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Trip from Scio, NY to Buffalo, NY

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 59m

Distance

80.8 mi

130 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$13

one way

EV Charging

Fair

4 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 51m ★
6 AM
1h 59m
8 AM
2h 16m
10 AM
2h 5m
12 PM
2h 3m
3 PM
2h 6m
5 PM
2h 15m
8 PM
1h 54m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Scio, NY, NY

Scio, NY

Renan Tagliaferro

Downtown Buffalo, NY, NY

Buffalo, NY

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 80.8-mile drive from Scio, NY to Buffalo, NY will take you approximately 1 hour and 59 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll primarily travel on the Aurora Expressway and Olean Road, with a portion on NY 243. The estimated fuel cost for this journey is around $13. The drive offers a mixed experience, and since it's under two hours, you won't need to split it into an overnight stay. Both your origin and destination are within the Northeast region, so you'll be staying within familiar territory.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

40.4 miles from Scio, NY

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 1m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Aurora Expressway 16.8 mi 19m
Olean Road 12.2 mi 18m
NY 243 11 mi 16m
Willets Avenue 9.1 mi 13m
NY 98 9 mi 14m
South Main Street 6.5 mi 10m
Main Street 6.4 mi 11m
Niagara Thruway 4.9 mi 6m
Longest stretch: Aurora Expressway — 16.8 mi, about 19m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Scio, NY and Buffalo, NY.

1

Start on CR 10

11 ft · 1 sec · Vandermark Road
2

Turn right onto NY 19

4.7 mi · 6 min · Main Street
3

Turn left onto NY 19

0.3 mi · 29 sec · Schuyler Street
4

Continue on NY 19

9.1 mi · 13 min · Willets Avenue
5

Continue on NY 19

4.9 mi · 7 min · South Main Street
6

Turn left onto NY 243

11 mi · 16 min · NY 243
7

Continue on NY 98

9.0 mi · 14 min · NY 98
8

At end of road, turn left onto NY 39

1.7 mi · 4 min · Main Street
9

Continue on NY 39

1.1 mi · 2 min · State Route 39
10

Turn right onto NY 16; NY 39

0.2 mi · 19 sec · Olean Road
11

Continue on NY 16; NY 39

0.6 mi · 56 sec · State Highway 16
12

Continue on NY 16

7.3 mi · 10 min · Olean Road
13

Continue on NY 16

1.6 mi · 3 min · South Main Street
14

Continue on NY 16

4.6 mi · 7 min · Olean Road
15

Enter roundabout onto NY 16; NY 400

153 ft · 2 sec · Aurora Expressway
16

Continue on NY 16; NY 400

17 mi · 19 min · Aurora Expressway
17

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 27 sec
Toward I 90 East: Buffalo
18

Merge onto I 90

1.3 mi · 1 min · New York State Thruway
19

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min
Exit 53 Toward I 190 North: Downtown Buffalo, Niagara Falls Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20

Continue on I 190

4.9 mi · 6 min · Niagara Thruway
21

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 33 sec
Exit 7 Toward Buffalo, Outer Harbor, Church Street Use the slight right lane.
22

Continue on NY 5

521 ft · 21 sec · Church Street
23

Turn left onto NY 384

0.2 mi · 29 sec · Delaware Avenue
Use the left lane.
24

Enter roundabout onto NY 384

0.2 mi · 30 sec · Niagara Square
25

Arrive at destination

NY 384

Trip Plan

Given the short duration of just under two hours, you have a lot of flexibility with departure times. You can easily leave Scio in the morning and arrive in Buffalo with plenty of the day left for activities. There are no specific stops recommended, so you can decide on the fly if you need to stretch your legs or refuel. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading onto the 16.8-mile stretch on the Aurora Expressway, to ensure you have enough to reach your destination comfortably. The $13 fuel estimate should give you a good idea of your budget for this short hop.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 40.4 miles from Scio, NY, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 16.8 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 18 miles or 26m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 40.4 miles or 1h 1m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 41m

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 Scio, NY so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Scio, NY

This is one driving day of about 80.8 miles and 1h 59m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Scio, NY.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Aurora Expressway for about 16.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Freedom, NY, NY

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Freedom, NY

40 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Belfast, NY

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Arcade, NY

Meal break

The midpoint is around 40.4 miles from Scio, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 57.7

South Wales, New York

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+18887584389

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

3.0 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Near the start, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 5.8

Belmont, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

EVolve NY Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~10 min detour

3.8 mi from route ~10 min detour mile 11.5

Angelica, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Lynkwell Charging Station

Near the start, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 5.8

Belmont, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Buffalo Double Decker Tours

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 80.8

Buffalo, NY

Hours: 12–8 pm

+17162469080

Visit website

Buffalo Naval Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 80.8

Buffalo, NY

Hours: Closed

+17168471773

Visit website

Explore & More - The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Children's Museum

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 80.8

Buffalo, New York

Hours: 9 am–4 pm

+17166555131

Visit website

Buffalo Transportation Pierce Arrow Museum

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 80.8

Buffalo, New York

Hours: 11 am–4 pm

+17168530084

Visit website

Canalside

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 80.8

Buffalo, New York

+17164408919

Visit website

Veterans Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 80.8

Buffalo, New York

Hours: 7 am–10:30 pm

+17168471773

Visit website

Wilkeson Pointe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 80.8

Buffalo, New York

Hours: 6 am–9 pm

+17164367100

Visit website

Oldest Tree In Buffalo

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.7 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 80.8

Buffalo, New York

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 73.1 and 80.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
73.1 mi into trip | ~1h 47m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 90 East: Buffalo

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Toward I 90 East: Buffalo
8
74.7 mi into trip | ~1h 49m 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
80.1 mi into trip | ~1h 57m 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
80.5 mi into trip | ~1h 58m in | NY 384 / Delaware Avenue

Turn left onto NY 384 / Delaware Avenue

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
6
80.6 mi into trip | ~1h 58m in | NY 384 / Niagara Square

Enter roundabout onto NY 384 / Niagara Square

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$13.30 one way

$26.60 round trip

$4.18/gal 25.4 MPG avg 28 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.52 $14.38 $28.76
premium $4.92 $15.66 $31.32
diesel $5.61 $17.84 $35.68

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

$13

Tolls

$0

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 28.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 24.2 0 $8.48 $3.88
Efficient EV 20.2 0 $7.07 $3.23
EV Truck/SUV 32.3 0 $11.31 $5.17

Gas CO2

28 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (68% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

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

Scio, NY

Late night in Scio on Sunday

Local time

12:17 AM

EDT

Current temp

41°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Buffalo, NY

Late night in Buffalo on Sunday

Local time

12:17 AM

EDT

Current temp

48°F

Chance Rain Showers

W 2 to 6 mph 42% chance Live forecast

48°F

Freedom, NY

40 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

7 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

1h 59m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a mixed drive on this route, with about 48% of it being highway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 16.8 miles on the Aurora Expressway, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. While much of the route involves highway driving, you'll also navigate roads like Olean Road and NY 243, which will likely offer a different driving feel. This blend means you won't be on a monotonous interstate the entire time, providing some variety as you progress towards Buffalo.

48% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.8 mi on Aurora Expressway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 73.1 miles in.

Driving Effort 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 80.8 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 73.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 74.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.1 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 Scio, NY to Buffalo, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Niagara Falls along the way.

Niagara Falls

74.7 mi in | ~1h 49m

About the Cities

Arriving in Buffalo, NY

Full guide →

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.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 59m. Total distance: 80.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (48%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 16.8 miles on Aurora Expressway. 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. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 73.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 74.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Buffalo, NY before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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