How far is Lake Placid, NY from Buffalo, NY?
The driving distance from Lake Placid, NY to Buffalo, NY is about 342.2 miles (550.7 km), with a travel time of about 05h 55m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 263.2 miles (423.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 11h 51m 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 05h 55m.
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 Oswego, New York, USA
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Slight Chance Snow Showers then Mostly Cloudy
Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Lake Placid and Buffalo.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Placid and Buffalo.
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1
Start on Spring Street
739 ft · 34 sec · Spring Street
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2
Continue on Mill Pond Drive
1.3 km · 2 min · Mill Pond Drive
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3
At the end of the road, turn right onto Old Military Road
1.5 mi · 3 min · Old Military Road
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4
At the end of the road, turn left onto Saranac-Placid Road
4.9 mi · 8 min · Saranac-Placid Road
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5
Continue on Lake Flower Avenue
1.2 mi · 3 min · Lake Flower Avenue
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6
At the end of the road, turn left onto River Street
2628 ft · 1 min · River Street
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7
Continue on George H Lapan Memorial Highway
1.4 mi · 3 min · George H Lapan Memorial Highway
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8
Continue on Algonquin Street
1.4 mi · 2 min · Algonquin Street
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9
Continue on State Route 3
5.9 mi · 8 min · State Route 3
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10
Continue on Tupper Lake Highway
6.4 mi · 9 min · Tupper Lake Highway
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11
Continue on Adirondack Trail
1 km · 51 sec · Adirondack Trail
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12
Continue on Tupper-Saranac Highway
3.9 mi · 6 min · Tupper-Saranac Highway
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13
Continue on East Park Street
1.2 km · 2 min · East Park Street
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14
Turn right onto McLaughlin Avenue
3109 ft · 1 min · McLaughlin Avenue
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15
Turn left onto Santa Clara Avenue
1069 ft · 48 sec · Santa Clara Avenue
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16
Turn right onto Demars Boulevard
1.3 km · 2 min · Demars Boulevard
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17
Continue on Main Street
1 mi · 3 min · Main Street
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18
Continue on State Route 3
36.8 mi · 52 min · State Route 3
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19
Continue on State Route 3
19.9 mi · 28 min · State Route 3
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20
Continue on State Highway 812
1770 ft · 34 sec · State Highway 812
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21
Continue on State Street
2079 ft · 59 sec · State Street
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22
Continue on Main Street
1.2 km · 2 min · Main Street
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23
Continue on State Route 3
15.8 mi · 22 min · State Route 3
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24
Turn right onto State Highway 3A
5.2 mi · 7 min · State Highway 3A
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25
At the end of the road, turn right onto State Route 3
4.4 mi · 7 min · State Route 3
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26
Turn right onto Gray Street
2062 ft · 56 sec · Gray Street
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27
Continue on Gray Street
2804 ft · 1 min · Gray Street
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28
Keep slight right to continue on Pearl Street Road
1.4 mi · 3 min · Pearl Street Road
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29
At the end of the road, turn left onto Pearl Street Road
3068 ft · 1 min · Pearl Street Road
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30
Turn right
1.7 mi · 3 min
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31
Turn left
4.5 mi · 5 min
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32
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward the route
34 m · 2 sec
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33
Exit the roundabout
629 ft · 11 sec
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34
Continue on Leray Street
1.4 km · 1 min · Leray Street
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35
Continue straight
1041 ft · 23 sec
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36
Turn right onto Coffeen Street
1.6 mi · 3 min · Coffeen Street
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37
Take the ramp left toward I 81 South
1224 ft · 30 sec
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38
Merge slight right
60 mi · 1 hr 9 min
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39
Keep slight right
2721 ft · 33 sec
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40
Continue straight
4.2 mi · 5 min
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41
Take the exit slight right toward I 90: Albany, Buffalo
2487 ft · 1 min
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42
Keep slight right to continue on I 90 West: Buffalo
803 ft · 20 sec
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43
Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway
138.1 mi · 2 hr 40 min · New York State Thruway
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44
Take the exit slight right toward NY 33 West: Buffalo
1901 ft · 46 sec
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45
Merge slight left onto Kensington Expressway
6.4 mi · 9 min · Kensington Expressway
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46
Keep slight left to continue on Oak Street
2170 ft · 40 sec
-
47
Continue on Oak Street
131 m · 14 sec · Oak Street
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48
Turn right onto Genesee Street
1172 ft · 39 sec · Genesee Street
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49
Turn right onto East Huron Street
729 ft · 34 sec · East Huron Street
-
50
Turn left onto Franklin Street
716 ft · 23 sec · Franklin Street
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51
Turn right onto Genesee Street
123 m · 12 sec · Genesee Street
-
52
Enter the roundabout toward Niagara Square
119 m · 12 sec · Niagara Square
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53
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Niagara Square
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Lake Placid and Buffalo.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
New York State Thruway
Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway
138 mi · 02h 40m
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.
Slight Chance Snow Showers then Mostly Cloudy leaving Lake Placid and Slight 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 Lake Placid to Buffalo?
The road trip is about 342.2 miles (550.7 km) and usually takes 05h 55m 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?
Parish is a useful midpoint, sitting about 169.3 miles from Lake Placid and 172.9 miles from Buffalo.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 263.2 miles (423.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 79 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 5:08 AM EDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $48.39 one way or $96.78 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 107.3 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Snow Showers then Mostly Cloudy around Lake Placid and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Sunny near Buffalo.
Stop Ideas Near Parish
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Parish.
William F. Walsh Regional Transportation Center
Empire Expo Center
Rome station
Union Station
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Lake Placid and Buffalo. Straight-line distance: 263.24 mi (423.64 km).
#1 Lake Placid
Town in Essex County, New York, United States
| Population | 2,356 |
| Coordinates | 44.2796200, -73.9819800 |
| Altitude | 549 |
| 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: 551 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 24m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 33m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 06h 50m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 42m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 04h 53m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 16m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $4.01 | $48.39 | $96.78 |
| Mid-grade | $4.48 | $54.09 | $108.17 |
| Premium | $4.86 | $58.67 | $117.34 |
| Diesel | $4.69 | $56.66 | $113.31 |
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 22, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.