Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
47m
Distance
35 mi
56 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Buffalo, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Alabama, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
If you are planning a quick excursion from Buffalo to Alabama, New York, you are looking at a short, manageable trip covering 35 miles. Expect to spend about 47 minutes behind the wheel, making this an ideal candidate for a single-day journey rather than an overnight stay. You will navigate through the Northeast region using a combination of the Kensington Expressway, the New York State Thruway, and Alleghany Road. Budgeting roughly $6 for fuel is sufficient for the round trip, providing an affordable way to get between these two points. Because the drive is brief, you have plenty of flexibility to structure your schedule around your own needs.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New York State Thruway | 19.7 mi | 23m |
| Kensington Expressway | 6.8 mi | 9m |
| Alleghany Road | 6.6 mi | 9m |
| Genesee Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Washington Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Court Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Niagara Square | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Lafayette Square | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Buffalo, NY and Alabama, NY.
Start on NY 384
Continue on Court Street
Continue on Lafayette Square
Turn left onto Washington Street
Turn right onto Genesee Street
Turn left onto Elm Street
Take the exit
Continue on NY 33
Take the exit
Merge onto I 90
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Turn left onto NY 77
Turn right onto Lewiston Road
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
18 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.
A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 17.5 miles from Buffalo, 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 27.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto Washington Street
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto Elm Street
Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward NY 33 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Take the exit toward I 90 East: Niagara Falls, Albany
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward NY 77: Pembroke, Medina
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$5.76 one way
$11.52 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $6.23 | $12.46 |
| premium | $4.92 | $6.78 | $13.57 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.73 | $15.46 |
Estimated Tolls: $0.98
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Tolls
$1
Total
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.5 | 0 | $3.68 | $1.68 |
| Efficient EV | 8.8 | 0 | $3.06 | $1.40 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 14 | 0 | $4.90 | $2.24 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in Buffalo on Tuesday
Local time
4:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
68°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in Alabama on Tuesday
Local time
4:11 AM
EDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
This 35-mile trek offers a distinct blend of urban infrastructure and local road driving. You will spend about 19% of your time on the highway, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 19.7 miles on the New York State Thruway. The remainder of the trip transitions into a turn-heavy local drive, requiring you to stay alert as you navigate off the main expressway. This mix keeps the experience engaging, as you move from high-speed segments into the more technical, slower-paced sections of the route. It is a straightforward trip, but the change in road type ensures you stay focused until you reach your destination.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Washington Street.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 35 miles you will encounter 10 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 0.3 miles (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (Elm Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
281 ft
Total Descent
234 ft
Highest Point
867 ft
~30.6 mi in
Elevation Range
269 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Buffalo, NY and Alabama, NY, road signs point toward Albany and Medina.
Albany
Medina
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
Founded 1826
Alabama is a state in the Southern United States. Alabama is known for its civil rights history and scenic beauty, and has a lot to offer those who enjoy the great outdoors, from Gulf Coast beaches to 40 National and stare parks.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 47m. Total distance: 35 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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