Trip from Cuba, NY to Buffalo, NY

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 44m

Distance

73.7 mi

119 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Sparse

1 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 23 min

4 AM

1h 37m ★

6 AM

1h 45m

8 AM

2h 0m

10 AM

1h 50m

12 PM

1h 49m

3 PM

1h 51m

5 PM

2h 0m

8 PM

1h 40m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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town in Allegany County, New York, United States

Cuba, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Buffalo, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 73.7-mile drive from Cuba, NY, to Buffalo, NY, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 44 minutes. You'll navigate using a combination of the Aurora Expressway and State Highway 16, with a portion on Olean Road. With a modest fuel cost estimated at $12, this route offers a mixed driving experience that's perfect for a day's adventure. Since both your origin and destination are within the Northeast region, you won't be crossing any major geographical boundaries, keeping the journey straightforward. It's a practical choice for a quick trip between these two New York locations.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

36.8 miles from Cuba, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 53m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Aurora Expressway	16.8 mi	19m
State Highway 16	16.3 mi	24m
Olean Road	12.7 mi	19m
Main Street	8.5 mi	12m
Southern Tier Expressway	6.2 mi	7m
Niagara Thruway	4.9 mi	6m
South Main Street	3.7 mi	6m
New York State Thruway	1.3 mi	1m

Longest stretch: Aurora Expressway — 16.8 mi, about 19m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cuba, NY and Buffalo, NY.

Start on East Main Street

116 ft · 7 sec · East Main Street

Turn right onto NY 305

0.6 mi · 1 min · Genesee Street

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 53 sec

Merge onto I 86; NY 17

6.2 mi · 7 min · Southern Tier Expressway

Turn sharp right onto NY 16

1.3 mi · 1 min · State Highway 16

Continue on NY 16

5.8 mi · 8 min · Main Street

Continue on NY 16

5.2 mi · 7 min · State Highway 16

Continue on NY 16; NY 98

0.8 mi · 1 min · South Main Street

Continue on NY 16; NY 98

0.7 mi · 59 sec · North Main Street

Continue on NY 16; NY 98

3.9 mi · 5 min · State Highway 16

Continue on NY 16

1.9 mi · 2 min · Main Street

Continue on NY 16

0.1 mi · 10 sec · Main Street

Continue on NY 16

0.6 mi · 49 sec · Olean Road

Continue on NY 16

0.6 mi · 56 sec · Main Street

Continue on NY 16

3.3 mi · 4 min · State Highway 16

Continue on NY 16

1.3 mi · 1 min · South Main Street

Continue on NY 16

2.1 mi · 3 min · State Highway 16

Continue on NY 16; NY 39

0.2 mi · 19 sec · Olean Road

Continue on NY 16; NY 39

0.6 mi · 56 sec · State Highway 16

Continue on NY 16

7.3 mi · 10 min · Olean Road

Continue on NY 16

1.6 mi · 3 min · South Main Street

Continue on NY 16

4.6 mi · 7 min · Olean Road

Enter roundabout onto NY 16; NY 400

153 ft · 2 sec · Aurora Expressway

Continue on NY 16; NY 400

17 mi · 19 min · Aurora Expressway

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 27 sec

Toward I 90 East: Buffalo

Merge onto I 90

1.3 mi · 1 min · New York State Thruway

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min

Exit 53 Toward I 190 North: Downtown Buffalo, Niagara Falls Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Continue on I 190

4.9 mi · 6 min · Niagara Thruway

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 33 sec

Exit 7 Toward Buffalo, Outer Harbor, Church Street Use the slight right lane.

Continue on NY 5

521 ft · 21 sec · Church Street

Turn left onto NY 384

0.2 mi · 29 sec · Delaware Avenue

Use the left lane.

Enter roundabout onto NY 384

0.2 mi · 30 sec · Niagara Square

Arrive at destination

NY 384

Trip Plan

Given the manageable 1 hour and 44-minute duration for this 73.7-mile trip, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving Cuba, NY, in the late morning can help you avoid any potential morning rush hour traffic as you approach Buffalo, NY. The estimated fuel cost of $12 makes this an economical drive, so keeping your tank topped off is easy. While there are no designated stops mentioned, plan for a brief break around the halfway mark if needed; the longest stretch on the Aurora Expressway is 16.8 miles, so consider a quick pause before or after that segment. This route is well-suited for a single-day excursion without the need to split it.

