Drive or Fly: Altona, 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

No scheduled commercial flights found for PBG–LGA. At 324 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 35m

Distance

324.9 mi

Total Cost

$107

CO2

131 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$72

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 15m

35m in the air

Air Distance

289 mi

Total Cost

$187

CO2

74 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Altona, NY → PBG 28m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 35m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LGA → New York City, NY 12m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $132) $132

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Altona, NY PBG — Plattsburgh International Airport 19 mi, ~28m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PBG and LGA. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 3h 20m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

9h 42m

8h 2m on rail

Total Cost

$59

CO2

19 kg

Route

Adirondack

Door-to-Door Timeline

Altona, NY → Rouses Point Amtrak 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 482m

Arrival 10m

Ny Moynihan Train Hall At Penn Station → New York City, NY 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $59) $59

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

Stations

From Rouses Point Amtrak 0 mi, ~30m drive

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

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/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 2 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	6h 35m	3h 15m	9h 42m
Total cost (1 person)	$107	$187	$59
Carbon footprint	131 kg CO₂	74 kg CO₂	19 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

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 Apr 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

324.9 mi 6h 34m

via I 87, NJ 17, NY 190

Shortest (+32 min)

322.9 mi 7h 6m

via I 87, Taconic State Parkway, NY 9H

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