The Cost of a Trip between Buffalo, New York and Simsbury, Connecticut

If you're planning a road trip from Buffalo, New York to Simsbury, Connecticut, one of the first things you'll want to consider is the cost. Gas prices can fluctuate, but there are also other expenses to consider, such as tolls and meals along the way. In this article, we'll take a look at the different route options available and compare the cost and distance of each one to determine which is the best value.

Route 1: Via I-90 and I-84

The first route option is to take I-90 E and I-84 E, which will take you through Rochester and Albany before arriving in Hartford, Connecticut. From there, you would take CT-185 W to Simsbury. This route is approximately 450 miles long and takes around 7.5 hours to complete without stops.

The cost of this route is fairly reasonable, with gas prices currently averaging around $2.80 per gallon. Based on a fuel economy of 25 miles per gallon, you'd need about 18 gallons of gas for the trip. At $2.80 per gallon, that's around $50 in gas expenses.

There are also several tolls along this route that you'll need to factor in. The New York State Thruway charges tolls based on the distance you travel, with rates ranging from $1.30 to $5.90 for passenger vehicles. Assuming you take the Thruway for the majority of the trip, you can expect to pay around $30 in tolls. There are also tolls in Connecticut, which are typically around $1.50 per booth.

Overall, the estimated cost of this route is around $80, not including any meals or other expenses along the way.

Route 2: Via I-86 and I-84

Another option is to take a slightly longer route via I-86 and I-84, which will take you through Binghamton and Scranton before arriving in Hartford. From there, you'd take the same CT-185 W route to Simsbury. This route is approximately 460 miles long and takes around 8 hours to complete without stops.

The cost of this route is similar to the first route, with gas prices and tolls being the primary expenses. Based on the same fuel economy and gas prices as before, you'd need around 19 gallons of gas, which would cost around $53. There are also several tolls to factor in, including those on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, which can cost as much as $31.50 for passenger vehicles. Overall, the estimated cost of this route is around $85.

Route 3: Via I-90 and I-91

A third option is to take I-90 E to I-91 S, which will take you through Springfield before arriving in Simsbury. This route is approximately 420 miles long and takes around 7 hours to complete without stops.

The cost of this route is similar to the first two, with gas prices and tolls being the primary expenses. Based on the same fuel economy and gas prices as before, you'd need around 17 gallons of gas, which would cost around $48. There are also several tolls to factor in, including those on the Massachusetts Turnpike, which can cost as much as $22 for passenger vehicles. Overall, the estimated cost of this route is around $75.

Recommendation: Route 3

Based on the cost and distance of each route, our recommendation is to take Route 3 via I-90 and I-91. While it's not necessarily the quickest or most direct route, it is the most affordable option. With an estimated cost of $75, it's around $5 cheaper than Route 1 and $10 cheaper than Route 2.

Conclusion

In summary, the cost of a trip from Buffalo, New York to Simsbury, Connecticut varies depending on the route you take and the current gas prices. However, by factoring in gas expenses and tolls, we can estimate that the trip will cost around $75 using Route 3 via I-90 and I-91. Of course, this estimate doesn't include any meals or additional stops along the way, so be sure to budget accordingly. With a distance of 420 miles and a travel time of around 7 hours, it's a manageable road trip that won't break the bank.