Trip from Buffalo, NY to Hilton, NY

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 41m

Distance

76 mi

122 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min

4 AM

1h 34m ★

6 AM

1h 41m

8 AM

1h 57m

10 AM

1h 47m

12 PM

1h 45m

3 PM

1h 47m

5 PM

1h 56m

8 PM

1h 37m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Download GPX

Buffalo, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Hilton, NY

Renan Tagliaferro

Trip Overview

This 76-mile drive from Buffalo to Hilton, NY, is a manageable 1 hour and 41 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily navigate the New York State Thruway and Western Expressway, with a significant portion of the route (23%) being highway driving. With an estimated fuel cost of just $13, it's an economical option for a quick getaway. The route stays within the Northeast region, specifically within New York State, offering a straightforward journey between two points. Consider this a practical and efficient way to travel between these two locations without needing an overnight stay.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

38 miles from Buffalo, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
New York State Thruway	42.8 mi	49m
Western Expressway	10.6 mi	12m
Union Street	8.7 mi	15m
Kensington Expressway	6.8 mi	9m
Hilton-Parma Corners Road	4.3 mi	7m
South Avenue	0.5 mi	<1m
Genesee Street	0.3 mi	<1m
Washington Street	0.2 mi	<1m

Longest stretch: New York State Thruway — 42.8 mi, about 49m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Buffalo, NY and Hilton, NY.

Start on NY 384

0.1 mi · 18 sec · Niagara Square

Continue on Court Street

0.2 mi · 27 sec · Court Street

Continue on Lafayette Square

372 ft · 18 sec · Lafayette Square

Turn left onto Washington Street

0.2 mi · 45 sec · Washington Street

Turn right onto Genesee Street

0.3 mi · 49 sec · Genesee Street

Turn left onto Elm Street

263 ft · 7 sec · Elm Street

Use the left lane.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 15 sec

Toward NY 33 East

Continue on NY 33

6.8 mi · 9 min · Kensington Expressway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 46 sec

Toward I 90 East: Niagara Falls, Albany Use the right lane.

Merge onto I 90

43 mi · 49 min · New York State Thruway

Use the straight / right lanes.

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min

Exit 47 Toward I 490, NY 19: LeRoy, Rochester Use the slight right lane.

Continue on I 490

11 mi · 12 min · Western Expressway

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 38 sec

Exit 4 Toward NY 259: North Chili, West Chili

Turn left onto NY 259

8.7 mi · 15 min · Union Street

Use the right lane.

Continue on NY 259

4.3 mi · 7 min · Hilton-Parma Corners Road

Use the straight / right lanes.

Continue on NY 18; NY 259

0.5 mi · 53 sec · South Avenue

At end of road, turn left onto NY 18; NY 259

471 ft · 13 sec · Main Street

Arrive at destination

NY 18

Trip Plan

Given the short 1 hour and 41-minute duration and 76-mile distance, you have a lot of flexibility with this drive. Leaving Buffalo in the morning will allow you to arrive in Hilton with plenty of daylight. There are no specific stops recommended, so you can decide on the fly if you need a break. The estimated fuel cost is a budget-friendly $13, so you shouldn't need to worry about refueling unless you have a particularly inefficient vehicle. A useful tip for this route is to pay close attention to your GPS as you get closer to Hilton, as the 'turn-heavy local drive' profile suggests numerous turns and potentially less obvious road changes.

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.

The halfway point lands around 38 miles from Buffalo, NY, or about 47m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.8 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 17 miles or 23m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 38 miles or 47m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 21m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hilton, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Buffalo, NY

This is one driving day of about 76 miles and 1h 41m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Buffalo, NY.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

The longest stretch is on New York State Thruway for about 42.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Batavia, NY

38 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

Town Line, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Batavia, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 38 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.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 10.9

Buffalo, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Buffalo Double Decker Tours

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour

Buffalo, NY

Hours: 12–8 pm

+17162469080

Visit website

Buffalo Naval Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour

Buffalo, NY

Hours: Closed

+17168471773

Visit website

Explore & More - The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Children's Museum

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour

Buffalo, New York

Hours: 9 am–4 pm

+17166555131

Visit website

Buffalo Transportation Pierce Arrow Museum

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Buffalo, New York

Hours: 11 am–4 pm

+17168530084

Visit website

5 of 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.8 and 62.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

0.8 mi into trip | ~2m in | Elm Street

Turn left onto Elm Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

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

51 mi into trip | ~1h 3m in

Take the exit toward I 490, NY 19: LeRoy, Rochester

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 47 Toward I 490, NY 19: LeRoy, Rochester

62.2 mi into trip | ~1h 16m in

Take the exit toward NY 259: North Chili, West Chili

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 4 Toward NY 259: North Chili, West Chili

62.4 mi into trip | ~1h 17m in | NY 259 / Union Street

Turn left onto NY 259 / Union Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.51 one way

$25.02 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 27 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.52	$13.53	$27.05
premium	$4.92	$14.73	$29.46
diesel	$5.61	$16.78	$33.56

Estimated Tolls: $2.14

New York State Thruway (42.8 mi) $2.14

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

$13

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 26.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	22.8	$7.98	$3.65
Efficient EV	19	$6.65	$3.04
EV Truck/SUV	30.4	$10.64	$4.86

Gas CO2

27 kg

EV CO2

9 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Buffalo, NY

Late night in Buffalo on Sunday

Local time

3:56 AM

EDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Hilton, NY

Late night in Hilton on Sunday

Local time

3:56 AM

EDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

58°F

Batavia, NY

38 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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

1h 41m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 76-mile trip. While 23% of your journey will be on highways like the New York State Thruway, much of the route involves navigating local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 42.8 miles on the Thruway, offering a brief period of consistent speed before you transition back to more varied road conditions. This blend means you'll experience both faster-paced highway segments and more frequent turns and slower speeds as you approach your destination. Be prepared to adjust your driving style as the road character evolves.

Only 23% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.

18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 42.8 mi on New York State Thruway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

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 0.8 miles in near Elm Street.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 76 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 0.8 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 51 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 Hilton, NY, road signs point toward Albany, Rochester and Chili.

Albany

7.9 mi in | ~12m

Rochester

51 mi in | ~1h 3m

Chili

62.2 mi in | ~1h 16m

About the Cities

Starting in Buffalo, NY

Full guide →

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.

Arriving in Hilton, NY

Full guide →

Founded 1885

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 1h 41m. Total distance: 76 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 41m drive, comfortable solo distance.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 42.8 miles on New York State Thruway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $2.14 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.

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 Hilton, NY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Hilton, NY before heading back.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Explore more options from Buffalo, NY or browse trips ending in Hilton, NY.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NY road trips.

Trip from Buffalo, NY to Hilton, NY

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

Tesla Supercharger

ChargePoint Charging Station

Applegreen Electric Charging Station

ChargePoint Charging Station

EVolve NY Charging Station

Flying J EV Charging Station

EVolve NY Charging Station

Tesla Supercharger

Buffalo Double Decker Tours

Buffalo Naval Park

Explore & More - The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Children's Museum

Buffalo Transportation Pierce Arrow Museum

Canalside

Veterans Park

Wilkeson Pointe

Oldest Tree In Buffalo

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Buffalo, NY

Hilton, NY

Same local time

Very similar conditions

1h 41m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Buffalo, NY

Arriving in Hilton, NY

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

How do I pay the tolls on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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