Drive or Fly: Amboy, NY to Jamaica, 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

5h 37m

Distance

274 mi

Total Cost

$102

CO2

111 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$67

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

2h 48m

25m in the air

Air Distance

208 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

53 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Amboy, NY → SYR 13m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 25m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

JFK → Jamaica, NY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Amboy, NY SYR — Syracuse Hancock International Airport 9 mi, ~13m drive

Jamaica, NY JFK — John F. Kennedy International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

74.2%

Cancellation

25.8%

+ Saves about 2h 49m 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

7h 25m

5h 45m on rail

Total Cost

$39

CO2

16 kg

Route

Empire Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Amboy, NY → Syracuse Regional Transportation Center (SYR) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 345m

Arrival 10m

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

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $39) $39

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

Stations

From SYR — Syracuse Regional Transportation Center 0 mi, ~30m drive

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

Service

Direct

Frequency

~4/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 4 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	5h 37m	2h 48m	7h 25m
Total cost (1 person)	$102	$183	$39
Carbon footprint	111 kg CO₂	53 kg CO₂	16 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	74% 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 Oct 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

274 mi 5h 37m

via I 81, I 80, I 380

Shortest (+6 min)

272.4 mi 5h 44m

via I 86; NY 17, I 81, NJ 17

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