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 36.8 miles from Cuba, NY, or about 53m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 16.8 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 16 miles or 22m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 36.8 miles or 53m 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 28m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Buffalo, NY than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Cuba, NY so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Cuba, NY

This is one driving day of about 73.7 miles and 1h 44m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Cuba, NY.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

The longest stretch is on Aurora Expressway for about 16.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Arcade, NY

37 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

Franklinville, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Arcade, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 36.8 miles from Cuba, 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.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Final third 2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour

South Wales, New York

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+18887584389

Visit website

Buffalo Double Decker Tours

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour

Buffalo, NY

Hours: 12–8 pm

+17162469080

Visit website

Buffalo Naval Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour

Buffalo, NY

Hours: Closed

+17168471773

Visit website

Explore & More - The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Children's Museum

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour

Buffalo, New York

Hours: 9 am–4 pm

+17166555131

Visit website

Buffalo Transportation Pierce Arrow Museum

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Buffalo, New York

Hours: 11 am–4 pm

+17168530084

Visit website

Canalside

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Buffalo, New York

+17164408919

Visit website

Veterans Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour

Buffalo, New York

Hours: 7 am–10:30 pm

+17168471773

Visit website

Wilkeson Pointe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour

Buffalo, New York

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+17164367100

Visit website

Oldest Tree In Buffalo

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour

Buffalo, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

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 7.3 and 73.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

7.3 mi into trip | ~9m in | NY 16 / State Highway 16

Turn sharp right onto NY 16 / State Highway 16

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach

67.6 mi into trip | ~1h 34m in

Take the exit toward I 190 North: Downtown Buffalo, Niagara Falls

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 53 Toward I 190 North: Downtown Buffalo, Niagara F...

73 mi into trip | ~1h 42m in

Take the exit toward Buffalo, Outer Harbor, Church Street

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 7 Toward Buffalo, Outer Harbor, Church Street

73.4 mi into trip | ~1h 43m in | NY 384 / Delaware Avenue

Turn left onto NY 384 / Delaware Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.

73.5 mi into trip | ~1h 44m in | NY 384 / Niagara Square

Enter roundabout onto NY 384 / Niagara Square

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.13 one way

$24.26 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 26 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.52	$13.12	$26.24
premium	$4.92	$14.28	$28.57
diesel	$5.61	$16.27	$32.54

Estimated Tolls: $0.31

Niagara Thruway (4.9 mi) $0.24

New York State Thruway (1.3 mi) $0.07

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

$12

Tolls

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 25.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	22.1	$7.74	$3.54
Efficient EV	18.4	$6.45	$2.95
EV Truck/SUV	29.5	$10.32	$4.72

Gas CO2

26 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (65% 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 17, 2026

Origin

Cuba, NY

Late night in Cuba on Tuesday

Local time

4:08 AM

EDT

Current temp

58°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Buffalo, NY

Late night in Buffalo on Tuesday

Local time

4:08 AM

EDT

Current temp

63°F

Areas Of Fog then Mostly Cloudy

N 2 mph 5% chance 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

5 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

1h 44m 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?

The character of this 1-hour and 44-minute journey is a mixed drive, with 53% of it on highways. You'll experience stretches on the Aurora Expressway, State Highway 16, and Olean Road, offering a varied driving experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 16.8 miles on the Aurora Expressway, providing a good opportunity for consistent speed. As you progress, the landscape will likely shift from more rural settings to the approaches of a larger urban area. This blend means you'll have both efficient highway cruising and potentially more localized road segments.

53% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.

33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 16.8 mi on Aurora Expressway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 7.3 miles in near NY 16 / State Highway 16.

Driving Effort 6/10

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 73.7 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 7.3 miles (NY 16 / State Highway 16): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach; at 67.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 73 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.

On the drive from Cuba, NY to Buffalo, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Niagara Falls along the way.

Niagara Falls

67.6 mi in | ~1h 34m

About the Cities

Starting in Cuba, NY

Full guide →

Founded 1822

Cuba is in Allegany County, New York.

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 44m. Total distance: 73.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (53%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 16.8 miles on Aurora Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Expect about $0.31 in tolls one way, starting with Niagara 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.

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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Explore more options from Cuba, NY or browse trips ending in Buffalo, NY.

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Trip from Cuba, NY to Buffalo, NY

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

ChargePoint Charging Station

Buffalo Double Decker Tours

Buffalo Naval Park

Explore & More - The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Children's Museum

Buffalo Transportation Pierce Arrow Museum

Canalside

Veterans Park

Wilkeson Pointe

Oldest Tree In Buffalo

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Cuba, NY

Buffalo, NY

Same local time

5 degrees warmer at arrival

1h 44m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Cuba, NY

Arriving in Buffalo, NY

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

How do I pay the tolls on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

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