How far is Ballston Lake, NY from Buffalo, NY?
The driving distance from Ballston Lake, NY to Buffalo, NY is about 278.5 miles (448.2 km), with a travel time of about 04h 33m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 253.6 miles (408.1 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 07m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Reverse, save, or send this route
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
Gas Cost Calculator
Leave and Arrive Planner
Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.
Drive time stays fixed at 04h 33m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.
Halfway Point
A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.
Town in New York, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Chance Rain Showers
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Ballston Lake and Buffalo.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ballston Lake and Buffalo.
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1
Start on Lake Avenue
84 m · 14 sec · Lake Avenue
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2
Turn left onto Eastside Drive
1155 ft · 52 sec · Eastside Drive
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3
Turn right onto Schauber Road
1482 ft · 33 sec · Schauber Road
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4
Turn right onto Main Street
1652 ft · 43 sec · Main Street
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5
Turn left onto Lake Hill Road
2 mi · 4 min · Lake Hill Road
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6
Continue on Van Vorst Road
1.1 mi · 2 min · Van Vorst Road
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7
Turn left onto Charlton Road
1984 ft · 59 sec · Charlton Road
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8
Turn right onto Droms Road
1.5 mi · 4 min · Droms Road
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9
At the end of the road, turn right onto Swaggertown Road
2412 ft · 1 min · Swaggertown Road
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10
Turn left onto Spring Road
2.6 mi · 5 min · Spring Road
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11
At the end of the road, turn left onto Sacandaga Road
1418 ft · 36 sec · Sacandaga Road
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12
Turn left
46 m · 7 sec
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13
Keep slight left
27 m · 9 sec
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14
Turn left onto Vley Road
1.5 mi · 3 min · Vley Road
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15
Continue straight
2655 ft · 41 sec
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16
Take the exit slight right toward I 90
2515 ft · 53 sec
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17
Turn straight onto I 90 West
2245 ft · 55 sec
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18
Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway
258.7 mi · 4 hr 59 min · New York State Thruway
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19
Take the exit slight right toward NY 33 West: Buffalo
1901 ft · 46 sec
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20
Merge slight left onto Kensington Expressway
6.4 mi · 9 min · Kensington Expressway
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21
Keep slight left to continue on Oak Street
2170 ft · 40 sec
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22
Continue on Oak Street
131 m · 14 sec · Oak Street
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23
Turn right onto Genesee Street
1172 ft · 39 sec · Genesee Street
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24
Turn right onto East Huron Street
729 ft · 34 sec · East Huron Street
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25
Turn left onto Franklin Street
716 ft · 23 sec · Franklin Street
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26
Turn right onto Genesee Street
123 m · 12 sec · Genesee Street
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27
Enter the roundabout toward Niagara Square
119 m · 12 sec · Niagara Square
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28
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Niagara Square
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Ballston Lake and Buffalo.
Straightforward drive
The saved road route has a manageable number of maneuvers and should be easy to follow with normal attention to signs.
New York State Thruway
Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway
259 mi · 04h 59m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
A longer out-and-back drive
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
Sunny leaving Ballston Lake and Chance Rain Showers near Buffalo.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Ballston Lake to Buffalo?
The road trip is about 278.5 miles (448.2 km) and usually takes 04h 33m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Van Buren is a useful midpoint, sitting about 139.1 miles from Ballston Lake and 139.5 miles from Buffalo.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 253.6 miles (408.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 24.9 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.
When is the best time to leave for this route?
A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:52 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $39.41 one way or $78.82 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 87.4 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Ballston Lake and Chance Rain Showers near Buffalo.
Stop Ideas Near Van Buren
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
City Hall Cafe
Syracuse City Hall
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Van Buren.
Empire Expo Center
William F. Walsh Regional Transportation Center
Rome station
Union Station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Ballston Lake and Buffalo. Straight-line distance: 253.56 mi (408.06 km).
#1 Ballston Lake
Ballston Lake is a place in New York, United States.
| Population | 0 |
| Coordinates | 42.9117400, -73.8681800 |
| Altitude | 81 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Buffalo
The second most populous city in New York.
| Population | 254,479 |
| Coordinates | 42.8864500, -78.8783700 |
| Altitude | 183 |
| Country | United States |
End: Niagara Square (-78.878786, 42.886515)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 448 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 09h 16m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 06h 57m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 34m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 38m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 58m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 28m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.01 | $39.41 | $78.82 |
| Mid-grade | $4.48 | $44.05 | $88.10 |
| Premium | $4.86 | $47.78 | $95.57 |
| Diesel | $4.69 | $46.14 | $92.28 |
Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.
Prices in New York · May 16, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.