This 242.9-mile journey from Maryland, NY to Buffalo, NY will take approximately 5 hours and 21 minutes to complete. Designed for a single day of travel, this route offers a practical way to navigate between two points within New York State. With an estimated fuel cost of $40, it's an economical option for a road trip. The drive primarily utilizes the New York State Thruway, Cherry Valley Turnpike, and State Highway 23, providing a varied experience of New York's landscape. This trip is well-suited for those looking for a straightforward, manageable drive.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
121.5 miles from Maryland, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 53m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
New York State Thruway
100.8 mi
1h 57m
Cherry Valley Turnpike
18 mi
22m
State Highway 23
17.8 mi
25m
State Route 80
17.3 mi
24m
County Road 16
11.8 mi
16m
Main Street
10.6 mi
17m
Chase Street
9.8 mi
11m
East Street
8.7 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 100.8 mi, about 1h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Maryland, NY and Buffalo, NY.
1
Start on NY 7
5.4 mi·7 min·Main Street
2
Continue on NY 7
3.6 mi·5 min·Main Street
3
Turn left
0.1 mi·21 sec
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·38 sec
5
Merge onto I 88; NY 28
4.6 mi·5 min·I 88; NY 28
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Exit 13Toward NY 205: Oneonta, Morris
7
Turn right onto NY 205
2.1 mi·3 min·NY 205
8
Continue on NY 23
10 mi·14 min·State Highway 23
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on NY 23
0.4 mi·1 min·South Broad Street
10
Turn left onto NY 23; NY 51
0.5 mi·1 min·Main Street
11
Turn right onto NY 23
7.4 mi·10 min·State Highway 23
12
Continue on NY 23
8.7 mi·10 min·East Street
13
Turn right onto NY 12
0.6 mi·1 min·North Broad Street
14
Continue on NY 12
1.2 mi·2 min·State Highway 12
15
Turn left onto CR 44
2.8 mi·3 min·County Road 44
16
At end of road, turn right onto NY 23
1.2 mi·1 min·NY 23
17
Turn right onto CR 16
12 mi·16 min·County Road 16
18
At end of road, turn right onto NY 26
2.2 mi·3 min·State Highway 26
19
Continue on NY 26; NY 80
2.7 mi·3 min·State Route 80
20
Continue on NY 80
6.1 mi·8 min·State Route 80
21
Continue on NY 13; NY 80
1.9 mi·2 min·State Route 13
22
Continue on NY 13; NY 80
1.1 mi·1 min·McKinley Street
23
Continue on NY 13; NY 80
0.5 mi·1 min·Main Street
24
Continue on NY 80
2.0 mi·2 min·Fabius Road
25
Continue on NY 80
4.1 mi·5 min·State Route 80
26
Continue on NY 80
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Street
27
Continue on NY 80; NY 91
4.4 mi·6 min·State Route 80
28
Turn right onto Apulia Road
4.3 mi·5 min·Apulia Road
29
Turn slight left onto US 20
18 mi·22 min·Cherry Valley Turnpike
30
Continue on US 20
7.5 mi·14 min·East Genesee Street
31
Turn right onto US 20
0.2 mi·12 sec·North Fulton Street
32
Turn left onto US 20; NY 5
0.4 mi·1 min·Arterial West
33
Continue on US 20; NY 5; NY 38
9.8 mi·11 min·Chase Street
Use the left lane.
34
Continue on US 20; NY 5
1.9 mi·2 min·Auburn Road
35
Turn right onto NY 318
4.1 mi·7 min·NY 318
36
Continue on NY 318
319 ft·10 sec·NY 318
Use the right lane.
37
Turn right onto NY 414
0.3 mi·28 sec·State Route 414
Use the right lane.
38
Continue on NY 414
217 ft·11 sec·Ridge Road
Use the left lane.
39
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·23 sec
Use the left lane.
40
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 90 West: BuffaloUse the straight / right lanes.
41
Merge onto I 90
101 mi·1 hr 57 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
42
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Exit 51WToward NY 33 West: BuffaloUse the slight right lane.
