How far is Detroit, MI from Buffalo, NY?

The driving distance from Detroit, MI to Buffalo, NY is about 359.7 miles (578.9 km), with a travel time of about 06h 59m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 215.4 miles (346.6 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 58m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 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
359.73 mi
06h 59m
Flight
215.34 mi
346.55 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Detroit.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
215.34 mi
Kilometers
346.55 km
Flight Time
00h 25m

Driving Distance

Road route
359.73 mi
Kilometers
578.93 km
Drive Time
06h 59m

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 06h 59m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Buffalo
Wed, Jun 17, 9:13 PM EDT
Return by in Detroit
Thu, Jun 18, 4:12 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Detroit
2026-06-17T14:13
Arrive Buffalo
Wed, Jun 17, 9:13 PM EDT
Route Timing
06h 59m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 7:30 AM EDT
Treat this as a longer travel day
Arrive between
12:59 PM to 2:29 PM EDT

Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

Leave by
10:02 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 08h 00m at the destination.
Back in Detroit
8:00 PM EDT
Overnight-style route

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
Euclid
OH

A city in Cuyahoga County, Ohio.

From Detroit
179.6 mi
03h 29m
To Buffalo
180.1 mi
03h 29m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
75°F
Wednesday

Partly Sunny then Rain Showers Likely

Starts
Wed, Jun 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 to 13 mph SW
Destination
68°F
Wednesday

Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny

Starts
Wed, Jun 17 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
10 to 16 mph SW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Cadillac Square

    95 m · 15 sec · Cadillac Square

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Bates Street

    75 m · 7 sec · Bates Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto East Congress Street

    649 ft · 38 sec · East Congress Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Griswold Street

    635 ft · 26 sec · Griswold Street

  5. 5

    Turn right onto West Jefferson Avenue

    1638 ft · 31 sec · West Jefferson Avenue

  6. 6

    Continue on John C Lodge Freeway

    1.2 km · 1 min · John C Lodge Freeway

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 75: Toledo, Flint

    97 m · 8 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on I 75 South: Toledo

    1.2 mi · 2 min

  9. 9

    Keep slight left to continue on I 75 South: Toledo

    1274 ft · 31 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left onto Fisher Freeway

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Fisher Freeway

  11. 11

    Keep slight left to continue on Fisher Freeway

    12.2 mi · 14 min · Fisher Freeway

  12. 12

    Continue on Detroit-Toledo Expressway

    38.3 mi · 42 min · Detroit-Toledo Expressway

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward I 280 South: Cleveland

    734 ft · 13 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on I 280 South: Cleveland

    1106 ft · 19 sec

  15. 15

    Keep slight right to continue on I 280 South: Cleveland

    695 ft · 12 sec

  16. 16

    Continue straight

    12.1 mi · 15 min

  17. 17

    Take the exit slight right toward I 80, I 90, Ohio Turnpike: Chicago, Cleveland

    1 km · 2 min

  18. 18

    Keep slight right to continue on I 80 East, I 90 East: Cleveland

    1441 ft · 49 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left onto Ohio Turnpike

