Trip from Buffalo, NY to Baldwin, NY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
8h 22m
Distance
401.9 mi
647 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
2-day trip
Fuel Cost
$71
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Buffalo, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Baldwin, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Trip Overview
Buffalo to Baldwin is 401.9 miles and takes about 8h 22m via Southern Tier Expressway, Keystone Shortway, and I 81, with a fuel budget near $67 and definitely an overnight trip. This drive stays within the Northeast, primarily crossing New York State with a brief dip into Pennsylvania. Given the 8+ hour driving time, planning for two days makes the most sense, allowing for a more relaxed pace. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on major highways, so expect a fairly direct, though not entirely uneventful, transit.
Trip Pace
Best split across 2 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
200.9 miles from Buffalo, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 15m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Tier Expressway | 104.5 mi | 2h 2m |
| Keystone Shortway | 80 mi | 1h 37m |
| I 81 | 53.4 mi | 1h 3m |
| Genesee Expressway | 32.6 mi | 37m |
| I 380 | 23.6 mi | 25m |
| Aurora Expressway | 12.4 mi | 14m |
| Varysburg Road | 10.9 mi | 15m |
| Big Tree Road | 10.5 mi | 15m |
Traffic on I-80
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 336 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,190 veh/hr typical · worst 4,979
Quietest
1 AM
~446 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 103 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buffalo, NY and Baldwin, NY.
Start on NY 384
Continue on Perkins Drive
At end of road, turn left onto NY 5
Keep slight right at fork
At end of road, turn right onto Church Street
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 190
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 90
Take the exit
Continue on NY 400
Take the exit
Turn left onto US 20A; NY 78
Continue on US 20A; NY 78
Continue on US 20A
Continue on US 20A
Continue on US 20A
Continue on US 20A
Continue on CR 64
Turn right onto NY 36
Continue on NY 36
Continue on NY 36
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 390
Merge onto I 86
Keep slight right at fork onto I 81
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
Continue on I 84; I 380
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 80
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
Keep slight left at fork
Keep slight right at fork
Turn right
Turn straight onto CR 56
Continue on CR 56
Continue on CR 56
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46
Take the exit
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
Continue on I 95; US 1
Continue on I 95; US 1
Keep slight right at fork onto I 295
Merge onto I 295
Continue on I 295
Continue on I 295
Continue on NY 24
At end of road, turn left onto NY 24
Turn right onto Hempstead Avenue
Turn right onto 225th Street
Take the ramp
Merge onto CI
Continue on BP
Keep slight right at fork onto BP
Take the exit
At end of road, turn right onto Laurelton Parkway
Turn right onto Francis Lewis Boulevard
Turn left onto NY 27
Continue on NY 27
Turn left onto Grand Avenue
Turn left
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 8-hour driving time, this route is best tackled over two days. Aim to depart Buffalo in the morning to make good progress. With two recommended days, you can comfortably complete about half the distance on day one, breaking up the 401.9 miles. Consider stopping for the night around the halfway point, which falls within Pennsylvania on the Keystone Shortway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 104.5-mile stretch on the Southern Tier Expressway, as services might be less frequent in certain sections.
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.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 88 miles or 2h 3m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 200.9 miles or 4h 15m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 200.9 miles or 4h 15m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 7h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Baldwin, NY than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
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.
