Origin
Yorktown Heights, NY
Morning in Yorktown Heights on Tuesday
Local time
6:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Yorktown Heights, NY to Buffalo, NY
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
7h 37m
Distance
356.7 mi
574 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$59
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
7h 27m
★
6 AM
7h 37m
8 AM
7h 57m
10 AM
7h 44m
12 PM
7h 42m
3 PM
7h 45m
5 PM
7h 56m
8 PM
7h 31m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Yorktown Heights, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Buffalo, NY
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Yorktown Heights to Buffalo is 356.7 miles and takes about 7 hours 37 minutes via Long Mountain Parkway and I-86, with a fuel budget near $59 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within New York State, moving from the Northeast region to the same region. The route is primarily highway driving, making it a straightforward option for a single-day trip. With only two recommended stops, you can expect a relatively uninterrupted drive to your destination.
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
178.4 miles from Yorktown Heights, NY
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 48m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Long Mountain Parkway | 107.6 mi | 2h 14m |
| 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 |
| Leicester Road | 7.4 mi | 10m |
Longest stretch:
Long Mountain Parkway
— 107.6 mi, about 2h 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Yorktown Heights, NY and Buffalo, NY.
1
Start on this road
36 ft
·
3 sec
·
this road
2
Turn right onto Harwood Place
124 ft
·
12 sec
·
Harwood Place
3
Turn left onto Hanover Street
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
Hanover Street
4
Continue on Commerce Street
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Commerce Street
5
Continue on US 202; NY 35
5.4 mi
·
9 min
·
Crompond Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
6
Turn right onto Bear Mountain Parkway
3.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Bear Mountain Parkway
Use the right lane.
7
Turn right onto US 6; US 9; US 202
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
US 6; US 9; US 202
Use the right lane.
8
Enter roundabout onto Bear Mountain Bridge Road
128 ft
·
1 sec
·
Bear Mountain Bridge Road
9
Continue on Bear Mountain Bridge Road
4.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Bear Mountain Bridge Road
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10
Turn slight right onto US 6; US 202
319 ft
·
7 sec
·
US 6; US 202
11
Enter roundabout onto US 6
295 ft
·
4 sec
·
Palisades Interstate Parkway
12
Continue on US 6
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
Palisades Interstate Parkway
13
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6
0.3 mi
·
21 sec
·
US 6
Exit 18
Toward US 6: Central Valley, Seven Lakes Drive, New York State Thruway
14
Enter roundabout onto US 6
177 ft
·
2 sec
·
Long Mountain Parkway
15
Continue on US 6
108 mi
·
2 hr 14 min
·
Long Mountain Parkway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Continue on NY 17
34 mi
·
40 min
·
NY 17
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 86; NY 17
100 mi
·
1 hr 56 min
·
I 86; NY 17
Toward I 86: Corning
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 390
33 mi
·
37 min
·
Genesee Expressway
Toward I 390: Rochester
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
Exit 6
Toward NY 36: Mount Morris, Letchworth Park
20
Turn left onto NY 36
4.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Sonyea Road
21
Continue on NY 36
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Main Street
22
Continue on NY 36
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Mount Morris Road
23
Turn left onto CR 64
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Perry Road
24
Continue on US 20A
7.4 mi
·
10 min
·
Leicester Road
25
Continue on US 20A
4.6 mi
·
8 min
·
East Buffalo Street
26
Continue on US 20A
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
West Buffalo Road
27
Continue on US 20A
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Varysburg Road
28
Continue on US 20A
11 mi
·
15 min
·
Big Tree Road
29
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
30
Merge onto NY 400
13 mi
·
14 min
·
Aurora Expressway
31
Keep slight right at fork
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
Toward I 90 East: Buffalo
32
Merge onto I 90
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
New York State Thruway
33
Take the exit
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Exit 53
Toward I 190 North: Downtown Buffalo, Niagara Falls
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
34
Continue on I 190
4.9 mi
·
6 min
·
Niagara Thruway
35
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 7
Toward Buffalo, Outer Harbor, Church Street
Use the slight right lane.
36
Continue on NY 5
521 ft
·
21 sec
·
Church Street
37
Turn left onto NY 384
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
Delaware Avenue
Use the left lane.
38
Enter roundabout onto NY 384
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
Niagara Square
39
Arrive at destination
NY 384
Trip Plan
For this 7-hour, 356.7-mile drive, consider leaving in the morning to give yourself ample daylight for the entire trip, especially since it's recommended for one day. With only two planned stops, it's easy to manage your time, but be sure to factor in potential traffic delays, particularly around urban areas. The longest stretch without a significant break is over 107 miles, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly. Given the substantial highway mileage, keeping your fuel tank topped up is always a good idea, especially as you get further from major service plazas.
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 178.4 miles from Yorktown Heights, NY, or about 3h 48m 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 78 miles or 1h 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 178.4 miles or 3h 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 6h 9m
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 Yorktown Heights, 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 Yorktown Heights, NY
This is one driving day of about 356.7 miles and 7h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 78 miles from Yorktown Heights, 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
178 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 78 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 178.4 miles from Yorktown Heights, NY, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before Long Mountain Parkway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 107.6 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 225 decision points cluster between mile 9.8 and 356.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
9.8 mi into trip
|
~17m in
|
US 6; US 9; US 202
Turn right onto US 6; US 9; US 202
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
7
16.8 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
US 6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 6 toward US 6: Central Valley, Seven Lakes Drive, New York State Thruway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 18
Toward US 6: Central Valley, Seven Lakes Drive,...
8
350.6 mi into trip
|
~7h 27m 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
356.1 mi into trip
|
~7h 35m 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
356.4 mi into trip
|
~7h 36m in
|
NY 384 / Delaware Avenue
Turn left onto NY 384 / Delaware Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$58.72 one way
$117.43 round trip
$4.18/gal
25.4 MPG avg
125 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.52 | $63.49 | $126.98 |
| premium | $4.92 | $69.14 | $138.27 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $78.75 | $157.51 |
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
$59
Tolls
$0
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$84–$109
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 124.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $37 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 107 | 1 | $37.45 | $17.12 |
| Efficient EV | 89.2 | 1 | $31.21 | $14.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 142.7 | 1 | $49.94 | $22.83 |
Gas CO2
125 kg
EV CO2
42 kg (66% 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
Morning in Buffalo on Tuesday
Local time
6:51 AM
EDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
Union, NY
178 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
4 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 37m 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?
You'll spend about 82% of this 356.7-mile drive on highways, with the longest continuous stretch being 107.6 miles along Long Mountain Parkway. This means you'll likely encounter a good amount of highway cruising, with fewer turns and more consistent speeds for much of the trip. Expect the transition from highway to surface roads to occur after you've covered a significant portion of the mileage, offering a change of pace later in your drive.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
39 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?
9/10
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 9.8 miles in near US 6; US 9; US 202.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 22 significant decision points across 356.7 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 9.8 miles (US 6; US 9; US 202): Lane positioning matters here; at 16.8 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 350.6 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.
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 Yorktown Heights, NY to Buffalo, NY, road signs begin pointing toward Letchworth Park along the way.
Letchworth Park
291.3 mi in
|
~5h 59m
About the Cities
Starting in Yorktown Heights, 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 7h 37m. Total distance: 356.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 37m 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 9.8 miles (US 6; US 9; US 202): Lane positioning matters here; at 16.8 miles (US 6): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 350.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.6 hours each way, a round trip means 15.2 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.
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