Buffalo to Shortsville is 92 miles and takes about 1 hour 52 minutes via New York State Thruway, with a fuel budget near $15 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Most of the drive is on the New York State Thruway, making it a straightforward option for getting between these two points. With a duration under two hours and minimal stops recommended, it's a convenient choice for a quick trip. Plan for a simple drive that gets you where you need to go efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
46 miles from Buffalo, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New York State Thruway
81.2 mi
1h 34m
Kensington Expressway
6.8 mi
9m
North Main Street
1.3 mi
1m
West Main Street
0.5 mi
1m
Genesee Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Palmyra Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Washington Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Court Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 81.2 mi, about 1h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buffalo, NY and Shortsville, 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, AlbanyUse the right lane.
10
Merge onto I 90
81 mi·1 hr 34 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·1 min
Exit 43Toward NY 21: Manchester, PalmyraUse the slight right lane.
12
Turn right onto NY 21
1.3 mi·1 min·North Main Street
13
Continue on NY 21
0.3 mi·29 sec·Palmyra Street
14
Turn left onto West Main Street
0.5 mi·1 min·West Main Street
15
Turn left onto Water Street
41 ft·1 sec·Water Street
16
Arrive at destination
Water Street
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of just under two hours, this is easily a same-day trip. You can leave Buffalo anytime, but an early departure will give you the most flexibility. The longest stretch on the New York State Thruway is over 81 miles, so consider filling up your tank before you get on the highway to avoid potentially higher service area prices. With only 92 miles total, you won't need many stops, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you near Shortsville, as the $15 budget is an estimate. This route is straightforward, so focus on enjoying the drive without needing extensive planning.
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 46 miles from Buffalo, NY, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 81.2 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 20 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 46 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Shortsville, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Buffalo, NY
This is one driving day of about 92 miles and 1h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Buffalo, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on New York State Thruway for about 81.2 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 89.4 — 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.
5
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in
Take the exit toward NY 33 East
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward NY 33 East
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
89.4 mi into trip|~1h 47m in
Take the exit toward NY 21: Manchester, Palmyra
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 43
Toward NY 21: Manchester, Palmyra
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.88 one way
$29.77 round trip
$4.11/gal25.4 MPG avg32 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$16.15
$32.30
premium
$4.85
$17.56
$35.12
diesel
$4.80
$17.37
$34.74
Estimated Tolls: $4.06
New York State Thruway
(81.2 mi)$4.06
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
$15
Tolls
$4
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
27.6
0
$9.66
$4.42
Efficient EV
23
0
$8.05
$3.68
EV Truck/SUV
36.8
0
$12.88
$5.89
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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Jul 20, 2026
Origin
Buffalo, NY
Late night
in Buffalo on Tuesday
Local time
5:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Mostly Clear
S 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Shortsville, NY
Late night
in Shortsville on Tuesday
Local time
5:22 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
58°F
Batavia, NY
46 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
5 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
1h 52m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily surface roads, with only about 7% of the 92 miles on highways. You'll encounter the New York State Thruway for a significant stretch of 81.2 miles, which is where you'll find the most continuous driving. Once you leave the Thruway, expect to navigate local roads like Kensington Expressway and North Main Street. The transition from highway cruising to surface streets means you'll likely notice more intersections and slower speeds as you approach your destination.
Only 7% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
16 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 81.2 mi on New York State Thruway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near Washington Street.
Driving Effort5/10
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 92 miles you will encounter 11 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 0.3 miles (Washington Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.8 miles (Elm Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 0.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
901 ft572 ft
Total Climb
414 ft
Total Descent
388 ft
Highest Point
901 ft
~39.4 mi in
Elevation Range
329 ft
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 Shortsville, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Albany along the way.
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
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 52m. Total distance: 92 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (7%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 81.2 miles on New York State Thruway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $4.06 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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
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 0.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Women's Rights National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Shortsville, NY before heading back.
