Origin
Covington, NY
Afternoon in Covington on Tuesday
Local time
12:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Covington, NY to Buffalo, 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
1h 17m
Distance
55.6 mi
89 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 11m
★
6 AM
1h 17m
8 AM
1h 29m
10 AM
1h 21m
12 PM
1h 20m
3 PM
1h 22m
5 PM
1h 29m
8 PM
1h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Covington, NY
Renan Tagliaferro
Buffalo, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Covington, NY to Buffalo, NY is 55.6 miles and takes about 1 hour 17 minutes via New York State Thruway, Ellicott Street Road, and Kensington Expressway, with a fuel budget near $8 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, making it a straightforward drive between two points in the Northeast region. Expect a local feel with several turns, so keep your navigation handy. It's a short enough journey that you can easily fit it into a single day, offering flexibility for when you depart.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New York State Thruway | 31.2 mi | 36m |
| Ellicott Street Road | 10.3 mi | 15m |
| Kensington Expressway | 6.4 mi | 8m |
| East Main Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Oak Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Big Tree Road | 1 mi | 1m |
| Cedar Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Perry Road | 0.9 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 31.2 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Covington, NY and Buffalo, NY.
1
Start on Court Road
13 ft
·
1 sec
·
Court Road
2
Turn right onto NY 246
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Perry Road
3
Turn left onto NY 63
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Big Tree Road
4
Continue on NY 63
10 mi
·
15 min
·
Ellicott Street Road
5
Turn right onto Cedar Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Cedar Street
6
Turn left onto NY 5
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
7
Turn right onto NY 98
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Oak Street
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 90 West
10
Merge onto I 90
31 mi
·
36 min
·
New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 51W
Toward NY 33 West: Buffalo
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto NY 33
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Kensington Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
Toward Oak Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on Oak Street
428 ft
·
14 sec
·
Oak Street
15
Turn right onto Genesee Street
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Genesee Street
Use the right lane.
16
Turn right onto East Huron Street
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
East Huron Street
17
Turn left onto Franklin Street
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Franklin Street
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto Genesee Street
402 ft
·
11 sec
·
Genesee Street
19
Enter roundabout onto NY 384
391 ft
·
11 sec
·
Niagara Square
20
Arrive at destination
NY 384
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.8 miles from Covington, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 165 decision points cluster between mile 15.9 and 55.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
15.9 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 90 West
7
47.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 4m in
Take the exit toward NY 33 West: Buffalo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 51W
Toward NY 33 West: Buffalo
7
54.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Oak Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Oak Street
6
54.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m in
|
Genesee Street
Turn right onto Genesee Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
55.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
|
Franklin Street
Turn left onto Franklin Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.15 one way
$18.30 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $9.90 | $19.79 |
| premium | $4.92 | $10.78 | $21.55 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.28 | $24.55 |
Estimated Tolls: $1.56
New York State Thruway
(31.2 mi)
$1.56
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$2
Total
$11
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.7 | 0 | $5.84 | $2.67 |
| Efficient EV | 13.9 | 0 | $4.87 | $2.22 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.2 | 0 | $7.78 | $3.56 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
7 kg (63% 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
Buffalo, NY
Afternoon in Buffalo on Tuesday
Local time
12:54 PM
EDT
Current temp
48°F
Areas Of Fog
W 5 mph
17% chance
Live forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 17 at 3:23AM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY
58°F
Batavia, NY
28 mi in
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
13 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 17m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a 'Turn-heavy local drive,' suggesting you'll navigate through more than just open highway. With only 12% of the drive on highways, be prepared for frequent intersections and changes in speed. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 31.2 miles on the New York State Thruway, offering a brief period of more consistent travel before you transition back to local roads. You'll likely experience varied driving conditions, from potentially faster highway segments to slower, more complex city or town driving.
Only 12% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31.2 mi on New York State Thruway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 15.9 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 55.6 miles you will encounter 16 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 15.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 47.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Covington, NY
Full guide →Founded 1817
Arriving 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 1h 17m. Total distance: 55.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 31.2 miles on New York State Thruway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $1.56 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.
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 Buffalo, NY before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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 15.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 47.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 54.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Buffalo, NY before heading back.
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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