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Treat this as a 2-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Buffalo, NY
Aim for roughly 201 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Baldwin, NY
Aim for roughly 201 miles and 4.2 hours of wheel time on this day.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Overnight candidate
201 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Barton, NYOvernight Options
Night 1
201 mi · about 4.2h in
A practical overnight split lands near Barton, NY after about 201 miles or 4.2 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
A short stop after about 88 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 200.9 miles from Buffalo, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Southern Tier Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 104.5 miles.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 201 miles or 4.2 hours on the road.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Rest Area
Nichols Rest Area
Rest Area
Campbell Rest Area
Crescent Lake Rest Area
Rest Area
Rest Area
Pilot Travel Center
TA
Flying J Travel Center
Owego Rest Area
Broome Gateway Rest Area
Pennsylvania Welcome Center
Rest Area
Onvo Travel Plaza
Rest Area
Kanona Rest Area
Onvo Travel Plaza
Love's Travel Stop
TA
Penn-Can Travel Plaza
Service Plaza
Service Plaza
Pennsylvania Welcome Center
Erwin Text Zone / Parking Area
Love's Travel Stop
TA
Onvo Travel Plaza
Service Plaza
Service Plaza
Service Plaza
Service Plaza
Service Plaza
Mount Morris Rest Area
Geneseo Rest Area
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 435 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 394.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight left at fork toward I 190 South, NY 5 West: Skyway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward I 90 West: Erie
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6 toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork toward Leonia, Teaneck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Francis Lewis Boulevard
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$71.00 one way
$141.99 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.86 | $76.82 | $153.64 |
| premium | $5.28 | $83.48 | $166.96 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $97.77 | $195.54 |
Estimated Tolls: $22.85
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
$71
Tolls
$23
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$224–$334
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 140.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $42 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 120.6 | 1 | $42.20 | $19.29 |
| Efficient EV | 100.5 | 1 | $35.17 | $16.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 160.8 | 2 | $56.27 | $25.72 |
Gas CO2
141 kg
EV CO2
47 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.
Origin
Buffalo, NY
Afternoon in Buffalo on Saturday
Local time
4:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Chance Rain Showers
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:20AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Upton NY
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 1:29AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY
Destination
Baldwin, NY
Afternoon in Baldwin on Saturday
Local time
4:49 PM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Rain Showers Likely
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:20AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Upton NY
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 1:29AM EDT until October 18 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY
38°F
Barton, NY
201 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
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
5 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
8h 22m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Hamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
Merchant’s clerk, Revolutionary War soldier, first Secretary Treasury of the United States: Alexander Hamilton’s life is memorialized at The Grange, the home he built on a country estate in uptown Man...
General Grant National Memorial
National Memorial
The final resting place of President Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, Julia, is the largest mausoleum in North America. It testifies to a people’s gratitude for the man who ended the bloodiest conflict...
Stonewall National Monument
National Monument
Before the 1960s, almost everything about living authentically as a lesbian, a bisexual person or a gay man was illegal. The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969 is a milestone in the quest for civil r...
African Burial Ground National Monument
National Monument
The African Burial Ground stands as the oldest and largest known excavated burial site in North America for both free and enslaved Africans. It offers a profound testament to the enduring legacy of Af...
Federal Hall National Memorial
National Memorial
Here at Federal Hall, George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States, marking the beginning of the American constitutional republic. This historic site served as...
Castle Clinton National Monument
National Monument
Located at the southern tip of Manhattan, Castle Clinton marks the place where New York City began and reflects the growth of both the city and the nation. Built to defend the harbor during the War of...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is predominantly highway driving, with 62% of the 401.9 miles covered on major interstates. The longest continuous stretch on highways is 104.5 miles, primarily on the Southern Tier Expressway. You'll transition from highway to surface roads as you approach your destination, so be prepared for more local traffic and potentially more frequent exits in the latter half of your drive. Expect a steady cruising pace for most of the 8 hours and 22 minutes.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern Tier Expressway and Keystone Shortway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 43 significant decision points across 401.9 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 0.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 5.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 255.8 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
Total Climb
2,193 ft
Total Descent
2,770 ft
Highest Point
1,537 ft
~86.1 mi in
Elevation Range
1,516 ft
Notable High Points
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Buffalo, NY and Baldwin, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford, New York City, Leonia, Teaneck and George Washington Bridge Upper Level.
Mt Pocono
Milford
New York City
Leonia
Teaneck
George Washington Bridge Upper Level
About the Cities
Starting 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
Arriving in Baldwin, NY
Full guide →Founded 1813
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Frequently Asked Questions
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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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