is not nearly as crowded as some neighboring cities in the Northeast, so it’s a great city for commuters. That said, Buffalo does have a rush hour that may be worth planning around and a few crowded roads worth avoiding.

Located in western New York on the cusp of the U.S.-Canadian border, Buffalo is a unique city and a wonderful place for families to live. Not only does living in or near Buffalo allow you to enjoy Bills games and every winter sport you can think of, but it also helps to ensure your commute to work won’t be too bad.

To learn more about the traffic conditions in Buffalo and how to avoid any congestion on the roads, check out this guide from

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comparison app

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How bad is Buffalo traffic

Buffalo is a pretty big city, so you can’t count on avoiding traffic entirely. But when you compare traffic conditions in Buffalo to some of the bigger surrounding cities—such as New York, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland—there is no doubt that the driving conditions are better for commuters.

According to

TomTom’s traffic report

, Buffalo isn’t even in the top 50 when it comes to heavy traffic in the United States. Here is a look at how many hours Buffalo drivers have lost to traffic in the past few years.

Year	Hours lost to congestion
2019	69 hours
2020	36 hours
2021	46 hours

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Why is Buffalo traffic so bad

There are many reasons why a city might have bad traffic conditions, such as its population, its infrastructure, or the habits of the drivers that live there. Here are some of the reasons you may experience heavy traffic if you live or work in Buffalo.

Major chokepoints

Like every city, Buffalo has various chokepoints that many drivers need to pass through to get to their destination. Some of these chokepoints are major highways, while others are busy streets in the heart of the city.

Interstate-190 and Interstate-290 both experience a lot of traffic during peak hours, especially where they both meet. Also, Ellicot Street is one of many roads in downtown Buffalo that can get pretty crowded, especially during the day.

Weather

If you’ve ever been to Buffalo during the winter, you know it snows there. A lot. Even though the city and residents are generally well prepared for winter storms, they do tend to make getting around a lot more complicated. Even after

the snow

is cleared, you can expect delays to your regular commuting time.

Commuter Habits

Although there are public transportation options in Buffalo, the majority of people choose to drive to work. So even though the population of Buffalo is just a fraction of some bigger cities, the number of cars on the road is higher than you may think.

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How to navigate Buffalo traffic like a pro

You don’t need anyone to tell you that sitting in traffic is frustrating and time-consuming, but what if we told you it was expensive, too? Beyond just the gas you’ll use up during your commute, driving in stop-and-go traffic raises the likelihood that’s you’ll get into an accident.

Even if nobody is injured in an accident, it’s still a huge headache. You’ll have to speak with the other parties and file a claim, and

your insurance rates

will likely go up as a result. If you want to avoid traffic in Buffalo, you should follow these tips.

Don’t drive during rush hour. It’s not always easy to avoid rush hour, but if you can you’ll save yourself a lot of time and trouble. Buffalo’s rush hour generally takes place from 7 am to 9 am and then again from 3 pm to 5 pm.

Keep up to date with road conditions. Using a navigational app is a good way to know which roads are crowded. You can also tune in to a radio station such as 98.5 to hear updates on traffic.

Stay focused. If you do end up in heavy traffic, distracted driving could make it more likely you’ll be in an accident. Stay sharp on the road so you don’t have to pay for it later.

MORE:

The 3 best apps for avoiding traffic jams

Prepare for Buffalo traffic by updating your car insurance

Whether you run into heavy traffic or not, commuting to work by driving every day puts your car at risk. You should make sure you have the best possible car insurance coverage for your vehicle, and Jerry will make it easy.

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Signing up with Jerry takes just seconds, and the average user saves $887 a year on their car insurance payments.

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FAQS

Is Buffalo hard to drive in?

No, Buffalo is not particularly difficult to drive in. It can sometimes be hard to get around Buffalo in the winter thanks to the weather, but in general, there isn’t too much heavy traffic.

What is the best time to drive through Buffalo?

If you want to avoid traffic in Buffalo, you should try to drive before 7 am or after 5 pm. If you need to drive in the middle of the day, 10 am to 2 pm is when roads are the least crowded.

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