Lincolndale to Buffalo is 360.6 miles and takes about 7h 46m via Long Mountain Parkway and I 86, with a fuel budget near $59 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York State, moving from the Northeast region to another part of the Northeast. It's a straightforward drive, primarily on highways, making it a solid option for a single-day journey. You can expect a pretty direct route with minimal fuss, ideal if you're looking to get from point A to point B efficiently.
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
180.3 miles from Lincolndale, 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 14m
I 86
100 mi
1h 56m
NY 17
33.7 mi
40m
Genesee Expressway
32.9 mi
37m
Aurora Expressway
12.5 mi
14m
Varysburg Road
10.9 mi
15m
Big Tree Road
10.5 mi
15m
Leicester Road
7.4 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
Long Mountain Parkway
— 107.6 mi, about 2h 14m
Traffic on I-86
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,216 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,744
Quietest
2 AM
~84 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lincolndale, NY and Buffalo, NY.
1
Start on Lincoln Avenue
0.2 mi·24 sec·Lincoln Avenue
2
Turn right onto Dale Street
285 ft·19 sec·Dale Street
3
Turn left onto US 202
493 ft·14 sec·Lovell Street
4
At end of road, turn right onto US 202
1.8 mi·3 min·Lincolndale Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
At end of road, turn left onto US 202; NY 118
0.4 mi·44 sec·Tomahawk Street
Use the left / right lanes.
6
Turn right onto Granite Springs Road
1.5 mi·3 min·Granite Springs Road
7
At end of road, turn right onto Granite Springs Road
0.8 mi·2 min·Granite Springs Road
8
Continue on Granite Springs Road
1.2 mi·3 min·Granite Springs Road
Use the straight / left lanes.
9
Turn right onto US 202; NY 35
3.8 mi·6 min·Crompond Road
Use the right lane.
10
Turn right onto Bear Mountain Parkway
3.9 mi·6 min·Bear Mountain Parkway
Use the right lane.
11
Turn right onto US 6; US 9; US 202
0.2 mi·12 sec·US 6; US 9; US 202
Use the right lane.
12
Enter roundabout onto Bear Mountain Bridge Road
128 ft·1 sec·Bear Mountain Bridge Road
13
Continue on Bear Mountain Bridge Road
4.2 mi·7 min·Bear Mountain Bridge Road
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
14
Turn slight right onto US 6; US 202
319 ft·7 sec·US 6; US 202
15
Enter roundabout onto US 6
295 ft·4 sec·Palisades Interstate Parkway
16
Continue on US 6
2.5 mi·3 min·Palisades Interstate Parkway
17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
0.3 mi·21 sec·US 6
Exit 18Toward US 6: Central Valley, Seven Lakes Drive, New York State Thruway
18
Enter roundabout onto US 6
177 ft·2 sec·Long Mountain Parkway
19
Continue on US 6
108 mi·2 hr 14 min·Long Mountain Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Continue on NY 17
34 mi·40 min·NY 17
21
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17
100 mi·1 hr 56 min·I 86; NY 17
Toward I 86: Corning
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 390
33 mi·37 min·Genesee Expressway
Toward I 390: Rochester
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 6Toward NY 36: Mount Morris, Letchworth Park
24
Turn left onto NY 36
4.3 mi·7 min·Sonyea Road
25
Continue on NY 36
1.8 mi·4 min·Main Street
26
Continue on NY 36
1.3 mi·1 min·Mount Morris Road
27
Turn left onto CR 64
2.3 mi·3 min·Perry Road
28
Continue on US 20A
7.4 mi·10 min·Leicester Road
29
Continue on US 20A
4.6 mi·8 min·East Buffalo Street
30
Continue on US 20A
1.7 mi·2 min·West Buffalo Road
31
Continue on US 20A
11 mi·15 min·Varysburg Road
32
Continue on US 20A
11 mi·15 min·Big Tree Road
33
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
34
Merge onto NY 400
13 mi·14 min·Aurora Expressway
35
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 90 East: Buffalo
36
Merge onto I 90
1.3 mi·1 min·New York State Thruway
37
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 53Toward I 190 North: Downtown Buffalo, Niagara FallsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
38
Continue on I 190
4.9 mi·6 min·Niagara Thruway
39
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
Exit 7Toward Buffalo, Outer Harbor, Church StreetUse the slight right lane.
