How far is Erie, PA from Buffalo, PA?

The driving distance from Erie, PA to Buffalo, PA is about 155.7 miles (250.5 km), with a travel time of about 03h 06m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 132.2 miles (212.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 13m 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
155.67 mi
03h 06m
Flight
132.25 mi
212.83 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Erie.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
132.25 mi
Kilometers
212.83 km
Flight Time
00h 15m

Driving Distance

Road route
155.67 mi
Kilometers
250.53 km
Drive Time
03h 06m

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 03h 06m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Buffalo
Sun, May 31, 6:01 AM EDT
Return by in Erie
Sun, May 31, 9:08 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Erie
2026-05-31T02:54
Arrive Buffalo
Sun, May 31, 6:01 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 06m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:07 AM to 11:07 AM EDT

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

Leave by
10:46 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Erie
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
Plain Grove
PA

Township in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania

From Erie
77.9 mi
01h 33m
To Buffalo
77.8 mi
01h 33m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
71°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
1 to 7 mph W
Destination
73°F
Sunday

Sunny

Starts
Sun, May 31 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
0 to 5 mph NE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on State Street

    2318 ft · 2 min · State Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto West 12th Street

    2 mi · 4 min · West 12th Street

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Greengarden Boulevard

    583 ft · 23 sec · Greengarden Boulevard

  4. 4

    Turn left onto West Bayfront Parkway

    862 ft · 20 sec · West Bayfront Parkway

  5. 5

    Continue on Raymond P Shafer Highway

    111.8 mi · 2 hr 1 min · Raymond P Shafer Highway

  6. 6

    Keep slight right to continue on Washington

    33.7 mi · 46 min

  7. 7

    Keep slight right to continue on I 70 West: Wheeling

    1744 ft · 37 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left onto Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

    2713 ft · 42 sec · Dwight D Eisenhower Highway

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward PA 18: Jefferson Avenue

    1338 ft · 1 min

  10. 10

    Turn right onto East Wylie Avenue

    633 ft · 28 sec · East Wylie Avenue

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Jefferson Avenue

    1.5 mi · 3 min · Jefferson Avenue

  12. 12

    Continue on Washington Pike

    4.7 mi · 7 min · Washington Pike

  13. 13

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Washington Pike

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
13 steps
5 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
2
1 merges, 1 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
8.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Raymond P Shafer Highway
112 mi · 72%
Washington
33.7 mi · 22%
Washington Pike
4.65 mi · 3%
West 12th Street
2 mi · 1%
Jefferson Avenue
1.52 mi · 1%
Dwight D Eisenhower Highway
0.51 mi
Longest Stretch

Raymond P Shafer Highway

Continue on Raymond P Shafer Highway

112 mi · 02h 02m

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
03h 06m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+23.5 mi
132.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Plain Grove
01h 33m from Erie
Leave By
10:46 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Erie and Sunny near Buffalo.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 155.7 miles (250.5 km) and usually takes 03h 06m 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?

Plain Grove is a useful midpoint, sitting about 77.9 miles from Erie and 77.8 miles from Buffalo.

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

The direct path is about 132.2 miles (212.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 23.5 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 10:46 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.43 one way or $44.86 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 48.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Erie and Sunny near Buffalo.

Stop Ideas Near Plain Grove

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Plain Grove, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Plain Grove.

RAIL

Union Station

69 mi away
1100 Liberty Avenue
RAIL

Alliance

81 mi away
820 East Main Street
RAIL

Greensburg

97 mi away
Harrison Ave. and Seton Hill Dr.
RAIL

Latrobe station

104 mi away
329 McKinley Ave

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Erie and Buffalo. Straight-line distance: 132.25 mi (212.83 km).

Erie

#1 Erie

The second most populous city in Pennsylvania.

Population95,077
Coordinates42.1292200, -80.0850600
Altitude199
CountryUnited States
Buffalo

#2 Buffalo

Township in northeastern Perry County, Pennsylvania

Population2,011
Coordinates40.2264600, -80.3603400
Altitude394
CountryUnited States
Start: Erie (-80.08506, 42.12922)
End: Buffalo (-80.36034, 40.22646)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 251 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 11m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 53m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 06m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 35m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 13m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 56m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
5.49 gal
20.79 L · about $22.43
Round trip
$44.86
10.98 gal · 41.58 L
Estimated CO2
48.8 kg one way
Round trip: 97.6 kg / 215 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.09 $22.43 $44.86
Mid-grade $4.60 $25.25 $50.50
Premium $4.95 $27.20 $54.39
Diesel $5.98 $32.83 $65.66

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 Pennsylvania · May 31, 2026

There is no time difference between Erie and Buffalo. The current time is 02:54:34.

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.