How far is Waterville, NY from Buffalo, NY?

The driving distance from Waterville, NY to Buffalo, NY is about 201.4 miles (324.2 km), with a travel time of about 03h 16m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 160 miles (257.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 33m 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
201.44 mi
03h 16m
Flight
160.02 mi
257.52 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Waterville.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
160.02 mi
Kilometers
257.52 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
201.44 mi
Kilometers
324.19 km
Drive Time
03h 16m

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 16m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Buffalo
Sat, Apr 18, 6:48 AM EDT
Return by in Waterville
Sat, Apr 18, 10:05 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waterville
2026-04-18T03:31
Arrive Buffalo
Sat, Apr 18, 6:48 AM EDT
Route Timing
03h 16m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM EDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:17 AM to 11:17 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
10:26 AM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Waterville
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
Thompson
NY

Town in Sullivan County, New York, United States

From Waterville
102 mi
01h 38m
To Buffalo
99.4 mi
01h 38m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
71°F
Saturday

Partly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
6 to 12 mph SE
Destination
65°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
7 to 17 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Waterville Road

    1.3 mi · 5 min · Waterville Road

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn right onto County Road 92

    1.5 mi · 4 min · County Road 92

  3. 3

    Continue on County Road 93

    594 ft · 16 sec · County Road 93

  4. 4

    Continue on County Road 189

    3.4 mi · 8 min · County Road 189

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Washington Park Road

    1.1 km · 3 min · Washington Park Road

  6. 6

    Continue on County Road 97

    1376 ft · 1 min · County Road 97

  7. 7

    Turn left

    3.5 mi · 5 min

  8. 8

    Turn right onto State Highway 193

    1.4 km · 1 min · State Highway 193

  9. 9

    Take the ramp left toward I 81 South

    1075 ft · 26 sec

  10. 10

    Merge slight left

    41.1 mi · 47 min

  11. 11

    Keep slight right

    2721 ft · 33 sec

  12. 12

    Continue straight

    4.2 mi · 5 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward I 90: Albany, Buffalo

    2487 ft · 1 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight right to continue on I 90 West: Buffalo

    803 ft · 20 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto New York State Thruway

    138.1 mi · 2 hr 40 min · New York State Thruway

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward NY 33 West: Buffalo

    1901 ft · 46 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto Kensington Expressway

    6.4 mi · 9 min · Kensington Expressway

  18. 18

    Keep slight left to continue on Oak Street

    2170 ft · 40 sec

  19. 19

    Continue on Oak Street

    131 m · 14 sec · Oak Street

  20. 20

    Turn right onto Genesee Street

    1172 ft · 39 sec · Genesee Street

  21. 21

    Turn right onto East Huron Street

    729 ft · 34 sec · East Huron Street

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Franklin Street

    716 ft · 23 sec · Franklin Street

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Genesee Street

    123 m · 12 sec · Genesee Street

  24. 24

    Enter the roundabout toward Niagara Square

    119 m · 12 sec · Niagara Square

  25. 25

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Niagara Square

Car Route Details

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

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
25 steps
9 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
New York State Thruway
138 mi · 69%
I 81 South
46.1 mi · 23%
Kensington Expressway
6.41 mi · 3%
County Road 189
3.42 mi · 2%
County Road 92
1.52 mi · 1%
Waterville Road
1.34 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

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.

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 16m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 34m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+41.4 mi
160 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Thompson
01h 38m from Waterville
Leave By
10:26 AM EDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers leaving Waterville and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Buffalo.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 201.4 miles (324.2 km) and usually takes 03h 16m 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?

Thompson is a useful midpoint, sitting about 102 miles from Waterville and 99.4 miles from Buffalo.

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

The direct path is about 160 miles (257.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 41.4 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 10:26 AM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $28.50 one way or $57.01 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 63.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny then Chance Rain Showers around Waterville and Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near Buffalo.

Stop Ideas Near Thompson

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Thompson, 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 Thompson.

RAIL

Louise M. Slaughter Rochester Station

55 mi away
320 Central Avenue
RAIL

Empire Expo Center

61 mi away
581 State Fair Blvd
RAIL

William F. Walsh Regional Transportation Center

67 mi away
131 Alliance Bank Parkway

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Waterville and Buffalo. Straight-line distance: 160.02 mi (257.52 km).

Waterville

#1 Waterville

Village in New York, United States

Population1,502
Coordinates43.7456200, -75.9221400
Altitude355
CountryUnited States
Buffalo

#2 Buffalo

The second most populous city in New York.

Population254,479
Coordinates42.8864500, -78.8783700
Altitude183
CountryUnited States
Start: Waterville Road (-75.922125, 43.745998)
End: Niagara Square (-78.878786, 42.886515)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 324 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 42m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 02m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 01m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 21m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 52m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 30m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.11 gal
26.91 L · about $28.50
Round trip
$57.01
14.22 gal · 53.82 L
Estimated CO2
63.2 kg one way
Round trip: 126.4 kg / 279 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $4.01 $28.50 $57.01
Mid-grade $4.48 $31.86 $63.72
Premium $4.86 $34.56 $69.12
Diesel $4.69 $33.37 $66.75

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 Waterville and Buffalo. The current time is 03:31:09.

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.