Origin
Buffalo, NY
Morning in Buffalo on Tuesday
Local time
6:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Buffalo, NY to Sunnyside, NY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 58m
Distance
378.2 mi
609 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$62
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 49m
★
6 AM
7h 58m
8 AM
8h 16m
10 AM
8h 4m
12 PM
8h 2m
3 PM
8h 5m
5 PM
8h 15m
8 PM
7h 53m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Buffalo, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Sunnyside, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Trip Overview
This 378.2-mile drive from Buffalo, NY to Sunnyside, NY is a solid day trip, estimated to take just under 8 hours. You'll primarily be on the Southern Tier Expressway, Keystone Shortway, and I-81, with about 65% of the journey on highways. For a single-day trip, plan for a fuel cost around $62. This route focuses on efficient travel across New York, making it a straightforward journey for getting from point A to point B. Given its length and highway focus, it's designed for expediency.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
189.1 miles from Buffalo, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 4h 1m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Southern Tier Expressway | 104.5 mi | 2h 2m |
| Keystone Shortway | 70.8 mi | 1h 27m |
| 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 Sunnyside, 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
71 mi
·
1 hr 27 min
·
Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
33
Take the exit
0.5 mi
·
59 sec
Exit 53
Toward US 46 East: Wayne, Clifton, Lincoln Tunnel
Use 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 Boulevard
Use 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 City
Use 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 City
Use 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 Garden
Use 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 right at fork
450 ft
·
11 sec
Toward I 495: Queens-Midtown Tunnel
Use the straight lane.
51
Continue on I 495
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
I 495
Use the straight lane.
52
Take the exit
455 ft
·
13 sec
Exit 14
Toward NY 25A East: 21st Street, Long Island City
Use the slight right lane.
53
Continue on NY 25A
385 ft
·
13 sec
·
NY 25A
Exit 14
54
Keep slight right at fork onto NY 25A
342 ft
·
14 sec
·
21st Street
Toward NY 25A East: 21st Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
55
Turn right onto 49th Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
49th Avenue
56
Continue on Hunters Point Avenue
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
Hunters Point Avenue
57
Turn right onto 31st Place
91 ft
·
3 sec
·
31st Place
58
Arrive at destination
31st Place
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 7-hour, 58-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Buffalo to maximize daylight. With only two recommended stops, you have flexibility in pacing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 104.5-mile stretch on the Southern Tier Expressway, and plan your refueling accordingly. This drive is manageable in one day, so you can enjoy the flexibility of not needing an overnight stay.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 189.1 miles from Buffalo, NY, or about 4h 1m 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 83 miles or 1h 57m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 189.1 miles or 4h 1m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 6h 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sunnyside, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Buffalo, NY
This is one driving day of about 378.2 miles and 7h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 83 miles from Buffalo, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
189 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 83 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 189.1 miles from Buffalo, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop 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 405 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
$62.25 one way
$124.51 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
132 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $67.32 | $134.63 |
| premium | $4.92 | $73.30 | $146.60 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $83.50 | $167.00 |
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
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$104–$129
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 132.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 113.5 | 1 | $39.71 | $18.15 |
| Efficient EV | 94.6 | 1 | $33.09 | $15.13 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 151.3 | 1 | $52.95 | $24.20 |
Gas CO2
132 kg
EV CO2
44 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.
Destination
Sunnyside, NY
Morning in Sunnyside on Tuesday
Local time
6:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
56°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
1 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
7h 58m 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?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive, with 65% of the 378.2 miles utilizing major expressways. The character of the road is largely about covering ground efficiently, though you will encounter varied highway sections. The longest continuous stretch without a significant change in road type is 104.5 miles on the Southern Tier Expressway. While not a winding backroad adventure, this route prioritizes steady progress.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
58 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 40 significant decision points across 378.2 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.
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 Sunnyside, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono, Milford and Clifton.
Mt Pocono
255.8 mi in
|
~5h 20m
|
via US 6
Milford
256.6 mi in
|
~5h 21m
|
via I 84; I 380
Clifton
355.8 mi in
|
~7h 20m
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).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 58m. Total distance: 378.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 58m 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 $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.
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 Sunnyside, 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 8.0 hours each way, a round trip means 15.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Sunnyside, 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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