Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 57m
Distance
145.2 mi
234 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Buffalo, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Amboy, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Planning a trip from Buffalo to Amboy, NY? This 145.2-mile drive will take you about 2 hours and 57 minutes, making it a very manageable day trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $24, it's an economical journey through New York's Northeast region. The route primarily utilizes the New York State Thruway, Kensington Expressway, and Pottery Road, offering a mix of driving experiences. You'll likely only need one planned stop along the way, so you can easily complete this drive in a single day without an overnight stay.
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
72.6 miles from Buffalo, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 27m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New York State Thruway | 132 mi | 2h 32m |
| Kensington Expressway | 6.8 mi | 9m |
| Pottery Road | 2.1 mi | 4m |
| Warners Road | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Herman Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Jones Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Genesee Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Washington Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Buffalo, NY and Amboy, 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
Keep slight right at fork
Continue on I 690
Take the exit
Turn left onto Jones Road
Turn left onto Van Buren Road
Turn right onto Herman Road
Turn left onto Pottery Road
At end of road, turn left onto NY 173
Turn left onto Airport Road
Arrive at destination
Given the relatively short duration of under 3 hours, you have a lot of flexibility with departure times. Aiming to leave Buffalo earlier in the day can help you avoid any potential local traffic as you approach your destination. While the longest stretch is a substantial 132 miles on the Thruway, remember to factor in that single recommended stop to stretch your legs and refuel if needed. Keep an eye out for the transition points between the Thruway and the local roads, as this is where the driving character shifts most noticeably.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
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 32 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 72.6 miles or 1h 27m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Amboy, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Buffalo, 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 Buffalo, NY
This is one driving day of about 145.2 miles and 2h 57m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
73 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 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 72.6 miles from Buffalo, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before New York State Thruway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 132 miles.
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 0.8 and 141.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto Elm Street
Lane positioning matters here
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 I 690, NY 690: Syracuse, Fulton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 690 East: Fairgrounds, Syracuse
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Turn left onto Jones Road
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$23.90 one way
$47.80 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $25.84 | $51.69 |
| premium | $4.92 | $28.14 | $56.29 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $32.06 | $64.12 |
Estimated Tolls: $6.60
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
$24
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 50.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 43.6 | 0 | $15.25 | $6.97 |
| Efficient EV | 36.3 | 0 | $12.70 | $5.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 58.1 | 0 | $20.33 | $9.29 |
Gas CO2
51 kg
EV CO2
17 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 Sunday
Local time
3:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 15 at 11:57PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Destination
Late night in Amboy on Sunday
Local time
3:48 AM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
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
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
National Historical Park
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Expect a route with a turn-heavy local drive feel, despite 5% of it being highway. You'll experience a significant stretch of 132 miles on the New York State Thruway, which offers a chance for consistent speed. However, the overall profile suggests a more varied driving experience, likely involving more frequent turns and changes in speed as you navigate local roads. This isn't a monotonous interstate grind; rather, it's a drive that keeps you engaged with its mix of highway and local road segments.
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 0.8 miles in near Elm Street.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 145.2 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 0.8 miles (Elm Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 140.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Buffalo, NY to Amboy, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Albany along the way.
Albany
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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 57m. Total distance: 145.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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