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Trip from Buffalo, NY to North Valley Stream, NY

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

Drive Time

8h 13m

Distance

394.4 mi

635 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

2-day trip

Fuel Cost

$65

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 24 min
4 AM
8h 5m ★
6 AM
8h 13m
8 AM
8h 29m
10 AM
8h 19m
12 PM
8h 17m
3 PM
8h 19m
5 PM
8h 28m
8 PM
8h 8m

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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Downtown Buffalo, NY, NY

Buffalo, NY

Wikimedia Commons

census-designated place in Nassau County, New York, United States

North Valley Stream, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling from Buffalo to North Valley Stream covers 394.4 miles across New York State, typically requiring about 8 hours and 13 minutes of drive time. While you could technically push through in a single day, I highly recommend breaking this journey into two days to keep the experience manageable. You will rely primarily on a mix of the Southern Tier Expressway, the Keystone Shortway, and I-81. Expect to set aside roughly $64 for fuel, depending on your vehicle's efficiency. Because this route spans the Northeast, you’ll see the character of the state shift as you navigate toward the coast. It is a straightforward, highway-focused trip that rewards those who plan for a relaxed pace rather than a marathon stint behind the wheel.

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

197.2 miles from Buffalo, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 11m 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
Longest stretch: Southern Tier Expressway — 104.5 mi, about 2h 2m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Buffalo, NY and North Valley Stream, NY.

1

Start on NY 384

100 ft · 2 sec · Niagara Square
2

Continue on Perkins Drive

321 ft · 16 sec · Perkins Drive
3

At end of road, turn left onto NY 5

0.1 mi · 19 sec · South Elmwood Avenue
4

Keep slight right at fork

206 ft · 8 sec
5

At end of road, turn right onto Church Street

501 ft · 16 sec · Church Street
Use the right lane.
6

Take the exit

175 ft · 4 sec
Toward I 190, NY 5 West: Skyway, Peace Bridge, Canada
7

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 36 sec
Toward I 190 South, NY 5 West: Skyway Use the left / right lanes.
8

Merge onto I 190

4.9 mi · 6 min · Niagara Thruway
9

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 28 sec
Exit 54-61 Toward I 90 West: Erie Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Merge onto I 90

1.3 mi · 1 min · New York State Thruway
11

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 57 sec
Exit 54 Toward NY 400, NY 16: West Seneca, East Aurora Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

Continue on NY 400

12 mi · 14 min · Aurora Expressway
13

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Toward US 20A, NY 78: East Aurora
14

Turn left onto US 20A; NY 78

0.1 mi · 12 sec · Main Street
15

Continue on US 20A; NY 78

11 mi · 15 min · Big Tree Road
16

Continue on US 20A

11 mi · 15 min · Varysburg Road
17

Continue on US 20A

1.7 mi · 2 min · West Buffalo Road
18

Continue on US 20A

4.6 mi · 8 min · West Buffalo Street
19

Continue on US 20A

7.4 mi · 10 min · Perry Center Road
20

Continue on CR 64

2.3 mi · 3 min · Perry Road
21

Turn right onto NY 36

1.3 mi · 1 min · Mount Morris Road
22

Continue on NY 36

1.8 mi · 4 min · North Main Street
23

Continue on NY 36

4.1 mi · 7 min · Sonyea Road
24

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 33 sec
25

Merge onto I 390

33 mi · 37 min · Genesee Expressway
26

Merge onto I 86

105 mi · 2 hr 2 min · Southern Tier Expressway
27

Keep slight right at fork onto I 81

53 mi · 1 hr 3 min · I 81
Toward I 81 South: Scranton Use the straight lane.
28

Keep slight right at fork onto US 6

0.8 mi · 1 min · US 6
Exit 187 Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt Pocono Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
29

Continue on I 84; I 380

3.7 mi · 4 min · I 84; I 380
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mount Pocono, Milford Use the straight lane.
30

Keep slight right at fork onto I 380

24 mi · 25 min · I 380
Exit 4 Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
31

Keep slight left at fork

1.0 mi · 1 min
Exit 1B Toward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
32

Merge onto I 80

80 mi · 1 hr 37 min · Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
33

Keep slight right at fork onto I 80

5.5 mi · 5 min · Christopher Columbus Highway
Toward I 95: George Washington Bridge Lower Level Use the slight right lane.
34

Keep slight left at fork

0.3 mi · 23 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York City Use the straight / slight right lanes.
35

Keep slight right at fork

0.4 mi · 38 sec
Exit 70A-B Toward Leonia, Teaneck Use the slight right lane.
36

Turn right

0.2 mi · 35 sec
Exit 70A Toward Leonia Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37

