Origin
Leicester, NY
Late night in Leicester on Sunday
Local time
12:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Leicester, NY to Buffalo, NY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 26, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 23m
Distance
57.8 mi
93 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 17m
★
6 AM
1h 24m
8 AM
1h 37m
10 AM
1h 28m
12 PM
1h 27m
3 PM
1h 29m
5 PM
1h 36m
8 PM
1h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Leicester, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Buffalo, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Leicester to Buffalo is 57.8 miles and takes about 1 hour 23 minutes via US 20A, Aurora Expressway, and Niagara Thruway, with a fuel budget near $9 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York, making it a straightforward connection between two points in the Northeast region. With an 83% highway share, expect a largely efficient drive. This route is best suited for those who prioritize getting from point A to point B quickly, as it's designed for speed and convenience rather than a leisurely exploration.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 20A | 35.1 mi | 53m |
| Aurora Expressway | 12.5 mi | 14m |
| Niagara Thruway | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| Leicester Road | 1.9 mi | 2m |
| New York State Thruway | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.4 mi | <1m |
| Niagara Square | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| Delaware Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 20A
— 35.1 mi, about 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Leicester, NY and Buffalo, NY.
1
Start on South Parkway
352 ft
·
18 sec
·
South Parkway
2
Turn left onto US 20A; NY 39
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
·
Main Street
3
Continue on US 20A; NY 39
1.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Leicester Road
4
Turn slight right onto US 20A
35 mi
·
53 min
·
US 20A
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
6
Merge onto NY 400
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Aurora Expressway
7
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 90 East: Buffalo
8
Merge onto I 90
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
New York State Thruway
9
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 53
Toward I 190 North: Downtown Buffalo, Niagara Falls
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 190
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Niagara Thruway
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 7
Toward Buffalo, Outer Harbor, Church Street
Use the slight right lane.
12
Continue on NY 5
521 ft
·
21 sec
·
Church Street
13
Turn left onto NY 384
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Delaware Avenue
Use the left lane.
14
Enter roundabout onto NY 384
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Niagara Square
15
Arrive at destination
NY 384
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
29 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 13 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 28.9 miles from Leicester, 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 50.2 and 57.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
50.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 90 East: Buffalo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 90 East: Buffalo
8
51.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 14m 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
57.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m 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
57.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 22m in
|
NY 384 / Delaware Avenue
Turn left onto NY 384 / Delaware Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
57.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
|
NY 384 / Niagara Square
Enter roundabout onto NY 384 / Niagara Square
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.39 one way
$18.79 round trip
$4.13/gal
25.4 MPG avg
20 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.47 | $10.17 | $20.33 |
| premium | $4.87 | $11.07 | $22.15 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $12.30 | $24.59 |
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.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$9
Tolls
$0
Total
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 20.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 17.3 | 0 | $6.07 | $2.77 |
| Efficient EV | 14.5 | 0 | $5.06 | $2.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 23.1 | 0 | $8.09 | $3.70 |
Gas CO2
20 kg
EV CO2
7 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.
Destination
Buffalo, NY
Late night in Buffalo on Sunday
Local time
12:29 AM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1h 23m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is predominantly highway, with 83% of the 57.8 miles covered on high-speed roads. You'll experience a long stretch of 35.1 miles on US 20A before transitioning to the Aurora Expressway and Niagara Thruway. Expect frequent exits and merging traffic as you approach Buffalo, typical for an urban approach on a major highway.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.1 mi on US 20A.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 20A and Aurora Expressway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 50.2 miles in.
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 57.8 miles you will encounter 8 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 50.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 51.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 57.2 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.
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 Leicester, NY to Buffalo, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Niagara Falls along the way.
Niagara Falls
51.7 mi in
|
~1h 14m
About the Cities
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 23m. Total distance: 57.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (83%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 35.1 miles on US 20A. 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 50.2 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 51.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 57.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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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