Drive or Fly: Alden, NY to New York City, 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 24m

Distance

355.4 mi

Total Cost

$99

CO2

144 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$64

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 4m

33m in the air

Air Distance

276 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

70 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Alden, NY → BUF 19m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 33m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LGA → New York City, NY 12m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Alden, NY BUF — Buffalo Niagara International Airport 13 mi, ~19m drive

New York City, NY LGA — LaGuardia Airport 8 mi, ~12m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

99.2%

Cancellation

0.8%

+ Saves about 4h 20m 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

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

Boarding 30m

Train ride 492m

Arrival 10m

Ny Moynihan Train Hall At Penn Station (NYP) → New York City, 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 24m	3h 4m	9h 52m
Total cost (1 person)	$99	$186	$57
Carbon footprint	144 kg CO₂	70 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 20, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

355.4 mi 7h 23m

via I 86, I 80, I 81

Alternative (+24 min)

374.2 mi 7h 47m

via I 86, I 81, I 390

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Alden, NY to New York City, NY with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.