This 351-mile drive from Pomona, NY to Buffalo, NY will take approximately 7 hours and 21 minutes of pure driving time. With 85% of the journey on highways, it's a predominantly highway-focused trip perfect for a single-day adventure. You can expect to spend around $58 on fuel for this route. The drive is efficient, making it a solid option if you want to cover ground quickly between these two points in New York. Plan for two stops along the way to break up the journey.
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
175.5 miles from Pomona, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Long Mountain Parkway
107.6 mi
2h 15m
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
Palisades Interstate Parkway
9.9 mi
10m
Longest stretch:
Long Mountain Parkway
— 107.6 mi, about 2h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Pomona, NY and Buffalo, NY.
1
Start on CR 86
0.5 mi·1 min·Pomona Road
2
Turn left onto NY 45
0.2 mi·26 sec·State Highway 45
3
Turn right onto Concklin Road
0.2 mi·32 sec·Concklin Road
4
Take the ramp
0.1 mi·16 sec
5
Merge onto Palisades Interstate Parkway
9.9 mi·10 min·Palisades Interstate Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Exit 18Toward I-87: US 6 West, NY 17, New York State Thruway
7
Enter roundabout onto US 6
375 ft·5 sec·Long Mountain Parkway
8
Continue on US 6
108 mi·2 hr 14 min·Long Mountain Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Continue on NY 17
34 mi·40 min·NY 17
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17
100 mi·1 hr 56 min·I 86; NY 17
Toward I 86: Corning
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 390
33 mi·37 min·Genesee Expressway
Toward I 390: Rochester
12
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 6Toward NY 36: Mount Morris, Letchworth Park
13
Turn left onto NY 36
4.3 mi·7 min·Sonyea Road
14
Continue on NY 36
1.8 mi·4 min·Main Street
15
Continue on NY 36
1.3 mi·1 min·Mount Morris Road
16
Turn left onto CR 64
2.3 mi·3 min·Perry Road
17
Continue on US 20A
7.4 mi·10 min·Leicester Road
18
Continue on US 20A
4.6 mi·8 min·East Buffalo Street
19
Continue on US 20A
1.7 mi·2 min·West Buffalo Road
20
Continue on US 20A
11 mi·15 min·Varysburg Road
21
Continue on US 20A
11 mi·15 min·Big Tree Road
22
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
23
Merge onto NY 400
13 mi·14 min·Aurora Expressway
24
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 90 East: Buffalo
25
Merge onto I 90
1.3 mi·1 min·New York State Thruway
26
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 53Toward I 190 North: Downtown Buffalo, Niagara FallsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Continue on I 190
4.9 mi·6 min·Niagara Thruway
28
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
Exit 7Toward Buffalo, Outer Harbor, Church StreetUse the slight right lane.
29
Continue on NY 5
521 ft·21 sec·Church Street
30
Turn left onto NY 384
0.2 mi·29 sec·Delaware Avenue
Use the left lane.
31
Enter roundabout onto NY 384
0.2 mi·30 sec·Niagara Square
32
Arrive at destination
NY 384
Trip Plan
Given the 7-hour driving time, starting your trip from Pomona, NY early in the morning is advisable to maximize daylight and minimize traffic. With 351 miles and two planned stops, you can comfortably break up the 7 hours and 21 minutes of driving. Allocate roughly 3.5 hours of driving between stops. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 107.6-mile stretch on Long Mountain Parkway, as service areas might be spaced out. The estimated fuel cost of $58 provides a good budget baseline for your trip.
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 175.5 miles from Pomona, NY, or about 3h 35m 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 77 miles or 1h 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 175.5 miles or 3h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 54m
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 Pomona, 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 Pomona, NY
This is one driving day of about 351 miles and 7h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 77 miles from Pomona, 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 11 and 350.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
11 mi into trip|~13m in
Take the exit toward I-87: US 6 West, NY 17, New York State Thruway
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 18
Toward I-87: US 6 West, NY 17, New York State T...
6
285.6 mi into trip|~5h 43m in
Take the exit toward NY 36: Mount Morris, Letchworth Park
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 6
Toward NY 36: Mount Morris, Letchworth Park
8
344.9 mi into trip|~7h 11m 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
350.3 mi into trip|~7h 19m 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
350.7 mi into trip|~7h 20m in|NY 384 / Delaware Avenue
Turn left onto NY 384 / Delaware Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$57.78 one way
$115.55 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg123 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$62.48
$124.95
premium
$4.92
$68.03
$136.06
diesel
$5.61
$77.50
$154.99
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
$58
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$83–$108
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 122.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
105.3
1
$36.86
$16.85
Efficient EV
87.8
1
$30.71
$14.04
EV Truck/SUV
140.4
1
$49.14
$22.46
Gas CO2
123 kg
EV CO2
41 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 Apr 17, 2026
Origin
Pomona, NY
Morning
in Pomona on Tuesday
Local time
9:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Buffalo, NY
Morning
in Buffalo on Tuesday
Local time
9:50 AM
EDT
Current temp
63°F
Partly Sunny
NE 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
60°F
Union, NY
176 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
7h 21m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
General Grant National Memorial
National Memorial
The final resting place of President Ulysses S. Grant and his wife, Julia, is the largest mausoleum in North America. It testifies to a people’s gratitude for the man who ended the bloodiest conflict...
25 mi from route
~62 min detour
Free
Caution: Lower Crypt Access Subject to Safe Conditions
Merchant’s clerk, Revolutionary War soldier, first Secretary Treasury of the United States: Alexander Hamilton’s life is memorialized at The Grange, the home he built on a country estate in uptown Man...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Primarily utilizing Long Mountain Parkway and I-86, this route offers a consistent highway experience for most of its 351 miles. You'll encounter 85% highway driving, meaning you'll spend the majority of your time on faster-paced roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch is a significant 107.6 miles on Long Mountain Parkway, so be prepared for extended periods of consistent speed. While largely highway-focused, the inclusion of NY-17 suggests some variation may occur as you progress through the state.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 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?
8/10
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 11 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 19 significant decision points across 351 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 11 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 285.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 344.9 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.
On the drive from Pomona, NY to Buffalo, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Letchworth Park 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 7h 21m. Total distance: 351 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 21m 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.
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 11 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 285.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 344.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — General Grant National Memorial and Hamilton Grange National Memorial. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.4 hours each way, a round trip means 14.7 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.
