Buffalo, NY to Union Springs, NY is 125.2 miles and takes about 2h 38m via the New York State Thruway, with a fuel budget near $20 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, starting in the Northeast region and ending in the same area. You'll primarily be on surface roads after the initial highway segment, making for a generally straightforward drive. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion.
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
62.6 miles from Buffalo, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New York State Thruway
100.9 mi
1h 57m
NY 90
9.1 mi
16m
Kensington Expressway
6.8 mi
9m
NY 318
4.1 mi
7m
Auburn Road
1.9 mi
2m
State Route 414
0.3 mi
<1m
Genesee Street
0.3 mi
<1m
Washington Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 100.9 mi, about 1h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Buffalo, NY and Union Springs, 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
101 mi·1 hr 57 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.5 mi·58 sec
Exit 41Toward NY 414: Waterloo, ClydeUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
327 ft·7 sec
13
Continue on NY 414
0.3 mi·35 sec·State Route 414
14
Turn left onto NY 318
4.1 mi·7 min·NY 318
Use the left lane.
15
At end of road, turn left onto US 20; NY 5
1.9 mi·2 min·Auburn Road
16
Continue on US 20; NY 5
0.1 mi·14 sec·Clark Street Road
17
Turn right onto NY 90
9.1 mi·16 min·NY 90
18
Turn right onto Basin Street
120 ft·5 sec·Basin Street
19
Arrive at destination
Basin Street
Trip Plan
Given the 2h 38m duration, leaving Buffalo, NY in the morning will give you plenty of time to reach Union Springs, NY without feeling rushed. Consider starting your drive shortly after breakfast to maximize your day at your destination. With only one stop planned and a manageable distance, you have flexibility if you encounter unexpected delays. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $20 estimate is based on the total distance and current prices, and refueling options might be less frequent once you're off the New York State Thruway.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 62.6 miles from Buffalo, NY, or about 1h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100.9 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 28 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.6 miles or 1h 16m 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 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Union Springs, 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 125.2 miles and 2h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 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 100.9 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 109.1 — 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
109.1 mi into trip|~2h 10m in
Take the exit toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
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 41
Toward NY 414: Waterloo, Clyde
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$20.35 one way
$40.69 round trip
$4.13/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.47
$22.02
$44.05
premium
$4.87
$23.99
$47.97
diesel
$5.40
$26.63
$53.26
Estimated Tolls: $5.05
New York State Thruway
(100.9 mi)$5.05
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
$20
Tolls
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.6
0
$13.15
$6.01
Efficient EV
31.3
0
$10.96
$5.01
EV Truck/SUV
50.1
0
$17.53
$8.01
Gas CO2
44 kg
EV CO2
15 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 Apr 26, 2026
Origin
Buffalo, NY
Morning
in Buffalo on Sunday
Local time
7:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy
NE 5 to 10 mph42% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 1:03PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Destination
Union Springs, NY
Morning
in Union Springs on Sunday
Local time
7:01 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Rain Showers
E 2 to 8 mph80% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 1:03PM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
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
2 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
2h 38m 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...
3 mi from route
~8 min detour
Free
near mile 112.3
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...
8 mi from route
~19 min detour
Free
near mile 120.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly surface roads, with only 16% of the route on highways. You'll experience a solid 100.9-mile stretch on the New York State Thruway before transitioning to surface roads like NY 90. Expect denser traffic and more frequent exits as you approach the highway's end, followed by more relaxed cruising on local routes.
Only 16% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 100.9 mi on New York State Thruway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 13 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 Effort6/10
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 125.2 miles you will encounter 13 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.
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 Union Springs, NY, road signs point toward Albany and Clyde.
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 2h 38m. Total distance: 125.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 100.9 miles on New York State Thruway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $5.05 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 — we found about 16 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 Union Springs, 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. There are 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 and Harriet Tubman 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 Union Springs, NY before heading back.