43
Merge onto NY 33
6.4 mi·8 min·Kensington Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
44
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·39 sec
Toward Oak StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
45
Continue on Oak Street
428 ft·14 sec·Oak Street
46
Turn right onto Genesee Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·Genesee Street
Use the right lane.
47
Turn right onto East Huron Street
0.1 mi·34 sec·East Huron Street
48
Turn left onto Franklin Street
0.1 mi·22 sec·Franklin Street
Use the left lane.
49
Turn right onto Genesee Street
402 ft·11 sec·Genesee Street
50
Enter roundabout onto NY 384
391 ft·11 sec·Niagara Square
51
Arrive at destination
NY 384
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour 21-minute duration, starting your drive in the morning is advisable to allow ample time for unexpected delays or spontaneous stops. While this route is manageable in a single day, consider breaking it up if you prefer a more relaxed pace. The longest uninterrupted stretch is on the New York State Thruway, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly, perhaps before or after this segment. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $40 estimated cost suggests a need for strategic refueling, especially before heading onto the more local road sections.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 121.5 miles from Maryland, NY, or about 2h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100.8 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 53 miles or 1h 15m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 121.5 miles or 2h 53m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 27m
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 Maryland, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Maryland, NY
This is one driving day of about 242.9 miles and 5h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 miles from Maryland, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on New York State Thruway for about 100.8 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 29
5 decision points cluster between mile 133.5 and 242.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
133.5 mi into trip|~3h 10m in
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
133.6 mi into trip|~3h 11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 90 West: Buffalo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / right lanes.
Toward I 90 West: Buffalo
7
235 mi into trip|~5h 9m 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
241.8 mi into trip|~5h 18m 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
7
242.6 mi into trip|~5h 21m in|Franklin Street
Turn left onto Franklin Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.98 one way
$79.97 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg85 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$43.23
$86.47
premium
$4.92
$47.08
$94.16
diesel
$5.61
$53.63
$107.26
Estimated Tolls: $6.30
New York State Thruway
(100.8 mi)$5.04
Cherry Valley Turnpike
(18 mi)$1.26
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
$40
Tolls
$6
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 85 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.9
0
$25.50
$11.66
Efficient EV
60.7
0
$21.25
$9.72
EV Truck/SUV
97.2
1
$34.01
$15.55
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 14, 2026
Origin
Maryland, NY
Late night
in Maryland on Tuesday
Local time
4:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Buffalo, NY
Late night
in Buffalo on Tuesday
Local time
4:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
54°F
Mostly Cloudy then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 6 to 15 mph90% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 14 at 6:13PM EDT until April 14 at 6:30PM EDT by NWS Albany NY
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued April 14 at 2:52PM EDT until April 14 at 10:00PM EDT by NWS Buffalo NY
60°F
LaFayette, NY
121 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
11 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
5h 21m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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.
Harriet Tubman National Historical Park
National Historical Park
Harriet Tubman was guided by a deep faith and devotion to family, freedom, and community. After emancipating herself and members of her family, she moved them from Ontario, Canada to Fleming and Aubur...
1 mi from route
~4 min detour
Free
near mile 117.3
Women’s Rights National Historical Park tells the story of the first Women’s Rights Convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York on July 19-20, 1848. It is a story of struggles for civil rights, human r...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a 'turn-heavy local drive' profile for this trip, with only 32% of the journey on highways. While the New York State Thruway offers a longer, uninterrupted stretch of 100.8 miles for more consistent speed, the majority of your time will be spent on more winding local roads. This means you'll experience a dynamic driving environment, shifting between faster highway sections and slower, more scenic local routes. Be prepared for frequent changes in direction and speed as you navigate through towns and countryside.
Only 32% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
51 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 100.8 mi on New York State Thruway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
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 133.5 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 29 significant decision points across 242.9 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 133.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 133.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 235 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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 Maryland, NY to Buffalo, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Morris along the way.
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 5h 21m. Total distance: 242.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile with national parks nearby.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 100.8 miles on New York State Thruway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $6.30 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 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 133.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 133.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 235 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Harriet Tubman National Historical Park and Women's Rights National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.4 hours each way, a round trip means 10.7 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.
