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Trip from Buffalo, NY to Pine Bush, NY

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

6h 36m

Distance

311.6 mi

501 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$51

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
6h 25m ★
6 AM
6h 37m
8 AM
7h 1m
10 AM
6h 45m
12 PM
6h 43m
3 PM
6h 46m
5 PM
7h 0m
8 PM
6h 29m

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

Downtown Buffalo, NY, NY

Buffalo, NY

Wikimedia Commons

hamlet located in the Towns of Crawford and Shawangunk, New York, within Orange and Ulster counties in the U.S.

Pine Bush, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Buffalo to Pine Bush is 311.6 miles and takes about 6h 36m via the Southern Tier Expressway and I 86, with a fuel budget near $51 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within New York, moving you from the Northeast region to the same region. It's a straightforward trip predominantly on major highways, making it a good option for a single-day transit. You'll want to budget for this drive, as the estimated fuel cost is $51. Plan for a single day to cover the distance efficiently.

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

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

155.8 miles from Buffalo, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 22m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Southern Tier Expressway 104.5 mi 2h 2m
I 86 76.7 mi 1h 35m
Genesee Expressway 32.6 mi 37m
State Highway 52 21.8 mi 27m
Aurora Expressway 12.4 mi 14m
Varysburg Road 10.9 mi 15m
Big Tree Road 10.5 mi 15m
Route 52 8.2 mi 12m
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 Pine Bush, 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 left at fork onto I 86; NY 17

77 mi · 1 hr 35 min · I 86; NY 17
Toward New York
28

Take the exit

0.1 mi · 24 sec
Exit 100 Toward NY 52: Liberty
29

Enter roundabout onto NY 52

181 ft · 10 sec · State Highway 52
30

Continue on NY 52

5.0 mi · 6 min · State Highway 52
31

Continue on NY 52

0.4 mi · 30 sec · Old Monticello Road
32

Continue on NY 52

1.3 mi · 1 min · State Highway 52
33

Continue on NY 52

1.4 mi · 1 min · Main Street
34

Continue on NY 42; NY 52

0.3 mi · 20 sec · State Highway 42
35

Turn straight onto NY 52

14 mi · 16 min · State Highway 52
36

Continue on NY 52

8.2 mi · 12 min · Route 52
37

Continue on NY 52

1.9 mi · 3 min · State Highway 52
38

Continue on NY 52

0.2 mi · 20 sec · Main Street
39

Turn right

63 ft · 6 sec
40

Turn right

18 ft · 1 sec
41

Arrive at destination

Trip Plan

Given the 6h 36m estimated duration, leaving Buffalo in the morning will get you to Pine Bush with daylight to spare. The recommended single day allows for a flexible pace, but consider an early start to maximize your time. With 82% highway driving, you can cover significant ground between fuel stops; the longest stretch is over 100 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longer highway segments, and plan your refueling around the $51 estimated cost. There's one recommended stop, so plan it strategically for a break.

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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 155.8 miles from Buffalo, NY, or about 3h 22m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 104.5 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 69 miles or 1h 41m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 155.8 miles or 3h 22m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 23m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pine Bush, 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Buffalo, NY

This is one driving day of about 311.6 miles and 6h 36m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 69 miles from Buffalo, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break 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.

Downtown Endwell, NY, NY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Endwell, NY

156 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

Leicester, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 69 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Barton, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 155.8 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.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 19

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 7.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | NY 5 / South Elmwood Avenue

At end of road, turn left onto NY 5 / South Elmwood Avenue

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

7
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | Church Street

At end of road, turn right onto Church Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$51.29 one way

$102.58 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 109 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.52 $55.46 $110.92
premium $4.92 $60.39 $120.79
diesel $5.61 $68.80 $137.59

Estimated Tolls: $0.30

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

$51

Tolls

$0

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$77–$102

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 109 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 93.5 1 $32.72 $14.96
Efficient EV 77.9 0 $27.27 $12.46
EV Truck/SUV 124.6 1 $43.62 $19.94

Gas CO2

109 kg

EV CO2

36 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 21, 2026

Origin

Buffalo, NY

Morning in Buffalo on Tuesday

Local time

6:41 AM

EDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Pine Bush, NY

Morning in Pine Bush on Tuesday

Local time

6:41 AM

EDT

Current temp

41°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.

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

16 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

6h 36m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

You'll spend 82% of this 311.6-mile drive on highways like the Southern Tier Expressway and I 86. The longest continuous highway stretch is 104.5 miles on the Southern Tier Expressway. Expect a mostly highway profile until you approach your destination, where you'll transition to surface roads. The highway portion means you'll encounter a steady pace with fewer intersections for much of the drive.

82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
41 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?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Southern Tier Expressway and I 86. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near NY 5 / South Elmwood Avenue.

Driving Effort 9/10

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 19 significant decision points across 311.6 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 0.1 miles (NY 5 / South Elmwood Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.2 miles (Church Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.

On the drive from Buffalo, NY to Pine Bush, NY, road signs begin pointing toward New York along the way.

New York

202.5 mi in | ~4h 17m | via I 86; NY 17

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 Pine Bush, NY

Full guide →

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 6h 36m. Total distance: 311.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

6h 36m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.

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.

Expect about $0.30 in tolls one way, starting with Niagara 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.

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 Pine Bush, 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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (NY 5 / South Elmwood Avenue): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; at 0.2 miles (Church Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Not recommended in a single day. At 6.6 hours each way, a round trip means 13.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Pine Bush, 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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