This 386.1-mile journey from Buffalo, NY, to Queens, NY, is best tackled over two days, taking approximately 8 hours and 13 minutes of driving time. While it's possible to drive it in one go, splitting it allows for a more relaxed pace. The route is primarily highway-focused, with 65% of the drive on major expressways, and is estimated to cost around $64 in fuel. You'll traverse the Northeast region, staying within New York for the entirety of the trip. This drive offers a straightforward connection between two major New York destinations.
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
193.1 miles from Buffalo, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 6m into the drive
.
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 123 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,393 veh/hr typical
· worst 5,118
Quietest
1 AM
~445 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Queens, 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: SkywayUse 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 54-61Toward I 90 West: ErieUse 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 54Toward NY 400, NY 16: West Seneca, East AuroraUse 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: ScrantonUse the straight lane.
28
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
0.8 mi·1 min·US 6
Exit 187Toward I 84 East, I 380 South, US 6 East: Carbondale, Mt PoconoUse 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, MilfordUse the straight lane.
30
Keep slight right at fork onto I 380
24 mi·25 min·I 380
Exit 4Toward I 380 South: Mount Pocono
31
Keep slight left at fork
1.0 mi·1 min
Exit 1BToward I 80 East: Stroudsburg
32
Merge onto I 80
71 mi·1 hr 27 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
33
Take the exit
0.5 mi·59 sec
Exit 53Toward US 46 East: Wayne, Clifton, Lincoln TunnelUse the slight right lane.
34
Merge onto US 46
2.1 mi·2 min·US 46
35
Continue on US 46
1.6 mi·1 min·US 46
Use the straight / right lanes.
36
Turn slight left onto NJ 3
11 mi·11 min·NJ 3
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Toward NJ 495 East: Lincoln Tunnel, Kennedy BoulevardUse the straight / right lanes.
38
Merge onto NJ 495
1.1 mi·1 min·NJ 495
39
Take the exit
0.1 mi·16 sec
Toward Weehawken, Hoboken, Ferries to New York CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
40
Continue on South Marginal Highway
0.1 mi·10 sec·South Marginal Highway
41
Turn right onto Boulevard East
0.4 mi·1 min·Boulevard East
Use the left lane.
42
Take the ramp
123 ft·14 sec
Toward Lincoln Tunnel, New York CityUse the straight / right lanes.
43
Turn right
0.2 mi·57 sec
Toward Lincoln Tunnel access
44
Merge onto NJ 495
1.6 mi·4 min·Lincoln Tunnel
45
Keep slight right at fork
265 ft·6 sec
Toward Dyer Avenue
46
Keep slight right at fork
334 ft·8 sec
Toward 36th Street, Downtown, Madison Square Garden
47
Continue on Dyer Avenue
350 ft·19 sec·Dyer Avenue
Toward 36th Street, Downtown, Madison Square GardenUse the left / straight lanes.
48
Turn left onto West 36th Street
1.3 mi·3 min·West 36th Street
Use the left / straight lanes.
49
Take the ramp
68 ft·1 sec
Toward I 495: Queens-Midtown Tunnel
50
Keep slight left at fork onto I 495
2.5 mi·4 min·I 495
51
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 17W-EToward I 278: Staten Island, Bronx, LaGuardia AirportUse the straight / slight right lanes.
52
Merge onto I 495
2.0 mi·2 min·Long Island Expressway
53
Take the exit
0.4 mi·35 sec
Exit 19Toward NY 25: Woodhaven BoulevardUse the slight right lane.
54
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·41 sec
Toward NY 25: Queens Boulevard, Woodhaven Boulevard, RockawaysUse the straight / slight left lanes.
55
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·24 sec
Toward Woodhaven Boulevard, RockawaysUse the straight / slight right lanes.
56
Turn right onto Woodhaven Boulevard
3.9 mi·10 min·Woodhaven Boulevard
Use the right lane.
57
Turn left onto Rockaway Boulevard
344 ft·9 sec·Rockaway Boulevard
Use the left lane.
58
Turn slight left onto Liberty Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·Liberty Avenue
59
Turn right onto 104th Street
205 ft·9 sec·104th Street
60
Arrive at destination
104th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 8 hours and 13 minutes of driving time, planning for an overnight stop is highly recommended to break up the 386.1 miles. Aim to depart Buffalo early in the morning to maximize daylight hours. You'll have two planned stops, which is a good number for a trip of this length, ensuring you can manage fuel and rest effectively. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 104.5-mile stretch on the Southern Tier Expressway, as services can be spaced out on longer highway segments.