    69.8 mi · 1 hr 15 min · Ohio Turnpike

  20. 20

    Keep slight right to continue on Ohio Turnpike Connector

    2.6 mi · 3 min · Ohio Turnpike Connector

  21. 21

    Continue on Northwest Freeway

    25.6 mi · 31 min · Northwest Freeway

  22. 22

    Keep slight right

    4.6 mi · 7 min

  23. 23

    Merge slight right onto Cleveland Memorial Shoreway

    1.7 mi · 2 min · Cleveland Memorial Shoreway

  24. 24

    Continue on Lakeland Freeway

    8.8 mi · 11 min · Lakeland Freeway

  25. 25

    Keep slight right to continue on Euclid Spur

    3.8 mi · 5 min · Euclid Spur

  26. 26

    Continue on I 90

    101.3 mi · 1 hr 56 min · I 90

  27. 27

    Continue on New York State Thruway

    63.6 mi · 1 hr 13 min · New York State Thruway

  28. 28

    Take the exit slight right toward NY 179: Blasdell, Orchard Park

    1.4 km · 1 min

  29. 29

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Milestrip Road

    1005 ft · 21 sec · Milestrip Road

  30. 30

    Continue on Milestrip Expressway

    1.2 mi · 1 min · Milestrip Expressway

  31. 31

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward the route

    37 m · 2 sec

  32. 32

    Exit the roundabout

    135 m · 12 sec

  33. 33

    Continue straight

    126 m · 12 sec

  34. 34

    Continue on State Route 5

    122 m · 11 sec · State Route 5

  35. 35

    Continue on Lake Shore Road

    1.1 km · 1 min · Lake Shore Road

  36. 36

    Continue on Hamburg Turnpike

    1.2 mi · 2 min · Hamburg Turnpike

  37. 37

    Continue on Buffalo Skyway

    4.7 mi · 6 min · Buffalo Skyway

  38. 38

    Continue on Delaware Avenue

    837 ft · 29 sec · Delaware Avenue

  39. 39

    Enter the roundabout toward Niagara Square

    893 ft · 30 sec · Niagara Square

  40. 40

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Niagara Square

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Long-distance drive

This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.

Directions
40 steps
12 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
9
3 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
11.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 90
101 mi · 28%
Ohio Turnpike
69.8 mi · 19%
New York State Thruway
63.6 mi · 18%
Detroit-Toledo Expressway
38.3 mi · 11%
Northwest Freeway
30.1 mi · 8%
Fisher Freeway
13.9 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

I 90

Continue on I 90

101 mi · 01h 56m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

Better with a longer stop

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

Drive Time
06h 59m
Overnight route
Same-Day Return
13h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+144.3 mi
215.4 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Euclid
03h 29m from Detroit
Leave By
10:02 PM EDT
Overnight-style route
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny then Rain Showers Likely leaving Detroit and Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny near Buffalo.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 359.7 miles (578.9 km) and usually takes 06h 59m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Euclid is a useful midpoint, sitting about 179.6 miles from Detroit and 180.1 miles from Buffalo.

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

The direct path is about 215.4 miles (346.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 144.3 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 7:30 AM EDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $47.85 one way or $95.71 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 112.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny then Rain Showers Likely around Detroit and Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny near Buffalo.

Stop Ideas Near Euclid

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 Euclid and the surrounding midpoint area.
Cleveland City Hall
Scenic stop 10.3 mi away

Cleveland City Hall

Cleveland , OH
601 Lakeside Ave E, Cleveland, OH 44114
Rating 3.6/5 63 reviews City Hall,Tourist attraction
Cleveland Heights City Hall
Meeting point 4.8 mi away

Cleveland Heights City Hall

Cleveland Heights , OH
40 Severance Cir, Cleveland Heights, OH 44118
Rating 3.0/5 11 reviews City Hall

Transit and Meeting Points

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

RAIL

Cleveland Lakefront station

17 mi away
200 Cleveland Memorial Shoreway
RAIL

Elyria

54 mi away
410 East River Road
RAIL

Alliance

83 mi away
820 East Main Street
RAIL

Sandusky

101 mi away
1200 North Depot St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Detroit and Buffalo. Straight-line distance: 215.34 mi (346.55 km).

Detroit

#1 Detroit

The twenty-fourth most populous city in the United States and the center of the Detroit metropolitan area.

Population665,369
Coordinates42.3314300, -83.0457500
Altitude183
CountryUnited States
Buffalo

#2 Buffalo

The second most populous city in New York.

Population254,479
Coordinates42.8864500, -78.8783700
Altitude183
CountryUnited States
Start: Detroit (-83.04575, 42.33143)
End: Buffalo (-78.87837, 42.88645)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 579 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)11h 59m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)08h 59m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)07h 11m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)05h 59m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)05h 08m
80 mph (129 km/h)04h 29m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
12.69 gal
48.05 L · about $47.85
Round trip
$95.71
25.38 gal · 96.1 L
Estimated CO2
112.8 kg one way
Round trip: 225.6 kg / 497 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $47.85 $95.71
Mid-grade $4.25 $53.97 $107.94
Premium $4.65 $59.06 $118.12
Diesel $5.30 $67.31 $134.62

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 Michigan · Jun 17, 2026

There is no time difference between Detroit and Buffalo. The current time is 14:13:53.

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.