Triplets Family Restaurant
Early in the drive, right off the route
Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
Hours: 5 am–9 pm
+15704216566
Visit websiteCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 48m
Distance
377 mi
607 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$62
one way
EV Charging
Good
8 stations
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Inwood, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Buffalo, NY
Wikimedia Commons
This 383.9-mile journey from Inwood, NY, to Buffalo, NY, is estimated to take around 6 hours and 26 minutes of driving time, making it a feasible, though long, day trip. You'll navigate local streets initially, including West 179th Street, before merging onto I 95 South and crossing the George Washington Bridge (upper level). With a projected fuel cost of $63, this route falls within the Northeast region for both its start and end points. Expect a single stop to be sufficient for this drive, which is characterized by frequent turns rather than long stretches of highway. It's a route that demands your attention, so plan for a full day behind the wheel.
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
188.5 miles from Inwood, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 48m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 86 | 100 mi | 1h 56m |
| Christopher Columbus Highway | 68.2 mi | 1h 20m |
| I 81 | 58.1 mi | 1h 9m |
| Genesee Expressway | 32.9 mi | 37m |
| I 380 | 27.7 mi | 30m |
| Keystone Shortway | 17.3 mi | 24m |
| Aurora Expressway | 12.5 mi | 14m |
| Varysburg Road | 10.9 mi | 15m |
Step-by-step road directions between Inwood, NY and Buffalo, NY.
Start on US 9
Turn right onto US 9
Take the ramp onto US 9
Merge onto I 95; US 1; US 9
Continue on I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; US 1 EXPR; US 9 EXPR
Keep slight left at fork onto I 95 EXPR; NJTP
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto I 95; NJTP
Take the exit
Continue on I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
Take the exit
Continue on I 380
Merge onto I 81
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 390
Take the exit
Turn left onto NY 36
Continue on NY 36
Continue on NY 36
Turn left onto CR 64
Continue on US 20A
Continue on US 20A
Continue on US 20A
Continue on US 20A
Continue on US 20A
Take the ramp
Merge onto NY 400
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto I 90
Take the exit
Continue on I 190
Take the exit
Continue on NY 5
Turn left onto NY 384
Enter roundabout onto NY 384
Arrive at destination
Given the 6-hour 26-minute duration and the turn-heavy nature of this 383.9-mile route, an early start from Inwood, NY, is highly recommended to maximize daylight hours. While the fuel cost is estimated at a manageable $63, factor in potential delays from local traffic, especially around the George Washington Bridge. With only one stop suggested, plan it strategically for a meal or a break to refresh. The lack of significant highway driving means you’ll be moving through towns and cities, so stay alert for changing speed limits and local road conditions. A specific tip: be sure your GPS is fully updated, as navigating numerous local roads can be complex.
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.
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 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 188.5 miles or 3h 48m 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 21m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Buffalo, NY than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Inwood, 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 Inwood, NY
This is one driving day of about 377 miles and 7h 48m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
189 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.
A short stop after about 83 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 188.5 miles from Inwood, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 86 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 100 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Top Restaurant
Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
Early in the drive, right off the route
Hours: 5 am–9 pm
+15704216566
Mocha Cafe
Bronx, New York
An Beal Bocht Cafe
Bronx, New York
Top Coffee Stop
New York, New York
Near the start, short detour
+19172614093
Early in the drive, right off the route
Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
Hours: 5 am–9 pm
+15704216566
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Bronx, New York
Hours: 6 am–10 pm
+13472027123
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Bronx, New York
Hours: 11 am–2 pm
+17188847127
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey
Hours: 10:30 am–9 pm
+19733359690
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
Leonia, New Jersey
Hours: 8 am–8 pm
+12013630008
Near the start, ~10 min detour
Fairfield, New Jersey
Hours: 12–9:30 pm
+19739442049
Visit websiteNear the start, ~11 min detour
Boonton, New Jersey
Hours: 11 am–10 pm
+19739173334
Visit websiteNear the start, ~11 min detour
Livingston, New Jersey
Hours: 11:30 am–8:30 pm
+19733151616
Visit websiteNear the start, short detour
New York, New York
+19172614093
Near the start, short detour
Englewood, New Jersey
Hours: Closed
+12015675111
Visit websiteNear the start, ~12 min detour
New York, New York
Hours: 8 am–11 pm
+12122220683
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, right off the route
Elmira, New York
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Elmira, New York
Hours: Open 24 hours
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, right off the route
Elmira, New York
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18555023851
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Horseheads, New York
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18776642738
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Waverly, New York
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18668167584
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Horseheads, New York
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18336322778
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, short detour
Horseheads, New York
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887174544
Visit websiteAround the midpoint, ~9 min detour
Sayre, Pennsylvania
Hours: Open 24 hours
+18887584389
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
New York, New York
Hours: 6 am–1 pm
+12127951388
Visit websiteNear the end, right off the route
Buffalo, NY
Hours: 12–8 pm
+17162469080
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
New York, NY
Hours: 6 am–1 pm
+12126399675
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
New York, New York
Hours: 6 am–1 pm
+12126399675
Visit websiteNear the start, right off the route
New York, New York
Hours: 6 am–1 pm
Visit websiteNear the end, right off the route
Buffalo, NY
Hours: Closed
+17168471773
Visit websiteNear the end, right off the route
Buffalo, New York
Hours: 9 am–4 pm
+17166555131
Visit websiteNear the end, right off the route
Buffalo, New York
Hours: 11 am–4 pm
+17168530084
Visit websitePlace data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.4 and 376.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork toward I 95 South, NJTP South: Hackensack
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward I 80 West: Paterson, Hackensack
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
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
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
Regular Gas
$62.06 one way
$124.11 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $67.10 | $134.21 |
| premium | $4.92 | $73.07 | $146.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $83.24 | $166.47 |
Estimated Tolls: $16.59
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
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$104–$129
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 131.9 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 | 1 | $39.58 | $18.10 |
| Efficient EV | 94.3 | 1 | $32.99 | $15.08 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 150.8 | 1 | $52.78 | $24.13 |
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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Inwood on Sunday
Local time
9:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
53°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in Buffalo on Sunday
Local time
9:41 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This drive is primarily a turn-heavy local experience, with a 0% highway share. You'll be navigating city streets and local roads for the majority of your 383.9 miles. The profile suggests a continuous engagement with traffic signals and intersections, rather than extended periods of cruising. While there isn't a specified longest uninterrupted stretch, anticipate frequent changes in direction and speed as you make your way through various communities. This isn't a route for autopilot; it's one where you'll be actively steering and monitoring your surroundings for the full 6 hours and 26 minutes.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 86 and Christopher Columbus Highway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.4 miles in.
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 26 significant decision points across 377 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 3.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 3.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Inwood, NY to Buffalo, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Letchworth Park along the way.
Letchworth Park
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 48m. Total distance: 377 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 48m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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