Verplanck, NY
This is one driving day of about 351.1 miles and 7h 28m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 77 miles from Verplanck, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Long Mountain Parkway for about 107.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 175.6 mi from Verplanck, NY
· 3h 42m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$57.79 one way
$115.59 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg123 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$62.49
$124.99
premium
$4.92
$68.05
$136.10
diesel
$5.61
$77.52
$155.04
Estimated Tolls: $0.31
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
$58
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 122.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
31 DC fast chargers
· Coverage: excellent
HondoGO Charging Station
Garnerville, New York
Other
1 DCFC
ViaLynk Charging Station
Goshen, New York
ViaLynk
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Painted Post, New York
Tesla
1 DCFC
EVolve NY Charging Station
Stony Point, New York
Other
1 DCFC
Tesla Supercharger
Dansville, New York
Tesla
1 DCFC
Electrify America Charging Station
Binghamton, New York
Electrify America
1 DCFC
EVolve NY Charging Station
Owego, New York
Other
1 DCFC
EvGateway Charging Station
Owego, New York
Other
1 DCFC
Other: 14
ChargePoint: 6
Tesla: 4
ViaLynk: 2
Electrify America: 2
EV Connect: 2
Tesla Destination: 1
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
105.3
1
$36.87
$16.85
Efficient EV
87.8
1
$30.72
$14.04
EV Truck/SUV
140.4
1
$49.15
$22.47
Gas CO2
123 kg
EV CO2
41 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Verplanck, NY
Morning
in Verplanck on Friday
Local time
6:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Buffalo, NY
Morning
in Buffalo on Friday
Local time
6:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Areas Of Fog
W 5 mph17% chanceLive forecast
53°F
Union, NY
176 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
4 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
7h 28m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Verplanck, NY to Buffalo, NY covers 351.1 miles and takes about 7h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Long Mountain Parkway, I 86, NY 17. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 175.6 miles from Verplanck, NY. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $57.79 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 24 significant decision points across 351.1 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 11.2 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 285.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 345 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Verplanck, NY to Buffalo, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Letchworth Park along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
EV charging comes from the
NREL Alternative Fuels
dataset.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
