Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 13m
Distance
54.3 mi
87 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
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
Albion, NY
Wikimedia Commons
If you are planning a quick excursion from Buffalo to Albion, you are looking at a manageable 54.3-mile trip that typically takes about 1 hour and 13 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day outing, meaning you can easily head out and return home without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $9 for fuel to cover the distance comfortably. Navigating through the Northeast, you will transition from the urban atmosphere of Buffalo toward the quieter, local setting of Albion. Because the total travel time is quite short, it serves as an efficient way to move between these two New York locations.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New York State Thruway | 19.7 mi | 23m |
| Alleghany Road | 8.9 mi | 13m |
| State Route 31 | 7.1 mi | 8m |
| Kensington Expressway | 6.8 mi | 9m |
| South Gravel Road | 5.4 mi | 7m |
| Million Dollar Highway | 1.5 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 1 mi | 2m |
| East Center Street | 0.8 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Buffalo, NY and Albion, 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
Continue on NY 63
Continue on NY 31; NY 63
Turn right onto NY 31
Continue on NY 31
Turn straight onto NY 31
Continue on NY 31
Turn left onto NY 98
Arrive at destination
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.
A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 27.1 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
$8.94 one way
$17.88 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $9.66 | $19.33 |
| premium | $4.92 | $10.52 | $21.05 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $11.99 | $23.98 |
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
$9
Tolls
$1
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 19 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 | 16.3 | 0 | $5.70 | $2.61 |
| Efficient EV | 13.6 | 0 | $4.75 | $2.17 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 21.7 | 0 | $7.60 | $3.48 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Buffalo on Saturday
Local time
10:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
62°F
Partly Sunny
Destination
Night in Albion on Saturday
Local time
10:48 PM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
58°F
Akron, NY
27 mi in
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.
Expect a turn-heavy local drive that requires your full attention as you transition off the faster highway segments. While about 26% of your journey is spent on the New York State Thruway, the majority of your time is dedicated to navigating Alleghany Road and State Route 31. Your longest stretch of uninterrupted interstate driving lasts only 19.7 miles, so prepare for frequent changes in road type and speed limits. The drive shifts from the high-speed flow of the Thruway into a more technical, winding local experience. This mix of roads ensures that you will not be stuck in a monotonous interstate grind for the duration of the trip.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 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 54.3 miles you will encounter 11 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
314 ft
Total Descent
378 ft
Highest Point
855 ft
~29.4 mi in
Elevation Range
321 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Buffalo, NY and Albion, NY, road signs point toward Albany and Medina.
Albany
Medina
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.
Albion is the county seat of Orleans County, New York and was founded in 1812.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 13m. Total distance: 54.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 13m 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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