This 376.5-mile journey from Harrison, NY, to Buffalo, NY, is designed as a single-day adventure, taking approximately 7 hours and 56 minutes of driving time. Primarily following Long Mountain Parkway and I-86, it's a highway-focused drive that efficiently covers the distance. With an estimated fuel cost of around $62, this route offers a straightforward way to travel between the Northeast regions of New York. You'll experience a mostly uninterrupted drive, making it a practical option if you prefer to reach your destination in one go without an overnight stop.
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
188.3 miles from Harrison, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 55m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Long Mountain Parkway
107.6 mi
2h 15m
I 86
100 mi
1h 56m
NY 17
33.7 mi
40m
Genesee Expressway
32.9 mi
37m
Palisades Interstate Parkway
14.9 mi
17m
Aurora Expressway
12.5 mi
14m
Varysburg Road
10.9 mi
15m
Big Tree Road
10.5 mi
15m
Longest stretch:
Long Mountain Parkway
— 107.6 mi, about 2h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Harrison, NY and Buffalo, NY.
1
Start on Halstead Avenue
50 ft·6 sec·Halstead Avenue
2
Turn right onto NY 127
1.3 mi·2 min·Harrison Avenue
3
Continue on NY 127
1.2 mi·2 min·North Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
5
Merge onto Hutchinson River Parkway
0.9 mi·1 min·Hutchinson River Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi·46 sec
Exit 15BToward I 287 West: White PlainsUse the right lane.
7
Turn straight onto Westchester Avenue
0.3 mi·33 sec·Westchester Avenue
8
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·19 sec
Toward I 287 West
9
Merge onto I 287
7.7 mi·9 min·Cross Westchester Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Merge onto I 87; I 287
8.9 mi·11 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 13NToward Palisades Parkway North, Bear MountainUse the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto Palisades Interstate Parkway
15 mi·17 min·Palisades Interstate Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Exit 18Toward I-87: US 6 West, NY 17, New York State Thruway
14
Enter roundabout onto US 6
375 ft·5 sec·Long Mountain Parkway
15
Continue on US 6
108 mi·2 hr 14 min·Long Mountain Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on NY 17
34 mi·40 min·NY 17
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17
100 mi·1 hr 56 min·I 86; NY 17
Toward I 86: Corning
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 390
33 mi·37 min·Genesee Expressway
Toward I 390: Rochester
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 6Toward NY 36: Mount Morris, Letchworth Park
20
Turn left onto NY 36
4.3 mi·7 min·Sonyea Road
21
Continue on NY 36
1.8 mi·4 min·Main Street
22
Continue on NY 36
1.3 mi·1 min·Mount Morris Road
23
Turn left onto CR 64
2.3 mi·3 min·Perry Road
24
Continue on US 20A
7.4 mi·10 min·Leicester Road
25
Continue on US 20A
4.6 mi·8 min·East Buffalo Street
26
Continue on US 20A
1.7 mi·2 min·West Buffalo Road
27
Continue on US 20A
11 mi·15 min·Varysburg Road
28
Continue on US 20A
11 mi·15 min·Big Tree Road
29
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
30
Merge onto NY 400
13 mi·14 min·Aurora Expressway
31
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 90 East: Buffalo
32
Merge onto I 90
1.3 mi·1 min·New York State Thruway
33
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 53Toward I 190 North: Downtown Buffalo, Niagara FallsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Continue on I 190
4.9 mi·6 min·Niagara Thruway
35
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
Exit 7Toward Buffalo, Outer Harbor, Church StreetUse the slight right lane.
36
Continue on NY 5
521 ft·21 sec·Church Street
37
Turn left onto NY 384
0.2 mi·29 sec·Delaware Avenue
Use the left lane.
38
Enter roundabout onto NY 384
0.2 mi·30 sec·Niagara Square
39
Arrive at destination
NY 384
Trip Plan
Given the 7-hour 56-minute duration, starting your drive from Harrison early in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight and minimize traffic. You have two recommended stops along the way, which should provide ample opportunity to stretch your legs and refuel without significantly extending your travel time. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without a planned stop is over 100 miles. The $62 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always consider potential price variations, especially when planning your stops.
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 188.3 miles from Harrison, NY, or about 3h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 107.6 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 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 188.3 miles or 3h 55m 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 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 Harrison, 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 Harrison, NY
This is one driving day of about 376.5 miles and 7h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 83 miles from Harrison, 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 Long Mountain Parkway for about 107.6 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 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.7 and 376.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
3.7 mi into trip|~6m in
Take the exit toward I 287 West: White Plains
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 15B
Toward I 287 West: White Plains
8
20.9 mi into trip|~29m in
Take the exit toward Palisades Parkway North, Bear Mountain
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 13N
Toward Palisades Parkway North, Bear Mountain
8
370.4 mi into trip|~7h 46m 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...
8
375.9 mi into trip|~7h 54m 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
7
376.2 mi into trip|~7h 55m in|NY 384 / Delaware Avenue
Turn left onto NY 384 / Delaware Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$61.97 one way
$123.95 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg132 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$67.01
$134.03
premium
$4.92
$72.97
$145.95
diesel
$5.61
$83.13
$166.25
Estimated Tolls: $0.75
New York State Thruway
(10.2 mi)$0.51
Niagara Thruway
(4.9 mi)$0.24
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
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$88–$113
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 131.7 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
1
$39.53
$18.07
Efficient EV
94.1
1
$32.94
$15.06
EV Truck/SUV
150.6
1
$52.71
$24.10
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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Harrison, NY
Late night
in Harrison on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Buffalo, NY
Late night
in Buffalo on Sunday
Local time
1:59 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 12 mph82% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 15 at 11:57PM 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
21 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
7h 56m 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.
Hamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect an 82% highway share on this trip, with the bulk of your time spent on fast-paced roads like I-86 and NY 17. The drive includes a significant uninterrupted stretch of 107.6 miles on Long Mountain Parkway, allowing for sustained progress. While largely a highway experience, this route offers a consistent pace, minimizing time spent on slower local roads. You'll find the road character remains predominantly focused on efficient travel from start to finish.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
39 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 107.6 mi on Long Mountain Parkway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Long Mountain Parkway and I 86. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.7 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 23 significant decision points across 376.5 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 3.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 370.4 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 Harrison, NY and Buffalo, NY, road signs point toward Palisades Parkway North, Bear Mountain, New York State Thruway and Letchworth Park.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 56m. Total distance: 376.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 56m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 107.6 miles on Long Mountain Parkway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $0.75 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.
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 Buffalo, 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 3.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 370.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant 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 Buffalo, NY before the return drive.
