Traveling from Patterson to Buffalo covers 357 miles across the Northeast, making for a substantial journey that takes approximately 7 hours and 34 minutes. This drive is designed as a single-day trip, though the length demands a focused approach behind the wheel. You should budget roughly $58 for fuel to complete the trek. By utilizing NY 17, I-86, and the Genesee Expressway, you maintain a consistent pace across the state. Whether you are heading west for business or leisure, this route provides a direct corridor across New York that is best tackled with a clear plan for breaks.
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
178.5 miles from Patterson, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 45m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
NY 17
109.5 mi
2h 17m
I 86
100 mi
1h 56m
Genesee Expressway
32.9 mi
37m
I 84
27.3 mi
32m
Aurora Expressway
12.5 mi
14m
Varysburg Road
10.9 mi
15m
Big Tree Road
10.5 mi
15m
State Highway 17K
10 mi
13m
Longest stretch:
NY 17
— 109.5 mi, about 2h 17m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Patterson, NY and Buffalo, NY.
1
Start on NY 311
4.2 mi·7 min·State Highway 311
2
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward Newburgh
3
Merge onto I 84
27 mi·32 min·I 84
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 34Toward NY 17K: Montgomery, NewburghUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Turn right onto NY 17K
6.9 mi·9 min·NY 17K
6
Turn slight left onto NY 17K
10 mi·13 min·State Highway 17K
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·37 sec
Toward I 86 West, NY 17 West: Wurtsboro, Binghamton
8
Merge onto NY 17
110 mi·2 hr 17 min·NY 17
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17
100 mi·1 hr 56 min·I 86; NY 17
Toward I 86: Corning
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 390
33 mi·37 min·Genesee Expressway
Toward I 390: Rochester
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 6Toward NY 36: Mount Morris, Letchworth Park
12
Turn left onto NY 36
4.3 mi·7 min·Sonyea Road
13
Continue on NY 36
1.8 mi·4 min·Main Street
14
Continue on NY 36
1.3 mi·1 min·Mount Morris Road
15
Turn left onto CR 64
2.3 mi·3 min·Perry Road
16
Continue on US 20A
7.4 mi·10 min·Leicester Road
17
Continue on US 20A
4.6 mi·8 min·East Buffalo Street
18
Continue on US 20A
1.7 mi·2 min·West Buffalo Road
19
Continue on US 20A
11 mi·15 min·Varysburg Road
20
Continue on US 20A
11 mi·15 min·Big Tree Road
21
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
22
Merge onto NY 400
13 mi·14 min·Aurora Expressway
23
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 90 East: Buffalo
24
Merge onto I 90
1.3 mi·1 min·New York State Thruway
25
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 53Toward I 190 North: Downtown Buffalo, Niagara FallsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Continue on I 190
4.9 mi·6 min·Niagara Thruway
27
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
Exit 7Toward Buffalo, Outer Harbor, Church StreetUse the slight right lane.
28
Continue on NY 5
521 ft·21 sec·Church Street
29
Turn left onto NY 384
0.2 mi·29 sec·Delaware Avenue
Use the left lane.
30
Enter roundabout onto NY 384
0.2 mi·30 sec·Niagara Square
31
Arrive at destination
NY 384
Trip Plan
To manage the 7-hour and 34-minute drive effectively, plan for at least two dedicated stops to stretch your legs and refresh. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue and navigate the longer stretches of the highway while traffic remains manageable. Because you are committed to a highway-heavy path, keep an eye on your fuel gauge during the 109.5-mile stretch on NY 17, as service opportunities can be spaced out. Since this is a long haul for a single day, maintain flexibility in your schedule to account for potential congestion along the major corridors.
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 178.5 miles from Patterson, NY, or about 3h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109.5 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 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 178.5 miles or 3h 45m 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 6m
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 Patterson, 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 Patterson, NY
This is one driving day of about 357 miles and 7h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 79 miles from Patterson, 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 NY 17 for about 109.5 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 31.7 and 356.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
31.7 mi into trip|~40m in
Take the exit toward NY 17K: Montgomery, Newburgh
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 34
Toward NY 17K: Montgomery, Newburgh
6
48.9 mi into trip|~1h 4m in
Take the ramp toward I 86 West, NY 17 West: Wurtsboro, Binghamton
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 86 West, NY 17 West: Wurtsboro, Bingha...
8
350.9 mi into trip|~7h 24m 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
356.3 mi into trip|~7h 32m 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
356.7 mi into trip|~7h 33m in|NY 384 / Delaware Avenue
Turn left onto NY 384 / Delaware Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$58.76 one way
$117.53 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg125 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$63.54
$127.09
premium
$4.92
$69.19
$138.39
diesel
$5.61
$78.82
$157.64
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
$59
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$84–$109
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 124.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
107.1
1
$37.48
$17.14
Efficient EV
89.3
1
$31.24
$14.28
EV Truck/SUV
142.8
1
$49.98
$22.85
Gas CO2
125 kg
EV CO2
42 kg (66% 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 Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Patterson, NY
Morning
in Patterson on Sunday
Local time
7:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Buffalo, NY
Morning
in Buffalo on Sunday
Local time
7:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
73°F
Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms
S 8 to 20 mph85% chanceLive forecast
Wind Advisory
Wind Advisory issued April 18 at 2:37AM EDT until April 19 at 12:00AM EDT by NWS Burlington VT
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
32 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 34m 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?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 83% of your travel takes place on high-speed roads. The character of the drive is defined by efficient transit, featuring a longest uninterrupted stretch of 109.5 miles along NY 17. You will find that the transitions between these major arteries are fairly straightforward, allowing you to settle into a rhythm once you reach the primary highway system. While the route prioritizes speed and directness, the combination of interstate and expressway driving ensures you cover the 357-mile distance without navigating complex local detours.
83% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 109.5 mi on NY 17.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on NY 17 and I 86. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 31.7 miles in.
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 18 significant decision points across 357 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 31.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 48.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 350.9 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
1,452 ft-2 ft
Total Climb
2,294 ft
Total Descent
2,139 ft
Highest Point
1,452 ft
~306 mi in
Elevation Range
1,453 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Patterson, NY and Buffalo, NY, road signs point toward Newburgh, Binghamton 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 34m. Total distance: 357 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 34m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 109.5 miles on NY 17. 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.
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 2 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 31.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 48.9 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 350.9 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 7.6 hours each way, a round trip means 15.1 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.
