Scriba, NY to Buffalo, NY is 150.5 miles and takes about 3h 21m via State Route 104 and the New York State Thruway, with a fuel budget near $25 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within New York, making it a straightforward trip between two points in the Northeast region. Primarily a highway-focused journey, it's designed for efficient travel, meaning you'll spend a good portion of your time on faster roads. Consider this route if you're looking for a direct and relatively quick way to get from point A to point B without extensive detours.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
75.2 miles from Scriba, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 48m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
State Route 104
71.9 mi
1h 41m
New York State Thruway
42.5 mi
49m
Western Expressway
19 mi
22m
Kensington Expressway
6.4 mi
8m
West Ridge Road
2.7 mi
3m
Outer Loop
2.6 mi
3m
East Bridge Street
1.6 mi
4m
West Seneca Street
0.6 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
State Route 104
— 71.9 mi, about 1h 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Scriba, NY and Buffalo, NY.
1
Start on NY 104
3.4 mi·5 min·State Route 104
2
Continue on NY 104
1.6 mi·4 min·East Bridge Street
3
Continue on NY 104
0.6 mi·1 min·West Seneca Street
4
Continue on NY 104
68 mi·1 hr 35 min·State Route 104
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Continue on NY 104
0.2 mi·12 sec·Veterans Memorial Bridge
6
Continue on NY 104
2.7 mi·3 min·West Ridge Road
7
Take the exit
174 ft·4 sec
Toward NY 390
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward NY 390 SouthUse the slight left lane.
9
Merge onto NY 390
2.6 mi·3 min·Outer Loop
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi·24 sec
Exit 20B-AToward I 490: Rochester, Buffalo
11
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·28 sec
Exit 20BToward I 490 West: BuffaloUse the straight / slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 490
19 mi·22 min·Western Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork
0.3 mi·42 sec
Toward I 90 West: Buffalo
14
Merge onto I 90
42 mi·49 min·New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·46 sec
Exit 51WToward NY 33 West: BuffaloUse the slight right lane.
16
Merge onto NY 33
6.4 mi·8 min·Kensington Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·39 sec
Toward Oak StreetUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Continue on Oak Street
428 ft·14 sec·Oak Street
19
Turn right onto Genesee Street
0.2 mi·39 sec·Genesee Street
Use the right lane.
20
Turn right onto East Huron Street
0.1 mi·34 sec·East Huron Street
21
Turn left onto Franklin Street
0.1 mi·22 sec·Franklin Street
Use the left lane.
22
Turn right onto Genesee Street
402 ft·11 sec·Genesee Street
23
Enter roundabout onto NY 384
391 ft·11 sec·Niagara Square
24
Arrive at destination
NY 384
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 3 hours and 21 minutes, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Leaving in the morning will give you ample time to reach Buffalo with daylight to spare, and the single recommended stop allows for flexibility. With a fuel cost estimated around $25, it's wise to start with a full tank to minimize stops. Pay attention to the longest stretch on State Route 104; knowing this segment is over 70 miles can help you plan your break before or after this part of the drive.
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 75.2 miles from Scriba, NY, or about 1h 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 71.9 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 33 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.2 miles or 1h 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 47m
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 Scriba, 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 Scriba, NY
This is one driving day of about 150.5 miles and 3h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Scriba, 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 State Route 104 for about 71.9 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 77.1 and 150.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
77.1 mi into trip|~1h 50m in
Keep slight left at fork toward NY 390 South
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward NY 390 South
9
80.5 mi into trip|~1h 55m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 490 West: Buffalo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 20B
Toward I 490 West: Buffalo
7
142.6 mi into trip|~3h 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
149.3 mi into trip|~3h 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
150.2 mi into trip|~3h 21m in|Franklin Street
Turn left onto Franklin Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.77 one way
$49.55 round trip
$4.18/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.52
$26.79
$53.58
premium
$4.92
$29.17
$58.34
diesel
$5.61
$33.23
$66.46
Estimated Tolls: $2.12
New York State Thruway
(42.5 mi)$2.12
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
$25
Tolls
$2
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.2
0
$15.80
$7.22
Efficient EV
37.6
0
$13.17
$6.02
EV Truck/SUV
60.2
0
$21.07
$9.63
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Scriba, NY
Late night
in Scriba on Sunday
Local time
1:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Buffalo, NY
Late night
in Buffalo on Sunday
Local time
1:57 AM
EDT
Current temp
50°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3h 21m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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.
Women's Rights National Historical Park
National Historical Park
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...
21 mi from route
~52 min detour
Free
near mile 31.1
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...
24 mi from route
~59 min detour
Free
near mile 25.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This is largely a highway-focused drive, with 65% of the route utilizing major highways like the New York State Thruway and Western Expressway. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 71.9 miles on State Route 104, offering a consistent pace before merging onto the Thruway. Expect conditions that favor steady driving, characteristic of interstates and well-maintained state routes designed for longer distances. The drive progresses with an emphasis on maintaining speed and covering ground efficiently.
65% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 71.9 mi on State Route 104.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Route 104 and New York State Thruway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 77.1 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 16 significant decision points across 150.5 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 77.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 80.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 142.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 21m. Total distance: 150.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 71.9 miles on State Route 104. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $2.12 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 77.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 80.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 142.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Women's Rights National Historical Park and Harriet Tubman National Historical Park. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Buffalo, NY, but most travelers stay overnight.
