Scottsville Travel Plaza
0 mi from route
Trip from Buffalo, NY to Dannemora, NY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 42m
Distance
365.8 mi
589 km
Drive Score
10/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$65
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 33m
★
6 AM
7h 42m
8 AM
8h 1m
10 AM
7h 49m
12 PM
7h 47m
3 PM
7h 50m
5 PM
8h 0m
8 PM
7h 36m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Buffalo, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Dannemora, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Buffalo to Dannemora is 365.8 miles and takes about 7h 42m via the New York State Thruway and I-81, with a fuel budget near $59 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within New York State, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. You'll encounter a mix of highway driving and surface roads, making it a straightforward, manageable drive. It's a solid option if you're looking for a direct route within the state, with a total travel time that allows for a single-day trip.
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
182.9 miles from Buffalo, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 36m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New York State Thruway | 138.6 mi | 2h 40m |
| I 81 | 69.5 mi | 1h 20m |
| US 11 | 51.7 mi | 59m |
| Lake Street | 29.3 mi | 51m |
| Lawrence Avenue | 27.5 mi | 35m |
| State Route 11 | 21 mi | 28m |
| Main Street | 10.7 mi | 16m |
| Kensington Expressway | 6.8 mi | 9m |
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 138.6 mi, about 2h 40m
Traffic on I-81
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 4 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,128 veh/hr typical · worst 1,399
Quietest
2 AM
~50 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
22.6×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 34 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 Dannemora, NY.
1
Start on NY 384
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Niagara Square
2
Continue on Court Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Court Street
3
Continue on Lafayette Square
372 ft
·
18 sec
·
Lafayette Square
4
Turn left onto Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
Washington Street
5
Turn right onto Genesee Street
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Genesee Street
6
Turn left onto Elm Street
263 ft
·
7 sec
·
Elm Street
Use the left lane.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
Toward NY 33 East
8
Continue on NY 33
6.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Kensington Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward I 90 East: Niagara Falls, Albany
Use the right lane.
10
Merge onto I 90
139 mi
·
2 hr 40 min
·
New York State Thruway
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Take the exit
497 ft
·
14 sec
Exit 36
Toward I 81: Watertown, Binghamton
Use the slight right lane.
12
Continue on this road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
this road
Exit 36
Toward I 81: Watertown, Binghamton
13
Turn straight
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 81 North: Syracuse Airport, Watertown
14
Merge onto I 81
69 mi
·
1 hr 20 min
·
I 81
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
Exit 48A
Toward I 781 East: Fort Drum
16
Continue on I 781
4.0 mi
·
4 min
·
I 781
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
Toward US 11: Gouverneur, Canton
18
Keep slight left at fork
377 ft
·
11 sec
19
Merge onto US 11
52 mi
·
59 min
·
US 11
20
Turn right onto US 11; NY 68
11 mi
·
16 min
·
Main Street
21
Turn slight right onto Maple Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Maple Street
22
Continue on Main Street
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Main Street
23
Turn left onto Union Street
427 ft
·
16 sec
·
Union Street
24
Turn right onto US 11
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
·
Elm Street
25
Turn left onto US 11
28 mi
·
35 min
·
Lawrence Avenue
26
Continue on US 11
9.5 mi
·
12 min
·
State Route 11
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
Continue on US 11
1.9 mi
·
3 min
·
West Main Street
28
Continue on US 11
11 mi
·
15 min
·
State Route 11
29
Continue on US 11
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
30
Turn right onto NY 374
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Depot Street
31
Continue on NY 374
29 mi
·
51 min
·
Lake Street
32
Turn right onto Emmons Street
122 ft
·
3 sec
·
Emmons Street
33
Arrive at destination
Emmons Street
Trip Plan
Given the 7-hour drive time, leaving Buffalo in the morning is recommended to arrive in Dannemora with daylight to spare. The route includes 2 planned stops, so factor those in for breaks or refueling. With a fuel cost estimated at $59, it's a budget-friendly trip. Pay attention to the transition from highway to surface roads, as this is where you'll need to adjust your speed and awareness. Remember that the New York State Thruway is a toll road, so be prepared for potential toll charges.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 182.9 miles from Buffalo, NY, or about 3h 36m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 138.6 miles.