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 193.1 miles from Buffalo, NY, or about 4h 6m 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 85 miles or 2h in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 193.1 miles or 4h 6m 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 193.1 miles or 4h 6m
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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Queens, 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 193 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Finish the approach into Queens, NY
Aim for roughly 193 miles and 4.1 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 85 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 44
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 355.8 — 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...
8
355.8 mi into trip|~7h 20m in
Take the exit toward US 46 East: Wayne, Clifton, Lincoln Tunnel
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 53
Toward US 46 East: Wayne, Clifton, Lincoln Tunn...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$62.46 one way
$124.92 round trip
$4.11/gal25.4 MPG avg135 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$67.78
$135.56
premium
$4.85
$73.69
$147.39
diesel
$4.80
$72.90
$145.81
Estimated Tolls: $16.30
Lincoln Tunnel
$16.00
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
$62
Tolls
$16
Hotel (1n)
$80–$140
Meals
$50–$100
Total
$209–$319
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 135.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $41 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
115.8
1
$40.54
$18.53
Efficient EV
96.5
1
$33.78
$15.44
EV Truck/SUV
154.4
1
$54.05
$24.71
Gas CO2
135 kg
EV CO2
45 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Buffalo, NY
Late night
in Buffalo on Sunday
Local time
4:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Smoke
N 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Queens, NY
Late night
in Queens on Sunday
Local time
4:19 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Smoke
NW 6 to 10 mph8% chanceLive forecast
84°F
Barton, NY
193 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.
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
9 degrees warmer 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Stonewall National Monument
National Monument
Before the 1960s, almost everything about living authentically as a lesbian, a bisexual person or a gay man was illegal. The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969 is a milestone in the quest for civil r...
3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 372.8
The African Burial Ground stands as the oldest and largest known excavated burial site in North America for both free and enslaved Africans. It offers a profound testament to the enduring legacy of Af...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 372.8
Located at the southern tip of Manhattan, Castle Clinton marks the place where New York City began and reflects the growth of both the city and the nation. Built to defend the harbor during the War of...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 372.8
Here at Federal Hall, George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States, marking the beginning of the American constitutional republic. This historic site served as...
4 mi from route
~10 min detour
Free
near mile 372.8
The final resting place of President Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, Julia, is the largest mausoleum in North America. It testifies to a people’s gratitude for the man who ended the bloodiest conflict...
4 mi from route
~11 min detour
Free
near mile 372.8
From 1794 to 1966, the U.S. Army presence on Governors Island played a vital role in the social, political, and economic life of New York City. The island then served as the headquarters of the U.S. C...
5 mi from route
~13 min detour
Free
near mile 372.8
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for much of this 8-hour drive, with 65% of the route utilizing major interstates. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on the Southern Tier Expressway, which features the longest uninterrupted stretch of 104.5 miles. The drive incorporates the Keystone Shortway and I-81, offering a mix of expressway travel. While largely a highway experience, the profile suggests a steady pace with minimal technical driving, making it a consistent drive for its duration.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
60 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 Effort10/10
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 44 significant decision points across 386.1 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.
Elevation Profile
Hilly terrain with moderate elevation changes
1,958 ft36 ft
Total Climb
3,040 ft
Total Descent
3,603 ft
Highest Point
1,958 ft
~275.8 mi in
Elevation Range
1,922 ft
Notable High Points
1,958 ft at ~275.8 miles+517 ft prominence
938 ft at ~331 miles+613 ft prominence
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 Queens, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford and Clifton.
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
Queens is a crescent-shaped (with a tail) borough traversing the north-to-south width of Long Island and including two of the major New York City area airports, LaGuardia (LGA IATA) and John F. Kennedy International (JFK IATA). It also carries the largest ethnic diversity in its area of any region in the world, with many small enclaves. Jackson Heights, for example, includes a huge Indian area, followed by a Colombian area, and then a Mexican area. Each offers a wide array of authentic shops, native-style cuisine, and festivals modified only slightly by the generally colder New York City experience.
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 193 miles on day one.
Expect about $16.30 in tolls one way, starting with Lincoln Tunnel. 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 43 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 Queens, 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 43 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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.
Yes — Stonewall National Monument, African Burial Ground National Monument and Castle Clinton National Monument (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 8.2 hours each way, a round trip means 16.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Queens, NY before the return drive.
