Chicago to Buffalo drive: Best road trip stops, distance & time
The best road trip stops on the Chicago to Buffalo drive are South Bend, Cleveland and Presque Isle. The distance from Chicago to Buffalo by car is 538 miles, with an 8h7m driving time.
Planning a Chicago to Buffalo road trip itinerary
The Chicago to Buffalo drive takes you from perhaps the greatest city in the US to the eastern end of Lake Erie in New York.
Our favourite thing to do in Chicago
The Chicago architecture cruise has a phenomenal wow factor, with the boat gliding between some of the world’s most legendary skyscrapers.
We found the commentary matches the views, too. Expect a fascinating run-down of the city’s history – and plenty of surprising detail about the buildings you’re seeing.
Highly recommended Chicago experiences include an architecture river cruise, a gangsters and ghosts tour of famous Mob sites and a bike tour of the lakefront neighbourhoods. It’s also worth paying a visit to the Field Museum, the 360 Chicago observation deck at the Hancock Tower and the Chicago Architecture Center.
Buffalo is often written off as the gateway to Niagara Falls, but there’s more to the city than that. Cultural highlights include Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House, the Buffalo Museum of Science and the Buffalo AKG Art Museum.
The waterside Buffalo Harbor State Park, meanwhile, offers paddleboard and kayak rentals plus a beach and playgrounds.
Good experiences in Buffalo include Best of Buffalo double decker bus tours, a history of chicken wings food tour and the Theodore Roosevelt Inauguration National Historic Site.
For excellent places to stay in Buffalo, try the historic landmark Richardson Hotel or the charming Hotel at the Lafayette.
Chicago to Buffalo distance and driving time
By car, the distance from Chicago to Buffalo is 538 miles. You can expect a driving time of around eight hours and seven minutes. The quickest route is along the I-90.
The best stops to add to a Chicago to Buffalo road trip itinerary are South Bend, Cleveland and Presque Isle.
For more attractions, check out the guides to individual sections of the Chicago to Buffalo road trip.
Best road trip attractions between Chicago and Buffalo: South Bend, Indiana
South Bend is one of those towns that’s just fun to hang out in. It’s a university city, and the student life gives it the bulk of its energy. Notre Dame University tours take in the campus and key buildings such as the hugely impressive Basilica of Notre Dame.
For car-lovers, however, the key attraction in South Bend is the Studebaker National Museum. Studebaker Cars were made here until 1963. The museum tells their story and has plenty of classics on display.
Chicago to Buffalo road trip stops: Cleveland
There are many strong attractions in Cleveland, including the Cleveland History Center. But the big stand out is the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame. It’s an extremely reverent trawl through rock ‘n roll history, looking at the origins and development of the genre. There’s a massive amount of memorabilia, with sections devoted to several Hall of Fame inductees.
The Rock N Roll Hall of Fame is dense, detailed and capable of sucking up the best part of a day.
Alternatively, Cleveland tour options focus on neighbourhood food scenes, the city’s best craft breweries and Downtown’s public art.
Chicago to Buffalo drive: Presque Isle
Presque Isle offers an altogether different experience to the industrial city of Erie which it neighbours. This 3,200 acre peninsula bends into Lake Erie and is a hotspot for migrating birds.
There’s more to do than birdwatching, however. The Tom Ridge Environmental Centre teaches visitors about the local ecosystems, and there are several walking trails that range from quick strolls to challenging full day hikes.
The beaches, though, tend to be the main draw card.
More Chicago road trips
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