Turn straight onto CR 56

454 ft · 9 sec · Degraw Avenue
38

Continue on CR 56

1.1 mi · 2 min · Fort Lee Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
39

Continue on CR 56

469 ft · 13 sec · Main Street
40

Take the ramp

472 ft · 12 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge
41

Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46

0.3 mi · 28 sec · Bergen Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
42

Take the exit

312 ft · 4 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level
43

Merge onto I 95 EXPR

0.3 mi · 20 sec · I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
44

Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR

0.8 mi · 1 min · I 95 EXPR
45

Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9

0.6 mi · 1 min · George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
46

Continue on I 95; US 1

0.7 mi · 1 min · Trans-Manhattan Expressway
47

Continue on I 95; US 1

4.7 mi · 6 min · Cross Bronx Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
48

Keep slight right at fork onto I 295

2.0 mi · 2 min · Cross Bronx Expressway
Exit 6B Toward I 295 South: Throgs Neck Bridge Use the straight / slight left lanes.
49

Merge onto I 295

0.6 mi · 58 sec · Throgs Neck Expressway
50

Continue on I 295

2.0 mi · 3 min · Throgs Neck Bridge
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
51

Continue on I 295

5.0 mi · 5 min · Clearview Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
52

Continue on NY 24

0.7 mi · 1 min · Hollis Court Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
53

At end of road, turn left onto NY 24

0.2 mi · 35 sec · Jamaica Avenue
Use the left lane.
54

Turn right onto Hempstead Avenue

0.5 mi · 56 sec · Hempstead Avenue
55

Turn right onto Springfield Boulevard

0.9 mi · 1 min · Springfield Boulevard
56

Turn left onto 115th Avenue

0.8 mi · 1 min · 115th Avenue
Use the left lane.
57

Continue on Dutch Broadway

1.4 mi · 2 min · Dutch Broadway
58

Turn right onto North Fletcher Avenue

0.1 mi · 19 sec · North Fletcher Avenue
59

Arrive at destination

North Fletcher Avenue

Trip Plan

To keep your 8-hour and 13-minute drive stress-free, plan for at least two significant stops to stretch your legs and refresh. Since this trip is best tackled over two days, look for a midpoint along the I-81 corridor to rest before the final push to North Valley Stream. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid mid-day congestion and ensure you reach your destination before dark. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, as the $64 cost estimate can fluctuate based on your specific vehicle and current market prices. Given the long stretches of highway, consider setting a cruise control speed that keeps your fuel consumption steady throughout the journey.

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 drive is better paced as a 2-day trip.
Plan roughly 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 197.2 miles from Buffalo, NY, or about 4h 11m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.5 miles.

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 87 miles or 2h 2m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 197.2 miles or 4h 11m 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 197.2 miles or 4h 11m

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 6h 53m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North Valley Stream, 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 197 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Day 2

Finish the approach into North Valley Stream, NY

Aim for roughly 197 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 87 miles from Buffalo, NY.
This route usually feels better as a 2-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Southern Tier Expressway for about 104.5 miles.

Where to Stop

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

town in Broome County, New York, United States

Mid-route town

Overnight candidate

Vestal, NY

197 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 Vestal, NY

Overnight Options

Night 1

Vestal, NY

197 mi · about 4.1h in

A practical overnight split lands near Vestal, NY after about 197 miles or 4.1 hours of driving.

Find hotels

Pacing Suggestions

Hornell, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 87 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Vestal, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 197.2 miles from Buffalo, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before Southern Tier Expressway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 104.5 miles.

Overnight split

Hotel stop

For a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 197 miles or 4.1 hours on the road.

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.

Top Restaurant

Chuck E. Cheese

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Paramus, New Jersey

Near the end, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour Moderately mile 366.2

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+12014871088

Visit website

Crabtree's Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Floral Park, New York

3 mi

Sage Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Fair Lawn, New Jersey

2.9 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Marimba Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Hackensack, New Jersey

Near the end, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 366.2

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+12012563010

Visit website

Wonderland Play and Party

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

South Hackensack, New Jersey

2.4 mi

Chuck E. Cheese

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour Moderately mile 366.2

Paramus, New Jersey

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+12014871088

Visit website

Crabtree's Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3 mi from route ~8 min detour Moderately mile 394.4

Floral Park, New York

Hours: 12–10 pm

+15163267769

Visit website

Sage Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.9 mi from route ~7 min detour Moderately mile 366.2

