What's the best (fastest) route for driving from Manhattan to Niagara Falls?

Question

Should I take the Interstate up to Albany, then head west? I know there's a more direct route, but do those roads have slower speed limits?

I'm trying to get there as fast as possible.

Answer 1

Before my grandparents died, i woould often drive up from jersey to Ontario, I would take Route 80 through the poconos, till 380, And the 81.  Once I would Reach Binhamton, i would Take New York Route 17, Through Elmira and to Route 85, And then take 20A west, Then a short trip on 90, Then take 190 Through niagra

Its might not be the fastest, but its quiet, not a lot of traffic

Answer 2

The quickest way (less traffic also) would be:

From the GW Bridge take Route 80 West till Route 380 North in PA just past Stroudsburgh. Take 380North to Scranton to 81 North. Go North on 81 till Binghamton and take Route 17/86 (The Southern Tier Expressway) west. Take 17/86 to 390 North. Take 390 North to Rochester and pick up the Thruway (route 90) west to Buffalo. Just before Buffalo take 290 North to 190 North to Niagara Falls.

Answer 3

Well, I won't quote from google maps, but when I looked it up the map gave the same directions I would take. I went to school in Syracuse and my sister lived on Long Island, my parents in Philadelphia. So I know the fastest route through personal experience. I don't know which bridge/tunnel you will be  using to get out of Manhattan, but the best way, and the fastest, because it's all Interstate, is to take:

I-80 west to Scranton then merge onto I-81 North and at Syracuse take I-90/New York Throughway to Niagara Falls. There are prettier routes to take, but if speed is what you want, that's the route.