How far is Buffalo, NY from Watervliet, NY?

The driving distance from Buffalo, NY to Watervliet, NY is about 294.5 miles (473.9 km), with a travel time of about 05h 49m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 262.6 miles (422.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 39m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

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.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
294.46 mi
05h 49m
Flight
262.6 mi
422.62 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Buffalo.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
262.6 mi
Kilometers
422.62 km
Flight Time
00h 31m

Driving Distance

Road route
294.46 mi
Kilometers
473.89 km
Drive Time
05h 49m

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 05h 49m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Watervliet
Sat, Apr 18, 11:46 PM EDT
Return by in Buffalo
Sun, Apr 19, 5:36 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Buffalo
2026-04-18T17:56
Arrive Watervliet
Sat, Apr 18, 11:46 PM EDT
Route Timing
05h 49m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
11:50 AM to 1:50 PM EDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
5:20 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Buffalo
9:00 PM EDT
Early departure recommended

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.

Mid-route stop
Galeville
NY

Census-designated place in Onondaga County, New York

From Buffalo
146.9 mi
02h 54m
To Watervliet
147.5 mi
02h 54m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
65°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 17 mph S
Destination
66°F
Saturday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
3 to 8 mph SE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Buffalo and Watervliet.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Buffalo and Watervliet.

  1. 1

    Start on Niagara Square

    562 ft · 19 sec · Niagara Square

  2. 2

    Exit the rotary onto Court Street

    809 ft · 27 sec · Court Street

  3. 3

    Continue on Lafayette Square

    114 m · 18 sec · Lafayette Square

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Washington Street

    1309 ft · 45 sec · Washington Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto Genesee Street

    1429 ft · 49 sec · Genesee Street

  6. 6

    Turn left onto Elm Street

    80 m · 8 sec · Elm Street

  7. 7

    Take the exit straight toward NY 33 East

    972 ft · 15 sec

  8. 8

    Continue on Kensington Expressway

    6.8 mi · 9 min · Kensington Expressway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward I 90 East: Niagara Falls, Albany

    1644 ft · 46 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway

    272.5 mi · 5 hr 15 min · New York State Thruway

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on I 87 North, I 90 East: Albany, Montreal

    1.2 mi · 2 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight right

    6.5 mi · 10 min

  13. 13

    Keep slight right to continue on NY 7 East: Troy, Cohoes

    4.3 mi · 5 min

  14. 14

    Take the exit slight right toward Downtown Troy

    1966 ft · 39 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight left

    108 m · 10 sec

  16. 16

    Turn straight onto 6th Avenue

    1451 ft · 47 sec · 6th Avenue

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Federal Street

    719 ft · 28 sec · Federal Street

  18. 18

    Turn left onto 4th Street

    39 m · 4 sec · 4th Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto River Street

    990 ft · 30 sec · River Street

  20. 20

    Continue on River Street

    2237 ft · 1 min · River Street

  21. 21

    Continue on 19th Street

    1709 ft · 49 sec · 19th Street

  22. 22

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 19th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Buffalo and Watervliet.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
22 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
7.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
New York State Thruway
273 mi · 93%
I 87 North
7.66 mi · 3%
Kensington Expressway
6.81 mi · 2%
NY 7 East
4.26 mi · 1%
River Street
0.61 mi
Downtown Troy
0.44 mi
Longest Stretch

New York State Thruway

Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway

273 mi · 05h 15m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

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.

Drive Time
05h 49m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
11h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+31.9 mi
262.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Galeville
02h 54m from Buffalo
Leave By
5:20 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Buffalo and Partly Sunny near Watervliet.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Buffalo to Watervliet?

The road trip is about 294.5 miles (473.9 km) and usually takes 05h 49m 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?

Galeville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 146.9 miles from Buffalo and 147.5 miles from Watervliet.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 262.6 miles (422.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 31.9 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 5:20 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $41.65 one way or $83.31 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 92.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Buffalo and Partly Sunny near Watervliet.

Stop Ideas Near Galeville

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
These suggestions come from reviewed places and nearby services around Galeville and the surrounding midpoint area.
City Hall Cafe
Coffee break 3 mi away

City Hall Cafe

Syracuse , NY
300 S State St, Syracuse, NY 13202
Rating 4.6/5 32 reviews Coffee shop
Syracuse City Hall
Meeting point 2.9 mi away

Syracuse City Hall

Syracuse , NY
233 E Washington St, Syracuse, NY 13202
Rating 4.0/5 26 reviews City Hall

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Galeville.

RAIL

William F. Walsh Regional Transportation Center

2 mi away
131 Alliance Bank Parkway
RAIL

Empire Expo Center

4 mi away
581 State Fair Blvd
RAIL

Rome station

60 mi away
6599 Martin Street
RAIL

Union Station

77 mi away
321 Main St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Buffalo and Watervliet. Straight-line distance: 262.6 mi (422.62 km).

Buffalo

#1 Buffalo

The second most populous city in New York.

Population254,479
Coordinates42.8864500, -78.8783700
Altitude183
CountryUnited States
Watervliet

#2 Watervliet

City in New York, USA

Population9,807
Coordinates42.7300800, -73.7012300
Altitude9
CountryUnited States
Start: Buffalo (-78.87837, 42.88645)
End: Watervliet (-73.70123, 42.73008)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 474 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)09h 48m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)07h 21m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 53m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 54m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)04h 12m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 40m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
10.39 gal
39.33 L · about $41.65
Round trip
$83.31
20.78 gal · 78.66 L
Estimated CO2
92.3 kg one way
Round trip: 184.7 kg / 407 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.01 $41.65 $83.31
Mid-grade $4.48 $46.56 $93.12
Premium $4.86 $50.51 $101.01
Diesel $4.69 $48.77 $97.54

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 · Apr 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Buffalo and Watervliet. The current time is 17:56:37.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.