Drive or Fly: Alabama, NY to Brooklyn, NY?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

Short enough to drive comfortably in a day. Airport overhead makes flying slower door-to-door. Available flights require a connection, adding time and cost.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 46m

Distance

362 mi

Total Cost

$103

CO2

146 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$68

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 18m

34m in the air

Air Distance

284 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

72 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Alabama, NY → BUF 30m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 34m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

JFK → Brooklyn, NY 14m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Alabama, NY BUF — Buffalo Niagara International Airport 20 mi, ~30m drive

Brooklyn, NY JFK — John F. Kennedy International Airport 9 mi, ~14m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

98.7%

Cancellation

1.4%

+ Saves about 4h 28m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

9h 52m

8h 12m on rail

Total Cost

$57

CO2

21 kg

Route

Empire Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Alabama, NY → Buffalo Depew Station (BUF) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 492m

Arrival 10m

Ny Moynihan Train Hall At Penn Station (NYP) → Brooklyn, NY 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $57) $57

Estimated based on distance. Check amtrak.com for current prices.

Stations

From BUF — Buffalo Depew Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To NYP — Ny Moynihan Train Hall At Penn Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~6/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ Scenic views along the route

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 6 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	7h 46m	3h 18m	9h 52m
Total cost (1 person)	$103	$186	$57
Carbon footprint	146 kg CO₂	72 kg CO₂	21 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	99% on-time

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: Amtrak GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Jul 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

362 mi 7h 45m

via I 81, I 90, I 80

Alternative (+16 min)

377.7 mi 8h 1m

via I 80, US 15, I 390

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Alabama, NY to Brooklyn, NY with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.