40
Continue on NY 5
521 ft·21 sec·Church Street
41
Turn left onto NY 384
0.2 mi·29 sec·Delaware Avenue
Use the left lane.
42
Enter roundabout onto NY 384
0.2 mi·30 sec·Niagara Square
43
Arrive at destination
NY 384
Trip Plan
Aim to leave Lincolndale early to make the most of the 7h 46m estimated drive time. With 2 planned stops, you can comfortably break up the 360.6 miles. The $59 fuel cost is an estimate, so keep an eye on your gauge, especially during the longer 107.6-mile stretch on Long Mountain Parkway. While this is a single-day trip, having flexibility in your schedule is always a plus. Be mindful that 81% of the route is highway, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly, perhaps around the I 86 sections.
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 180.3 miles from Lincolndale, 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 79 miles or 1h 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 180.3 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 19m
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 Lincolndale, 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 Lincolndale, NY
This is one driving day of about 360.6 miles and 7h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 79 miles from Lincolndale, 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 28
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 360.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|US 202 / Lincolndale Road
At end of road, turn right onto US 202 / Lincolndale Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
7
20.7 mi into trip|~39m in|US 6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6 toward US 6: Central Valley, Seven Lakes Drive, New York State Thruway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 18
Toward US 6: Central Valley, Seven Lakes Drive,...
8
354.5 mi into trip|~7h 36m 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
360 mi into trip|~7h 44m 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
360.3 mi into trip|~7h 45m in|NY 384 / Delaware Avenue
Turn left onto NY 384 / Delaware Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$63.12 one way
$126.24 round trip
$4.45/gal25.4 MPG avg126 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.82
$68.40
$136.80
premium
$5.23
$74.25
$148.50
diesel
$6.28
$89.10
$178.20
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
$63
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$88–$113
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 126.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
108.2
1
$37.86
$17.31
Efficient EV
90.2
1
$31.55
$14.42
EV Truck/SUV
144.2
1
$50.48
$23.08
Gas CO2
126 kg
EV CO2
42 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Lincolndale, NY
Late night
in Lincolndale on Sunday
Local time
12:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Clear
N 1 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Buffalo, NY
Late night
in Buffalo on Sunday
Local time
12:42 AM
EDT
Current temp
45°F
Clear
S 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
37°F
Hamilton, NY
180 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
8 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 46m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 81% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on high-speed roads. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 107.6 miles on Long Mountain Parkway. You'll transition from surface roads to the interstate system, experiencing the typical flow of highway driving with its associated exits and merges. Expect a generally consistent driving experience for the majority of the trip.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
43 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?
9/10
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 0.3 miles in near US 202 / Lincolndale Road.
Driving Effort9/10
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 28 significant decision points across 360.6 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 0.3 miles (US 202 / Lincolndale Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 20.7 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 354.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,400 ft343 ft
Total Climb
1,874 ft
Total Descent
1,618 ft
Highest Point
1,400 ft
~309.1 mi in
Elevation Range
1,057 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lincolndale, NY and Buffalo, NY, road signs point toward 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.
Top landmarks
•Buffalo AKG Art Museum — art museum in New York, US
•Buffalo City Hall — skyscraper and municipal building in Buffalo, New York, USA
Doable as a same-day drive at 7h 46m. Total distance: 360.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 46m 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 $0.31 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.
Yes — we found about 22 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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. There are 22 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (US 202 / Lincolndale Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 20.7 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 354.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.8 hours each way, a round trip means 15.6 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.
