Buffalo to Woodlawn is 380.8 miles and takes about 7h 55m via the Southern Tier Expressway and I 81, with a fuel budget near $63 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This northeastern drive stays within New York, offering a highway-focused experience. With a recommended one-day trip, you'll encounter two planned stops along the way. The longest continuous stretch covers 104.5 miles on the Southern Tier Expressway, so plan accordingly for this substantial segment.
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
190.4 miles from Buffalo, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 4h 3m into the drive
.
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 168 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~4,210 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,900
Quietest
1 AM
~430 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
9.8×
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 Woodlawn, 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
80 mi·1 hr 37 min·Keystone Shortway
Use the straight / right lanes.
33
Keep slight right at fork onto I 80
5.5 mi·5 min·Christopher Columbus Highway
Toward I 95: George Washington Bridge Lower LevelUse the slight right lane.
34
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·23 sec
Toward I 95 North: George Washington Bridge, New York CityUse the straight / slight right lanes.
35
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Exit 70A-BToward Leonia, TeaneckUse the slight right lane.
36
Turn right
0.2 mi·35 sec
Exit 70AToward LeoniaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
37
Turn straight onto CR 56
454 ft·9 sec·Degraw Avenue
38
Continue on CR 56
1.1 mi·2 min·Fort Lee Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
39
Continue on CR 56
469 ft·13 sec·Main Street
40
Take the ramp
472 ft·12 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge
41
Merge onto US 1; US 9; US 46
0.3 mi·28 sec·Bergen Boulevard
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
42
Take the exit
312 ft·4 sec
Toward George Washington Bridge Upper Level
43
Merge onto I 95 EXPR
0.3 mi·20 sec·I 95 EXPR
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
44
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR
0.8 mi·1 min·I 95 EXPR
45
Continue on I 95; US 1; US 9
0.6 mi·1 min·George Washington Bridge (upper level)
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
46
Continue on I 95; US 1
0.8 mi·1 min·Trans-Manhattan Expressway
47
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 1C-DToward I 87 South, I 87 North: Queens, Albany, Yankee StadiumUse the straight / slight right lanes.
48
Keep slight right at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 1CToward I 87 North: AlbanyUse the slight right lane.
49
Merge onto I 87
3.5 mi·5 min·Major Deegan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
50
Take the exit
0.2 mi·43 sec
Exit 13Toward East 233rd StreetUse the slight right lane.
51
Continue on East 233rd Street
0.2 mi·33 sec·East 233rd Street
52
Turn left onto Van Cortlandt Park East
0.2 mi·30 sec·Van Cortlandt Park East
53
Turn right onto East 236th Street
0.4 mi·1 min·East 236th Street
54
Turn right onto Katonah Avenue
39 ft·1 sec·Katonah Avenue
55
Arrive at destination
Katonah Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 7h 55m estimated duration, departing Buffalo in the morning is your best bet to arrive in Woodlawn with ample daylight. With only two recommended stops, be sure to plan your breaks strategically, especially around the longest 104.5-mile stretch on the Southern Tier Expressway. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as $63 is the estimated cost, and ensure you're topped off before heading into longer, more remote sections. This is a manageable one-day trip, so you have flexibility if you encounter unexpected delays.
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 190.4 miles from Buffalo, NY, or about 4h 3m 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 84 miles or 1h 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 190.4 miles or 4h 3m 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 37m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Woodlawn, 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 380.8 miles and 7h 55m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 84 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 36
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 370.7 — 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...
9
370.7 mi into trip|~7h 37m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Leonia, Teaneck
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 70A-B
Toward Leonia, Teaneck
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$61.89 one way
$123.77 round trip
$4.13/gal25.4 MPG avg133 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.47
$66.98
$133.97
premium
$4.87
$72.95
$145.90
diesel
$5.40
$81.00
$162.00
Estimated Tolls: $16.30
George Washington Bridge
$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
$103–$128
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 133.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $40 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
114.2
1
$39.98
$18.28
Efficient EV
95.2
1
$33.32
$15.23
EV Truck/SUV
152.3
1
$53.31
$24.37
Gas CO2
133 kg
EV CO2
45 kg (66% 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 Apr 25, 2026
Origin
Buffalo, NY
Late night
in Buffalo on Sunday
Local time
5:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Rain Showers
NE 12 mph98% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 25 at 12:05AM EDT by NWS Binghamton NY
Destination
Woodlawn, NY
Late night
in Woodlawn on Sunday
Local time
5:35 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
7h 55m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
General Grant National Memorial
National Memorial
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...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 367.7
Caution: Lower Crypt Access Subject to Safe Conditions
Merchant’s clerk, Revolutionary War soldier, first Secretary Treasury of the United States: Alexander Hamilton’s life is memorialized at The Grange, the home he built on a country estate in uptown Man...
7 mi from route
~17 min detour
Free
near mile 380.8
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...
10 mi from route
~26 min detour
Free
near mile 367.7
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...
12 mi from route
~29 min detour
Free
near mile 367.7
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...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 367.7
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...
12 mi from route
~30 min detour
Free
near mile 367.7
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 drive for most of this 380.8-mile journey, with 62% of the route utilizing major highways like the Southern Tier Expressway and I 81. You'll experience a significant 104.5-mile stretch on the Southern Tier Expressway without needing to exit, which means fewer opportunities for spontaneous stops but a consistent pace. While primarily on interstates, the transition between these main arteries will define the drive's character.
62% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
55 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 36 significant decision points across 380.8 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.
Between Buffalo, NY and Woodlawn, NY, road signs point toward Mt Pocono and Milford.
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 7h 55m. Total distance: 380.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 55m 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 George Washington Bridge. 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 35 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 Woodlawn, 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 35 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 — General Grant National Memorial, Hamilton Grange National Memorial and Stonewall 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 7.9 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 Woodlawn, NY before the return drive.