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 80 miles or 1h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 182.9 miles or 3h 36m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dannemora, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Buffalo, NY
This is one driving day of about 365.8 miles and 7h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Buffalo, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on New York State Thruway for about 138.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
183 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 182.9 miles from Buffalo, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before 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.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Clifton Springs Travel Plaza
0 mi from route
Seneca Travel Plaza
0 mi from route
Warners Travel Plaza
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Pembroke Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
TA
0.1 mi from route
Port Byron Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Ontario Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Clarence Travel Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Rest Area
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.2 mi from route
Junius Ponds Travel Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.4 mi from route
Rest Area
2.3 mi from route
DeWitt Travel Plaza
2.4 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 215 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.
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Washington Street
Turn left onto Washington Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Elm Street
Turn left onto Elm Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Take the exit toward NY 33 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward NY 33 East
7
7.9 mi into trip
|
~12m in
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
Use the right lane.
Toward I 90 East: Niagara Falls, Albany
8
146.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 53m in
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
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 36
Toward I 81: Watertown, Binghamton
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$64.92 one way
$129.84 round trip
$4.51/gal
25.4 MPG avg
128 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.85 | $69.79 | $139.58 |
| premium | $5.24 | $75.45 | $150.90 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $77.05 | $154.10 |
Estimated Tolls: $6.93
New York State Thruway
(138.6 mi)
$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
$65
Tolls
$7
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$97–$122
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 128 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 109.7 | 1 | $38.41 | $17.56 |
| Efficient EV | 91.5 | 1 | $32.01 | $14.63 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 146.3 | 1 | $51.21 | $23.41 |
Gas CO2
128 kg
EV CO2
43 kg (66% 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
Evening in Buffalo on Wednesday
Local time
5:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Light Rain
S 5 mph
81% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Dannemora, NY
Evening in Dannemora on Wednesday
Local time
5:45 PM
EDT
Current temp
47°F
Rain
S 5 to 8 mph
100% chance
Live forecast
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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
12 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
7h 42m on the road
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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Women's Rights National Historical Park
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...
6 mi from route
~14 min detour
Free
near mile 113.5
View on nps.gov
Harriet Tubman National Historical Park
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...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 126.1
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
About 42% of this drive is on highways, with the longest continuous stretch on the New York State Thruway covering 138.6 miles. You'll transition from highway cruising to surface roads as you progress. Expect a mixed driving experience with periods of faster highway travel punctuated by more local road conditions. Given the highway percentage, you'll notice the exits become less frequent as you move away from major interstates.
42% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 138.6 mi on New York State Thruway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 365.8 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,413 ft
385 ft
Total Climb
1,350 ft
Total Descent
536 ft
Highest Point
1,413 ft
~365.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,028 ft
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 Dannemora, NY, road signs point toward Binghamton, Watertown and Canton.
Binghamton
146.8 mi in
|
~2h 53m
Watertown
147.5 mi in
|
~2h 55m
Canton
221.8 mi in
|
~4h 21m
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 Dannemora, NY
Full guide →Founded 1838
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 42m. Total distance: 365.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 42m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 138.6 miles on New York State Thruway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $6.93 in tolls one way, starting with New York State Thruway. Most Northeast and Midwest toll agencies accept E-ZPass; in the West and Texas, transponders like TxTag or FasTrak apply. If you do not have a transponder, cashless tolling plates will mail a bill to the vehicle's registered address — usually with a surcharge, so a rental-car toll pass is often cheaper than paying by mail.
Yes — we found about 26 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Dannemora, NY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 2 meaningful breaks. There are 26 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
Yes — Women's Rights National Historical Park and Harriet Tubman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.7 hours each way, a round trip means 15.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Dannemora, NY before the return drive.
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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