Origin
Shokan, NY
Evening in Shokan on Saturday
Local time
7:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
37°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Shokan, NY to Buffalo, NY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 25, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 51m
Distance
344.8 mi
555 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$56
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
6h 40m
★
6 AM
6h 52m
8 AM
7h 15m
10 AM
7h 0m
12 PM
6h 58m
3 PM
7h 1m
5 PM
7h 14m
8 PM
6h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Shokan, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Buffalo, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Shokan to Buffalo is 344.8 miles and takes about 6h 51m via New York State Thruway and State Route 212, with a fuel budget near $56 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip spans the Northeast region, staying entirely within New York State. You'll encounter a mix of highway and surface roads, so be prepared for varying speeds and traffic. With only one recommended stop and a relatively short duration, this route is ideal for a single-day excursion, but consider breaking it up if you prefer a more relaxed pace.
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
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
172.4 miles from Shokan, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 29m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| New York State Thruway | 319.8 mi | 6h 9m |
| State Route 212 | 8.2 mi | 13m |
| Kensington Expressway | 6.4 mi | 8m |
| State Route 28 | 5 mi | 7m |
| Maverick Road | 2 mi | 4m |
| West Hurley Road | 1 mi | 2m |
| Genesee Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| NY 32 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
New York State Thruway
— 319.8 mi, about 6h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shokan, NY and Buffalo, NY.
1
Start on NY 28
5.0 mi
·
7 min
·
State Route 28
2
Turn left onto CR 43
2.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Maverick Road
3
Turn left onto NY 375
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
West Hurley Road
4
At end of road, turn right onto NY 212
433 ft
·
12 sec
·
Mill Hill Road
5
Continue on NY 212
8.2 mi
·
13 min
·
State Route 212
6
Continue on Saugerties-Woodstock Road
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
Saugerties-Woodstock Road
7
Continue on NY 32
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
NY 32
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
9
Merge onto I 87
46 mi
·
53 min
·
New York State Thruway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
274 mi
·
5 hr 16 min
·
New York State Thruway
Toward I 90 West: Buffalo
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 51W
Toward NY 33 West: Buffalo
Use the slight right lane.
12
Merge onto NY 33
6.4 mi
·
8 min
·
Kensington Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
39 sec
Toward Oak Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on Oak Street
428 ft
·
14 sec
·
Oak Street
15
Turn right onto Genesee Street
0.2 mi
·
39 sec
·
Genesee Street
Use the right lane.
16
Turn right onto East Huron Street
0.1 mi
·
34 sec
·
East Huron Street
17
Turn left onto Franklin Street
0.1 mi
·
22 sec
·
Franklin Street
Use the left lane.
18
Turn right onto Genesee Street
402 ft
·
11 sec
·
Genesee Street
19
Enter roundabout onto NY 384
391 ft
·
11 sec
·
Niagara Square
20
Arrive at destination
NY 384
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6h 51m drive, consider an early morning departure to maximize daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic. Since the route is manageable in a single day, you have flexibility, but planning for one stop around the halfway point can help break up the 344.8 miles. Keep an eye on your fuel, especially as you move onto surface roads where gas stations might be less frequent than on the Thruway. A good estimate for fuel cost is around $56, so budget accordingly.
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 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 172.4 miles from Shokan, NY, or about 3h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 319.8 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 76 miles or 1h 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 172.4 miles or 3h 29m 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 39m
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 Shokan, 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 Shokan, NY
This is one driving day of about 344.8 miles and 6h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 miles from Shokan, 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 New York State Thruway for about 319.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
172 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 76 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 172.4 miles from Shokan, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before New York State Thruway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 319.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 63.2 and 344.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
63.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 23m in
|
I 90 / New York State Thruway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 / New York State Thruway toward I 90 West: Buffalo
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 90 West: Buffalo
7
336.9 mi into trip
|
~6h 39m 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
343.6 mi into trip
|
~6h 49m 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
6
344.1 mi into trip
|
~6h 49m in
|
Genesee Street
Turn right onto Genesee Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
344.5 mi into trip
|
~6h 51m in
|
Franklin Street
Turn left onto Franklin Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$56.04 one way
$112.07 round trip
$4.13/gal
25.4 MPG avg
121 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.47 | $60.65 | $121.30 |
| premium | $4.87 | $66.05 | $132.11 |
| diesel | $5.40 | $73.34 | $146.69 |
Estimated Tolls: $15.99
New York State Thruway
(319.8 mi)
$15.99
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
$56
Tolls
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$97–$122
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 120.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-20.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 103.4 | 1 | $36.20 | $16.55 |
| Efficient EV | 86.2 | 0 | $30.17 | $13.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 137.9 | 1 | $48.27 | $22.07 |
Gas CO2
121 kg
EV CO2
40 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.
Destination
Buffalo, NY
Evening in Buffalo on Saturday
Local time
7:47 PM
EDT
Current temp
37°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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
6h 51m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is mostly surface roads, with the New York State Thruway making up about 6% of the total mileage. You'll spend the longest stretch, 319.8 miles, on the Thruway before transitioning to surface roads. Expect to notice the density of exits as you navigate the highway portion. The transition to State Route 212 will likely bring a change in speed and a more local feel as you approach your destination.
Only 6% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 319.8 mi on New York State Thruway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 63.2 miles in near I 90 / New York State Thruway.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 344.8 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 63.2 miles (I 90 / New York State Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 336.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 343.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
About the Cities
Starting in Shokan, NY
Full guide →Arriving in Buffalo, NY
Full guide →Founded 1832
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
- • USS Croaker — 1943 Gato-class submarine
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 6h 51m. Total distance: 344.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 51m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 319.8 miles on New York State Thruway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Expect about $15.99 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 63.2 miles (I 90 / New York State Thruway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 336.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 343.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.9 hours each way, a round trip means 13.7 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.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
More trips to Buffalo, NY
Explore more options from Shokan, NY or browse trips ending in Buffalo, NY.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse NY road trips.