Origin
Buffalo, NY
Night in Buffalo on Wednesday
Local time
10:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
74°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Buffalo, NY to Richford, NY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 45m
Distance
170.6 mi
275 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 33m
★
6 AM
3h 46m
8 AM
4h 11m
10 AM
3h 54m
12 PM
3h 52m
3 PM
3h 56m
5 PM
4h 10m
8 PM
3h 38m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Buffalo, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Richford, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Trip Overview
The drive from Buffalo, NY to Richford, NY covers 170.6 miles and takes about 3h 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on New York State Thruway, State Highway 96, Slaterville Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 94.2 miles on New York State Thruway. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.61 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
85.3 miles from Buffalo, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 42m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New York State Thruway | 94.2 mi | 1h 49m |
| State Highway 96 | 16.4 mi | 23m |
| Slaterville Road | 11.1 mi | 16m |
| State Highway 89 | 10.1 mi | 13m |
| Trumansburg Road | 8.8 mi | 13m |
| Kensington Expressway | 6.8 mi | 9m |
| State Highway 79 | 4.7 mi | 5m |
| Ovid Street | 2.8 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 94.2 mi, about 1h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buffalo, NY and Richford, NY.
1
Start on NY 384
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Niagara Square
2
Continue on Court Street
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
Court Street
3
Continue on Lafayette Square
372 ft
·
18 sec
·
Lafayette Square
4
Turn left onto Washington Street
0.2 mi
·
45 sec
·
Washington Street
5
Turn right onto Genesee Street
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
Genesee Street
6
Turn left onto Elm Street
263 ft
·
7 sec
·
Elm Street
Use the left lane.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
15 sec
Toward NY 33 East
8
Continue on NY 33
6.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Kensington Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
Toward I 90 East: Niagara Falls, Albany
Use the right lane.
10
Merge onto I 90
94 mi
·
1 hr 49 min
·
New York State Thruway
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 42
Toward NY 14: Geneva, Lyons
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
213 ft
·
5 sec
13
Merge onto NY 14
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
NY 14
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
35 sec
Toward Waterloo
15
Turn straight onto NY 96
6.2 mi
·
9 min
·
State Highway 96
16
Continue on NY 96
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
North Road
17
Turn right onto NY 96
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
North Virginia Street
18
Continue on NY 96
0.3 mi
·
26 sec
·
Washington Street
19
Turn right onto NY 96
346 ft
·
17 sec
·
West River Street
20
Turn left onto NY 96
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
Fayette Street
21
Continue on NY 96
6.2 mi
·
8 min
·
State Highway 96
22
Turn left onto NY 336
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Townline Road
23
At end of road, turn right onto NY 414
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Ovid Street
24
Turn left onto CR 128
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
Ernsberger Road
25
At end of road, turn right onto NY 89
10 mi
·
13 min
·
State Highway 89
26
Turn right onto CR 141
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road 141
27
Continue on CR 141A
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Powell Road
28
Turn left onto NY 96
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 96
29
Continue on NY 96
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
Trumansburg Road
30
Continue on NY 96
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
31
Continue on NY 96
8.7 mi
·
12 min
·
Trumansburg Road
32
Continue on NY 96
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Cliff Street
33
Continue on NY 96
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
West Buffalo Street
34
Turn right onto Taughannock Boulevard
523 ft
·
24 sec
·
Taughannock Boulevard
35
Turn left onto NY 79
510 ft
·
11 sec
·
West State Street
36
Turn right onto NY 13; NY 34; NY 96; NY 79
345 ft
·
12 sec
·
South Fulton Street
Use the right lane.
37
Turn left onto NY 79
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
West Green Street
Use the slight left lane.
38
Continue on NY 79
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
East State Street
39
Continue on NY 79
11 mi
·
16 min
·
Slaterville Road
40
Continue on NY 79
4.7 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 79
41
Turn right onto Bowery Lane
519 ft
·
22 sec
·
Bowery Lane
42
Arrive at destination
Mill Street
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 85.3 miles from Buffalo, NY, or about 1h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 94.2 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 38 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.3 miles or 1h 42m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 58m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Richford, 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 170.6 miles and 3h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 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 New York State Thruway for about 94.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
85 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 85.3 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 94.2 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 255 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 152.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
Washington Street
Turn left onto Washington Street
Navigation decision point
6
0.8 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
Elm Street
Turn left onto Elm Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
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
8
102.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 2m in
Take the exit toward NY 14: Geneva, Lyons
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 42
Toward NY 14: Geneva, Lyons
6
152.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 18m in
|
NY 13; NY 34; NY 96; NY 79 / South Fulton Street
Turn right onto NY 13; NY 34; NY 96; NY 79 / South Fulton Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.61 one way
$57.22 round trip
$4.26/gal
25.4 MPG avg
60 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.63 | $31.07 | $62.14 |
| premium | $5.05 | $33.94 | $67.88 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $37.61 | $75.21 |
Estimated Tolls: $4.71
New York State Thruway
(94.2 mi)
$4.71
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
$29
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$58–$83
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 51.2 | 0 | $17.91 | $8.19 |
| Efficient EV | 42.7 | 0 | $14.93 | $6.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 68.2 | 0 | $23.88 | $10.92 |
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Destination
Richford, NY
Night in Richford on Wednesday
Local time
10:42 PM
EDT
Current temp
75°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
78°F
Geneva, NY
85 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
1 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
3h 45m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Women's Rights National Historical Park
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...
3 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 111.8
View on nps.gov
Harriet Tubman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Harriet Tubman was guided by a deep faith and devotion to family, freedom, and community. After emancipating herself and members of her family, she moved them from Ontario, Canada to Fleming and Aubur...
15 mi from route
~37 min detour
Free
near mile 111.8
View on nps.gov
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
170.6 mi in 3h 45m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 22% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
42 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 94.2 mi on New York State Thruway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Washington Street.
Driving Effort
8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 170.6 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 0.3 miles (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,115 ft
503 ft
Total Climb
1,005 ft
Total Descent
489 ft
Highest Point
1,115 ft
~170.6 mi in
Elevation Range
612 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
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 Richford, NY, road signs point toward Lyons and Waterloo.
Lyons
102.4 mi in
|
~2h 2m
Waterloo
103.3 mi in
|
~2h 3m
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 Richford, 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 3h 45m. Total distance: 170.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 94.2 miles on New York State Thruway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.71 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.
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 Richford, 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 0.3 miles (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; 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.
Yes — Women's Rights National Historical Park and Harriet Tubman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Richford, NY, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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