Fair Lawn, New Jersey

Hours: 4–9 pm

+12017970500

Visit website

Luigi's Restaurant And Bar

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~11 min detour

4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour Moderately mile 394.4

Queens, New York

Hours: 11:30 am–10 pm

+17183477136

Visit website

Shogun Japan Japanese restaurant

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~10 min detour

4 mi from route ~10 min detour Moderately mile 394.4

Hollis, New York

Hours: 12–9 pm

+13322041966

Visit website

Fiorentini Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, ~12 min detour

4.8 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 366.2

Rutherford, New Jersey

Hours: 5–9:30 pm

+19737213404

Visit website

Marimba Cafe

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.8 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 366.2

Hackensack, New Jersey

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+12012563010

Visit website

Wonderland Play and Party

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.4 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 366.2

South Hackensack, New Jersey

Hours: 10 am–7 pm

+12014265898

Visit website

Lily and Liam

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, ~12 min detour

4.9 mi from route ~12 min detour mile 366.2

Englewood, New Jersey

Hours: Closed

+12015675111

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 253.6

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

IONNA Charging Station

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 253.6

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18334662474

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour mile 197.2

Binghamton, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Flying J EV Charging Station

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 225.4

New Milford, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+15704652974

Visit website

EVgo Charging Station

3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 225.4

New Milford, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+15704652974

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

3.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Later in the drive, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 281.7

Mt Pocono, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

EV Connect Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 338.1

Dover, New Jersey

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18668167584

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

2.5 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 253.6

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

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

Canalside

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Buffalo, New York

+17164408919

Visit website

Veterans Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

Buffalo, New York

Hours: 7 am–10:30 pm

+17168471773

Visit website

Wilkeson Pointe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Buffalo, New York

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+17164367100

Visit website

Oldest Tree In Buffalo

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Buffalo, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 36

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 370.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

9
0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in

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

Use the left / right lanes. Toward I 190 South, NY 5 West: Skyway
8
5.5 mi into trip | ~8m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 90 West: Erie

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 54-61 Toward I 90 West: Erie
8
7.1 mi into trip | ~10m in

Take the exit toward NY 400, NY 16: West Seneca, East Aurora

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 54 Toward NY 400, NY 16: West Seneca, East Aurora
9
255.8 mi into trip | ~5h 20m in | US 6

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

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Exit 187 Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbo...
9
370.7 mi into trip | ~7h 37m in

Keep slight right at fork toward Leonia, Teaneck

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 70A-B Toward Leonia, Teaneck

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$64.92 one way

$129.84 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 138 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.52 $70.20 $140.40
premium $4.92 $76.44 $152.88
diesel $5.61 $87.08 $174.16

Estimated Tolls: $22.85

George Washington Bridge $16.00
Throgs Neck Bridge $6.55
Niagara Thruway (4.9 mi) $0.24
New York State Thruway (1.3 mi) $0.06

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

$23

Hotel (1n)

$80–$140

Meals

$50–$100

Total

$218–$328

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 138 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $41 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 118.3 1 $41.41 $18.93
Efficient EV 98.6 1 $34.51 $15.78
EV Truck/SUV 157.8 1 $55.22 $25.24

Gas CO2

138 kg

EV CO2

46 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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Buffalo, NY

Morning in Buffalo on Sunday

Local time

6:01 AM

EDT

Current temp

50°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

North Valley Stream, NY

Morning in North Valley Stream on Sunday

Local time

6:01 AM

EDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

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.

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

3 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

8h 13m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

This 394.4-mile route is decidedly highway-focused, with 62% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will find yourself settling into a steady rhythm, particularly on the Southern Tier Expressway, which features your longest uninterrupted stretch of 104.5 miles. The drive feels like a consistent interstate grind, prioritizing efficiency over technical maneuvers or winding backroads. As you transition between the Southern Tier Expressway, the Keystone Shortway, and I-81, the road maintains a predictable, high-speed personality. Prepare for a trip defined by pavement and lane discipline rather than changing terrain or scenic detours.

62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
59 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 104.5 mi on Southern Tier Expressway.

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.

Driving Effort 10/10

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 36 significant decision points across 394.4 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 7.1 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 North Valley Stream, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford, New York City, Leonia, Teaneck and George Washington Bridge Upper Level.

Mt Pocono

255.8 mi in | ~5h 20m | via US 6

Milford

256.6 mi in | ~5h 21m | via I 84; I 380

New York City

370.4 mi in | ~7h 36m

Leonia

370.7 mi in | ~7h 37m

Teaneck

370.7 mi in | ~7h 37m

George Washington Bridge Upper Level

372.9 mi in | ~7h 41m

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

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 104.5 miles on Southern Tier Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — a 2-day pace is more comfortable than one long haul. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 197 miles on day one.

Expect about $22.85 in tolls one way, starting with George Washington Bridge. 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.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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 North Valley Stream, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

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

Not recommended in a single day. At 8.2 hours each way, a round trip means 16.4 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at North Valley Stream, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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