Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 43m
Distance
377 mi
607 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$62
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
Chazy, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
This 377-mile journey from Buffalo, NY, to Chazy, NY, will take approximately 7 hours and 43 minutes of driving time. It's a manageable one-day trip, though you could certainly break it up if you prefer a more relaxed pace. The route primarily utilizes the New York State Thruway and I-81, making for a straightforward drive through the Northeast. With an estimated fuel cost of $62, this trip is budget-friendly. You'll encounter about 51% highway driving, offering a good balance between speed and varied scenery. This drive is a solid option for a single-day excursion within New York State.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
188.5 miles from Buffalo, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 43m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New York State Thruway | 138.6 mi | 2h 40m |
| I 81 | 69.5 mi | 1h 20m |
| State Route 11 | 53.6 mi | 1h 8m |
| US 11 | 51.7 mi | 59m |
| Lawrence Avenue | 27.5 mi | 35m |
| Main Street | 11.7 mi | 17m |
| Kensington Expressway | 6.8 mi | 9m |
| US 9 | 6.2 mi | 9m |
Step-by-step road directions between Buffalo, NY and Chazy, 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 straight
Merge onto I 81
Take the exit
Continue on I 781
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto US 11
Turn right onto US 11; NY 68
Turn slight right onto Maple Street
Continue on Main Street
Turn left onto Union Street
Turn right onto US 11
Turn left onto US 11
Continue on US 11
Continue on US 11
Continue on US 11
Continue on US 11
Continue on US 11
Continue on US 11
Turn left onto US 11
Continue on US 11
Enter roundabout onto US 11
Continue on US 11
Enter roundabout onto US 11
Continue on US 11
Turn right onto US 9
Turn left onto Church Street
Arrive at destination
To make the most of this 7-hour, 43-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Buffalo to avoid potential traffic. With two recommended stops, you can easily break up the 377 miles. Utilize the longest stretch of 138.6 miles on the New York State Thruway for a solid block of driving, then plan your stops around that. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially as you transition from the Thruway to I-81 and then State Route 11, as services can vary. The $62 fuel cost is an estimate, so factor that into your budget. This trip is definitely doable in one day, but if you opt for an overnight, planning around the halfway point would be sensible.
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.
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 83 miles or 1h 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 188.5 miles or 3h 43m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Chazy, 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.
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Buffalo, NY
This is one driving day of about 377 miles and 7h 43m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
189 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 83 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 188.5 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 138.6 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 0.3 and 146.8 — 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 I 81: Watertown, Binghamton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$62.06 one way
$124.11 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $67.10 | $134.21 |
| premium | $4.92 | $73.07 | $146.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $83.24 | $166.47 |
Estimated Tolls: $6.93
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
$62
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$94–$119
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 131.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 113.1 | 1 | $39.58 | $18.10 |
| Efficient EV | 94.3 | 1 | $32.99 | $15.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 150.8 | 1 | $52.78 | $24.13 |
Gas CO2
132 kg
EV CO2
44 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in Buffalo on Sunday
Local time
4:43 PM
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
Afternoon in Chazy on Sunday
Local time
4:43 PM
EDT
Current temp
51°F
Unavailable
39°F
Watertown, NY
189 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.
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
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 mixed drive on this route, with a significant portion on major interstates. You'll spend about 51% of your time on highways, including the New York State Thruway and I-81. The longest uninterrupted stretch spans 138.6 miles on the New York State Thruway, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent driving. As you progress, the road will transition from these high-speed corridors to State Route 11, offering a slight change of pace as you approach your destination. Overall, it's a drive that balances efficiency with moments of varied road conditions.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Washington Street.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 377 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 0.3 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.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Buffalo, NY and Chazy, NY, road signs point toward Binghamton, Watertown and Canton.
Binghamton
Watertown
Canton
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 43m. Total distance: 377 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 43m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface 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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