Scarsdale, NY to Buffalo, NY is 371.4 miles and takes about 7h 50m via West Post Road, Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard, and Hamilton Avenue, with a fuel budget near $68 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within New York State, moving from the Northeast region to the Northeast region. Expect a drive that primarily uses surface roads, so plan for a more engaging, town-by-town experience rather than high-speed highway cruising. With a recommended one-day drive, this route is best suited for those who prefer a slower pace and don't mind navigating local streets.
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
185.7 miles from Scarsdale, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 52m 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
Palisades Interstate Parkway
14.9 mi
17m
Aurora Expressway
12.5 mi
14m
Varysburg Road
10.9 mi
15m
Big Tree Road
10.5 mi
15m
Longest stretch:
Long Mountain Parkway
— 107.6 mi, about 2h 15m
Traffic on I-86
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,201 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,535
Quietest
2 AM
~81 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Scarsdale, NY and Buffalo, NY.
1
Start on NY 22
1.2 mi·2 min·Post Road
2
Continue on NY 22
0.6 mi·1 min·West Post Road
3
Turn left onto Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
0.4 mi·59 sec·Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
Turn left onto NY 119
0.3 mi·35 sec·Hamilton Avenue
5
Continue on NY 119
0.8 mi·1 min·Tarrytown Road
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
317 ft·7 sec
Toward I 287
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·1 min
Toward I 287 West: Governor Mario M. Cuomo BridgeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 287
2.9 mi·3 min·Cross Westchester Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 87; I 287
8.9 mi·11 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 13NToward Palisades Parkway North, Bear MountainUse the slight right lane.
11
Merge onto Palisades Interstate Parkway
15 mi·17 min·Palisades Interstate Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.4 mi·49 sec
Exit 18Toward I-87: US 6 West, NY 17, New York State Thruway
13
Enter roundabout onto US 6
375 ft·5 sec·Long Mountain Parkway
14
Continue on US 6
108 mi·2 hr 14 min·Long Mountain Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on NY 17
34 mi·40 min·NY 17
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17
100 mi·1 hr 56 min·I 86; NY 17
Toward I 86: Corning
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 390
33 mi·37 min·Genesee Expressway
Toward I 390: Rochester
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi·23 sec
Exit 6Toward NY 36: Mount Morris, Letchworth Park
19
Turn left onto NY 36
4.3 mi·7 min·Sonyea Road
20
Continue on NY 36
1.8 mi·4 min·Main Street
21
Continue on NY 36
1.3 mi·1 min·Mount Morris Road
22
Turn left onto CR 64
2.3 mi·3 min·Perry Road
23
Continue on US 20A
7.4 mi·10 min·Leicester Road
24
Continue on US 20A
4.6 mi·8 min·East Buffalo Street
25
Continue on US 20A
1.7 mi·2 min·West Buffalo Road
26
Continue on US 20A
11 mi·15 min·Varysburg Road
27
Continue on US 20A
11 mi·15 min·Big Tree Road
28
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·30 sec
29
Merge onto NY 400
13 mi·14 min·Aurora Expressway
30
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi·27 sec
Toward I 90 East: Buffalo
31
Merge onto I 90
1.3 mi·1 min·New York State Thruway
32
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 53Toward I 190 North: Downtown Buffalo, Niagara FallsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
33
Continue on I 190
4.9 mi·6 min·Niagara Thruway
34
Take the exit
0.2 mi·33 sec
Exit 7Toward Buffalo, Outer Harbor, Church StreetUse the slight right lane.
35
Continue on NY 5
521 ft·21 sec·Church Street
36
Turn left onto NY 384
0.2 mi·29 sec·Delaware Avenue
Use the left lane.
37
Enter roundabout onto NY 384
0.2 mi·30 sec·Niagara Square
38
Arrive at destination
NY 384
Trip Plan
Since this 7h 50m drive is recommended for a single day, leaving Scarsdale, NY in the morning will give you ample time to reach Buffalo, NY before evening. With 2 planned stops, you can break up the 371.4 miles into manageable segments, perhaps around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $68, and refueling opportunities might be more frequent but potentially slower on surface roads compared to highways. Pay attention to local speed limits and traffic signals, especially as you transition through various towns along West Post Road, Doctor Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard, and Hamilton Avenue.
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 185.7 miles from Scarsdale, NY, or about 3h 52m 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 82 miles or 1h 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 185.7 miles or 3h 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 6h 22m
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 Scarsdale, 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 Scarsdale, NY
This is one driving day of about 371.4 miles and 7h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 82 miles from Scarsdale, 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 23
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.4 and 371 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
3.4 mi into trip|~7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 287 West: Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 287 West: Governor Mario M. Cuomo Brid...
8
15.7 mi into trip|~23m in
Take the exit toward Palisades Parkway North, Bear Mountain
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 13N
Toward Palisades Parkway North, Bear Mountain
8
365.3 mi into trip|~7h 40m 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
370.7 mi into trip|~7h 48m 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
371 mi into trip|~7h 49m in|NY 384 / Delaware Avenue
Turn left onto NY 384 / Delaware Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$60.08 one way
$120.16 round trip
$4.11/gal25.4 MPG avg130 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.46
$65.20
$130.40
premium
$4.85
$70.89
$141.78
diesel
$4.80
$70.13
$140.25
Estimated Tolls: $0.75
New York State Thruway
(10.2 mi)$0.51
Niagara Thruway
(4.9 mi)$0.24
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
$60
Tolls
$1
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$86–$111
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 129.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $39 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
111.4
1
$39.00
$17.83
Efficient EV
92.9
1
$32.50
$14.86
EV Truck/SUV
148.6
1
$52.00
$23.77
Gas CO2
130 kg
EV CO2
43 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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Scarsdale, NY
Late night
in Scarsdale on Monday
Local time
3:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
67°F
Smoke
NW 6 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Buffalo, NY
Late night
in Buffalo on Monday
Local time
3:39 AM
EDT
Current temp
64°F
Smoke
N 1 mph0% chanceLive forecast
81°F
Hamilton, NY
186 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
3 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
7h 50m 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.
Hamilton Grange National Memorial
National Memorial
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...
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...
Before the 1960s, almost everything about living authentically as a lesbian, a bisexual person or a gay man was illegal. The Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969 is a milestone in the quest for civil r...
The African Burial Ground stands as the oldest and largest known excavated burial site in North America for both free and enslaved Africans. It offers a profound testament to the enduring legacy of Af...
Located at the southern tip of Manhattan, Castle Clinton marks the place where New York City began and reflects the growth of both the city and the nation. Built to defend the harbor during the War of...
Here at Federal Hall, George Washington took the oath of office as the first President of the United States, marking the beginning of the American constitutional republic. This historic site served as...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route covers 371.4 miles with a 0% highway share, meaning you'll be on surface roads for the entire trip. The longest stretch without a specific mention suggests a continuous, albeit not necessarily high-speed, drive. Given the profile of 'mostly surface roads', anticipate frequent intersections and varying speed limits as you pass through different towns and communities. This will feel more like navigating through populated areas than open highway driving.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
38 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?
10/10
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 3.4 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 23 significant decision points across 371.4 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 3.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 365.3 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
1,387 ft218 ft
Total Climb
1,885 ft
Total Descent
1,504 ft
Highest Point
1,387 ft
~79.6 mi in
Elevation Range
1,169 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Scarsdale, 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 50m. Total distance: 371.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 50m 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 $0.75 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.
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 3.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 15.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 365.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Hamilton Grange National Memorial, General Grant National Memorial and Stonewall National Monument (6 total within detour distance). See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.8 hours each way, a round trip means 15.7 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.
