Origin
Albion, NY
Late night in Albion on Tuesday
Local time
4:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Albion, NY to Buffalo, NY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 12m
Distance
53.8 mi
87 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 7m
★
6 AM
1h 13m
8 AM
1h 25m
10 AM
1h 17m
12 PM
1h 16m
3 PM
1h 18m
5 PM
1h 24m
8 PM
1h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Albion, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Buffalo, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Albion, NY to Buffalo, NY is 53.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 12 minutes via New York State Thruway and State Route 31, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within New York, connecting two points in the Northeast region. Expect a drive that involves navigating local roads and some highway time, making it more of a turn-heavy local experience than a pure interstate cruise. It's a manageable distance, perfect for a day trip or as a segment of a larger journey, and you won't need an overnight stay.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New York State Thruway | 19 mi | 22m |
| Alleghany Road | 8.9 mi | 13m |
| State Route 31 | 7.1 mi | 8m |
| Kensington Expressway | 6.4 mi | 8m |
| South Gravel Road | 5.4 mi | 7m |
| Million Dollar Highway | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| East Center Street | 0.8 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 19 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Albion, NY and Buffalo, NY.
1
Start on NY 98
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
·
North Main Street
2
Turn right onto NY 31
0.8 mi
·
51 sec
·
West Avenue
3
Continue on NY 31
7.1 mi
·
8 min
·
State Route 31
4
Turn straight onto NY 31
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Million Dollar Highway
5
Continue on NY 31
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
East Center Street
6
Turn left onto NY 31; NY 63
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
7
Continue on NY 63
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
South Gravel Road
8
Continue on NY 63
8.9 mi
·
13 min
·
Alleghany Road
9
Take the ramp
369 ft
·
9 sec
10
Continue on this road
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
this road
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.9 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 90 West: Buffalo
12
Merge onto I 90
19 mi
·
22 min
·
New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 51W
Toward NY 33 West: Buffalo
Use the slight right lane.
14
Merge onto NY 33
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Kensington Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
Toward Oak Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on Oak Street
428 ft
·
14 sec
·
Oak Street
17
Turn right onto Genesee Street
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Genesee Street
Use the right lane.
18
Turn right onto East Huron Street
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
East Huron Street
19
Turn left onto Franklin Street
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Franklin Street
Use the left lane.
20
Turn right onto Genesee Street
402 ft
·
11 sec
·
Genesee Street
21
Enter roundabout onto NY 384
391 ft
·
11 sec
·
Niagara Square
22
Arrive at destination
NY 384
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
27 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 26.9 miles from Albion, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 26 and 53.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
26 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 West: Buffalo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 90 West: Buffalo
7
45.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 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
52.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m 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
53.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m in
|
Genesee Street
Turn right onto Genesee Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
53.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
|
Franklin Street
Turn left onto Franklin Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.86 one way
$17.71 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $9.58 | $19.15 |
| premium | $4.92 | $10.43 | $20.85 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.88 | $23.76 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.95
New York State Thruway
(19 mi)
$0.95
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$1
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 18.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.1 | 0 | $5.65 | $2.58 |
| Efficient EV | 13.5 | 0 | $4.71 | $2.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.5 | 0 | $7.53 | $3.44 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Late night in Buffalo on Tuesday
Local time
4:58 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
44°F
Pembroke, NY
27 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
13 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 12m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive has a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile, meaning you'll be doing more than just cruising on the highway. With only 25% of the route on highways, you'll experience a mix of faster stretches and more involved local road navigation, particularly on State Route 31. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 19 miles on the New York State Thruway. Be prepared for frequent turns and changes in speed as you transition between different types of roads.
Only 25% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 19 mi on New York State Thruway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 26 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 53.8 miles you will encounter 13 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 26 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 45.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Albion, NY
Full guide →Albion is the county seat of Orleans County, New York and was founded in 1812.
Arriving in Buffalo, NY
Full guide →Founded 1832
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.
Top landmarks
- • Buffalo AKG Art Museum — art museum in New York, US
- • Buffalo City Hall — skyscraper and municipal building in Buffalo, New York, USA
- • USS Croaker — 1943 Gato-class submarine
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 12m. Total distance: 53.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 19 miles on New York State Thruway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.95 in tolls one way, starting with New York State Thruway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Buffalo, NY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 26 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 45.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 52.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Buffalo, NY before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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