Origin
Buffalo, NY
Afternoon in Buffalo on Sunday
Local time
12:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 54m
Distance
90.5 mi
146 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
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
Macedon, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Buffalo to Macedon is 90.5 miles and takes about 1h 54m via New York State Thruway, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within New York, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. It's a relatively short trip, mostly on the New York State Thruway, making it an easy option for a single day. You'll find it's a straightforward journey, ideal if you're looking for a simple transit rather than an extensive scenic tour.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.2 miles from Buffalo, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New York State Thruway | 70.6 mi | 1h 22m |
| Kensington Expressway | 6.8 mi | 9m |
| Palmyra Road | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Pittsford-Palmyra Road | 3.1 mi | 4m |
| Turk Hill Road | 2.7 mi | 5m |
| Victor-Pittsford Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.7 mi | <1m |
| Genesee Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Buffalo, NY and Macedon, 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 I 490
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Turn right onto NY 96
Turn right onto Turk Hill Road
Turn right onto NY 31
Continue on NY 31
Continue on NY 31
Arrive at destination
Given the short duration of just under 2 hours, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You can easily depart anytime, but leaving in the morning will give you ample daylight to complete the drive. With a fuel cost estimated at $15, you won't need to worry about frequent stops for gas. Since the longest stretch is on the New York State Thruway, plan to refuel before you hit that segment if you're starting with a low tank. Keep an eye on your GPS for the local turns as you get closer to Macedon, as this is where the driving becomes more engaging.
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 20 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.2 miles or 56m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Macedon, NY than in the middle of the route.
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 90.5 miles and 1h 54m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
45 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 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 45.2 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 70.6 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 0.8 and 79.9 — 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 490: Rochester, Victor
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward NY 96: Victor
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Turn right onto NY 96 / Victor-Pittsford Road
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$14.90 one way
$29.79 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $16.11 | $32.22 |
| premium | $4.92 | $17.54 | $35.08 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.98 | $39.96 |
Estimated Tolls: $3.53
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
$15
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 31.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 27.2 | 0 | $9.50 | $4.34 |
| Efficient EV | 22.6 | 0 | $7.92 | $3.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 36.2 | 0 | $12.67 | $5.79 |
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% 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
Afternoon in Buffalo on Sunday
Local time
12:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Destination
Afternoon in Macedon on Sunday
Local time
12:29 PM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
40°F
Stafford, NY
45 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
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.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This route has a "Turn-heavy local drive" profile, with 8% of the drive on highways. While there's a substantial uninterrupted stretch of 70.6 miles on the New York State Thruway, expect a more involved driving experience with numerous turns as you navigate local roads. The initial part of the drive might feel more like a typical highway commute, but it transitions into a more intricate network of local streets as you approach your destination. Be prepared for a dynamic road experience that requires attention to navigation.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in near Elm Street.
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 90.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 78.8 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.
Between Buffalo, NY and Macedon, NY, road signs point toward Albany and Victor.
Albany
Victor
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
Founded 1789
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 54m. Total distance: 90.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 54m 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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