Origin
Lima, NY
Late night in Lima on Sunday
Local time
12:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Lima, 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 39m
Distance
74.2 mi
119 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$12
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 32m
★
6 AM
1h 39m
8 AM
1h 54m
10 AM
1h 44m
12 PM
1h 43m
3 PM
1h 45m
5 PM
1h 53m
8 PM
1h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lima, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Buffalo, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Lima to Buffalo is 74.2 miles and takes about 1h 39m via New York State Thruway, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within New York, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. You'll primarily be on surface roads, with a short stretch on the New York State Thruway. Given the relatively short distance and time, this trip is ideal for a single day of travel. It's a straightforward connection between two points in upstate New York.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37.1 miles from Lima, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New York State Thruway | 31.2 mi | 36m |
| Telephone Road | 15.4 mi | 19m |
| Ellicott Street Road | 7.3 mi | 10m |
| Kensington Expressway | 6.4 mi | 8m |
| East Main Street | 2.9 mi | 5m |
| East Avon-Lima Road | 2.5 mi | 3m |
| West Main Road | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| Avon-East Avon Road | 1.2 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 31.2 mi, about 36m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lima, NY and Buffalo, NY.
1
Start on US 20; NY 5
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
East Main Street
2
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Road
3
Continue on US 20; NY 5
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
East Avon-Lima Road
4
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Avon-East Avon Road
5
Continue on US 20; NY 5
0.8 mi
·
55 sec
·
East Main Street
6
Enter roundabout onto US 20; NY 5
381 ft
·
5 sec
·
West Main Street
7
Continue on US 20; NY 5
131 ft
·
2 sec
·
West Main Street
8
Continue on US 20; NY 5
0.6 mi
·
44 sec
·
West Main Street
9
Continue on US 20; NY 5
0.4 mi
·
29 sec
·
Caledonia-Avon Road
10
Turn left onto US 20
15 mi
·
19 min
·
Telephone Road
11
Turn right onto NY 63
7.3 mi
·
10 min
·
Ellicott Street Road
12
Turn right onto Cedar Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Cedar Street
13
Turn left onto NY 5
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
14
Turn right onto NY 98
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Oak Street
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 90 West
17
Merge onto I 90
31 mi
·
36 min
·
New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 51W
Toward NY 33 West: Buffalo
Use the slight right lane.
19
Merge onto NY 33
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Kensington Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
Toward Oak Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Continue on Oak Street
428 ft
·
14 sec
·
Oak Street
22
Turn right onto Genesee Street
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Genesee Street
Use the right lane.
23
Turn right onto East Huron Street
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
East Huron Street
24
Turn left onto Franklin Street
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Franklin Street
Use the left lane.
25
Turn right onto Genesee Street
402 ft
·
11 sec
·
Genesee Street
26
Enter roundabout onto NY 384
391 ft
·
11 sec
·
Niagara Square
27
Arrive at destination
NY 384
Trip Plan
Since this is a short, one-day trip of under two hours, you have a lot of flexibility for when you depart. Leaving in the morning or early afternoon should easily get you to Buffalo with plenty of daylight to spare. The fuel cost is estimated at $12, so fill up before you leave Lima or at a convenient point along the way. With no recommended stops, you can easily power through this drive in one go. If you do wish to break it up, consider a brief pause about halfway through your surface road driving segments.
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 37.1 miles from Lima, NY, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 31.2 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 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.1 miles or 52m 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 23m
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 Lima, NY so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Lima, NY
This is one driving day of about 74.2 miles and 1h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Lima, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on New York State Thruway for about 31.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 37.1 miles from Lima, 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 175 decision points cluster between mile 34.5 and 73.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
34.5 mi into trip
|
~48m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 West
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Toward I 90 West
7
66.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 26m 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
73 mi into trip
|
~1h 36m 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
73.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 37m in
|
Genesee Street
Turn right onto Genesee Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
73.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 38m in
|
Franklin Street
Turn left onto Franklin Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.06 one way
$24.12 round trip
$4.13/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.47 | $13.05 | $26.10 |
| premium | $4.87 | $14.21 | $28.43 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $15.78 | $31.57 |
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.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 22.3 | 0 | $7.79 | $3.56 |
| Efficient EV | 18.6 | 0 | $6.49 | $2.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.7 | 0 | $10.39 | $4.75 |
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.
Destination
Buffalo, NY
Late night in Buffalo on Sunday
Local time
12:18 AM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
41°F
Elba, NY
37 mi in
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
22 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 39m 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 mostly surface roads, with only 9% of the route on the highway. You'll experience about 31.2 miles on the New York State Thruway before transitioning to surface streets. Expect to notice a lot of exits and potential merging traffic as you approach Buffalo. The profile suggests a generally flat terrain without significant elevation changes.
Only 9% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
27 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 34.5 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 74.2 miles you will encounter 17 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 34.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 66.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 73 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Lima, NY
Full guide →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 39m. Total distance: 74.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
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 34.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 66.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 73 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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