If you’re standing in downtown Buffalo looking east, Rochester feels like it’s just over the horizon. It’s that neighborly distance where you’d go for a garbage plate on a whim but maybe think twice if the lake effect snow is kicking up. Honestly, people ask me "how far is Buffalo to Rochester" all the time, expecting a simple number.
The number is usually 73 miles.
But if you’ve lived in Western New York for more than a week, you know that "73 miles" is a total oversimplification. Depending on where you start—Amherst versus South Buffalo—and which route you take, that distance shifts. More importantly, the time it takes to cover those miles is a moving target.
How Far Is Buffalo to Rochester? Breaking Down the Mileage
When you’re talking pure pavement, you’re looking at about 71 to 75 miles between the two city centers. If you take the most common route, the I-90 East (New York State Thruway), the odometer doesn't lie. It’s a straight shot.
However, "Buffalo" is big. If you're leaving from the University at Buffalo North Campus in Amherst, you’re already a few miles closer to Rochester than someone leaving from Lackawanna. Conversely, if you’re heading to the far east side of Rochester, like Webster, you’re adding another 15 minutes to your trip once you hit the Rochester city limits.
Most people just say it's an hour. They’re mostly right.
The Drive: Thruway vs. Back Roads
Most drivers stick to the I-90. It’s fast, boring, and predictable. You get on at the Williamsville toll barrier and basically set your cruise control until you hit the 490.
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- The Thruway Route: Roughly 73 miles.
- The Route 5 / Route 20 Route: This is the "I don't want to pay tolls" route. It's beautiful, especially through Batavia, but it adds significant time. You’re looking at more like 1 hour and 45 minutes because of the stoplights and lower speed limits.
Is the toll worth it? Usually. Saving twenty minutes by paying a few bucks on your E-ZPass is the standard Western NY trade-off. Plus, in the winter, the Thruway is plowed way more consistently than the secondary roads.
How Long Does the Trip Actually Take?
Distance is one thing; time is another. On a perfect July afternoon, you can make the trip in 1 hour and 10 minutes. I’ve done it. It’s easy.
But we live in Buffalo and Rochester. "Perfect" isn't our default setting.
The Rush Hour Reality
If you leave Buffalo at 5:00 PM on a Friday, you aren't getting to Rochester in 70 minutes. You’ll hit the bottleneck where the 290 meets the 90, and then again as you approach the 490 interchange in Rochester.
During peak commute times, add at least 20 minutes to your estimate. The "commuter craze" is real. Thousands of people actually do this drive every single day for work. It’s a grind, but compared to a commute in NYC or Chicago, it’s a breeze.
The Snow Factor
This is the big one. If a lake effect band settles over Batavia—which happens more than we’d like—that 73-mile trip can turn into a three-hour survival mission. Whiteout conditions on the Thruway are no joke. If the signs say "Reduce Speed," do it.
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Beyond the Car: Other Ways to Get There
Maybe you don't want to drive. Maybe your car is in the shop or you just want to nap. You've got options, and they're surprisingly decent.
Amtrak is the hidden gem here.
Taking the train from Buffalo’s Exchange Street station (or Depew) to the Rochester Louise M. Slaughter Station is actually quite pleasant. The train ride itself is usually around 1 hour and 15 minutes. It’s almost the same as driving, and you get to look at the scenery instead of the bumper of a semi-truck. Tickets are often around $20 to $25 if you book a little bit in advance.
The Bus is the budget king.
FlixBus and Greyhound run this route constantly. It’s the cheapest way to travel between the two cities, often costing under $20. The travel time is roughly 1 hour and 30 minutes, depending on if the bus makes any extra stops. It’s not fancy, but it gets the job done.
Rideshares (Uber/Lyft).
Can you Uber from Buffalo to Rochester? Yes. Should you? Probably not unless it's an emergency. You're looking at a bill north of $110, and that's before the tip.
Is the Buffalo-Rochester Commute Worth It?
Some people call this region the "Buffalo-Rochester Metroplex." We aren't quite there yet, but the cities are definitely leaning into each other.
I know people who live in North Chili (Rochester suburb) and work in downtown Buffalo. They spend about 2.5 hours a day in the car. That sounds like a lot, but they claim the lower cost of housing in certain areas makes it worth the gas money.
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Expert Tip: If you’re going to be a regular on this route, get the E-ZPass "Commuter Plan." If you make a certain number of trips per month, the Thruway Authority gives you a massive discount. Most people don't realize this exists until they've already spent hundreds on tolls.
Essential Stops Between the Two Cities
If you aren't in a rush, don't just blast through the "dead zone" between the cities. There are actually a few spots worth a detour.
- Batavia: It's almost exactly the halfway point. If you're hungry, stop at Poker's or grab some food near the Downs.
- Pembroke: The service area here is one of the better ones on the Thruway if you just need a quick coffee.
- The Jell-O Gallery Museum: Okay, it's in Le Roy, just south of the Thruway, but if you have an hour to kill, it’s a quirky bit of Western NY history.
What Most People Forget
When calculating "how far is Buffalo to Rochester," people forget about the sun.
If you live in Buffalo and work in Rochester, you are driving directly into the sun in the morning. Then, you turn around and drive directly into the sun on your way home. It sounds trivial until you're squinting through a smeared windshield for 70 miles. Invest in a good pair of polarized sunglasses. Your retinas will thank you.
Also, watch the deer. Especially around the Le Roy and Batavia exits. The fields are full of them, and they love to dart across the I-90 right at dusk.
Next Steps for Your Trip
To make your trip between Buffalo and Rochester as smooth as possible, check the 511NY website or app before you leave. It gives you real-time camera feeds of the Thruway so you can see if that "dusting" of snow is actually a blizzard. If you're planning on taking the train, download the Amtrak app to track delays, as the Empire Service can occasionally run behind due to freight interference. Finally, if you're driving, double-check your E-ZPass balance; the "pay-by-mail" rates are significantly higher than the transponder rates.