Getting around · Buffalo
Getting to and from BUF: taxi, rideshare, transit & the cell-phone lot
The quickest way to Buffalo airport is usually a taxi or a rideshare: a taxi runs about $25–$35 to Downtown Buffalo, and Uber & Lyft pick up in a marked pickup zone. Picking someone up instead? Wait free at the Cell Phone Waiting Lot. Below: every way to and from the airport, what it costs, whether to park or grab a ride, and how to fold the drive into your Leave-By Time so you reach security with room to get through the line. Check BUF TSA wait times today before you decide when to leave.
- Terminal
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- Checkpoint
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- PreCheck
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- CLEAR
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- Global Entry
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Taxis from BUF — fare and where to find the stand
Typical taxi fare
~$25–$35
to Downtown Buffalo
Drive time
15–25 min
9 mi to Downtown Buffalo
A taxi is the simplest door-to-door option and needs no app. Expect about $25–$35 to Downtown Buffalo on the meter, before tolls and tip — more in heavy traffic.
Lower level baggage claim curb. Taxi 007 716-633-8294 and other companies. Metered taxis; ~$25-35 to downtown Buffalo.
The BUF cell-phone waiting lot
Picking someone up? Wait free at Cell Phone Waiting Lot. On airport property near the terminal entrance; follow airport signage. Wait there until your traveler texts that they're at the curb, then loop in once. Free waiting lot. Driver must remain with vehicle.
Leaving a car for the trip instead of getting dropped off? It's worth checking the lots: compare BUFparking by price & distance.
Where to catch Uber & Lyft at BUF
Uber and Lyft pick up at the lower level baggage claim curbside; follow TNC/rideshare signage.
Dropping off? Drop off on the upper Departures curb; active loading only. Buffalohas a single terminal, so there's no wrong-curb risk — any door gets you to check-in and security.
Driving to BUF — routes & drive time
BUF sits about 9 miles from Downtown Buffalo, a drive of roughly 15–25 minutes via I-990 south to I-90 (NY Thruway) west to downtown Buffalo; Genesee Street (US-33) also connects to downtown — closer to the high end at rush hour. That drive time is the first input into your Leave-By Time, so the calculator counts it backward from your flight along with today's security wait and the walk to your gate.
Getting to BUF by train or transit
No rail serves BUF directly. NFTA Metro bus Route 204 runs between the airport and the Amherst Street Metro Rail terminal in about 30 minutes for $2.00; transfer to NFTA Metro Rail for downtown Buffalo stops. Check NFTA schedules for current service.
Fare: $2.00 one-way on NFTA Metro bus. Connects to NFTA Metro Rail (light rail) at the Amherst Street terminal.
Hotel and city shuttles to BUF
Hotel courtesy shuttles from the baggage claim level. Several Buffalo and Niagara Falls area hotels run shuttle service. If a shuttle is part of your plan, add its ride time to your Leave-By Time — it's easy to forget the 15–20 minutes between the curb and the terminal.
Park or ride to BUF?
Here's the math. Parking starts around $11/day, while a round-trip taxi or rideshare to Downtown Buffalo runs about $60. So a round trip by car comes out ahead once you're away more than about 5 days — for a quick trip, parking usually costs less; for a long one, getting a ride does.
Want the exact trade-off for your dates? compare BUFparking by price & distance — the closest lot isn't always the one that costs the least.
Accessibility and late-night rides at BUF
NFTA Metro buses and rail are accessible. Accessible taxis and rideshare available at the curb.
Late or overnight arrival? NFTA Metro has limited late-night service; taxis and rideshare operate around the clock.
Returning a rental on the way out? Consolidated Rental Car facility on the lower level; follow Rental Car Return signs. (We cover where to return a car, not where to book one.)
Pickup zones and curb rules change — we verified BUF's ground-transport details as of June 29, 2026. Always check the in-app pickup pin and posted signs when you land.
Flying out of a nearby airport instead?
If a fare or a schedule points you elsewhere, the closest airport we cover is ROC (Rochester), about 55 miles from BUF in a straight line. The same math on this page — drive time, ride cost, security wait — decides whether the extra distance is worth it.
Other airports nearby
Straight-line distance from BUF — check current waits before switching airports.
Before you go BUF
BUF TSA wait times todaySee today's security wait by checkpoint, then time your ride to the airport.Getting-around FAQ BUF
How much is a taxi to or from BUF?
A metered taxi to Downtown Buffalo typically runs about $25–$35, before tolls and tip and more in heavy traffic. Lower level baggage claim curb. Taxi 007 716-633-8294 and other companies.
Where do you catch Uber and Lyft at BUF?
Uber and Lyft pick up at the lower level baggage claim curbside; follow TNC/rideshare signage. Open the app after you land and follow its pickup pin, not the curb out front.
Where is the BUF cell-phone lot?
Cell Phone Waiting Lot — On airport property near the terminal entrance; follow airport signage. It's free, and you wait there until your traveler texts that they have their bags.
How far is BUF from Downtown Buffalo?
BUF is about 9 miles from Downtown Buffalo — roughly 15–25 minutes by car depending on traffic, via I-990 south to I-90 (NY Thruway) west to downtown Buffalo; Genesee Street (US-33) also connects to downtown.
Is there a train from BUF to Downtown Buffalo?
Not directly. No rail serves BUF directly. NFTA Metro bus Route 204 runs between the airport and the Amherst Street Metro Rail terminal in about 30 minutes for $2.00; transfer to NFTA Metro Rail for downtown Buffalo stops. Check NFTA schedules for current service.