Drive or Fly: Amherst, NY to East Rockaway, 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

8h 17m

Distance

397.4 mi

Total Cost

$119

CO2

161 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$84

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 57m

37m in the air

Air Distance

310 mi

Total Cost

$187

CO2

79 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Amherst, NY → BUF 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 37m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

JFK → East Rockaway, NY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $132) $132

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Amherst, NY BUF — Buffalo Niagara International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

East Rockaway, NY JFK — John F. Kennedy International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

86.4%

Cancellation

13.6%

+ Saves about 5h 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 26m

8h 8m on rail

Total Cost

$57

CO2

17 kg

Route

Empire Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Amherst, NY → Buffalo Depew Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 488m

Arrival 10m

Ny Moynihan Train Hall At Penn Station → East Rockaway, NY 28m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $57) $57

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

Stations

From Buffalo Depew Station 6 mi, ~10m drive

To Ny Moynihan Train Hall At Penn Station 19 mi, ~28m 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	8h 17m	2h 57m	9h 26m
Total cost (1 person)	$119	$187	$57
Carbon footprint	161 kg CO₂	79 kg CO₂	17 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	86% 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 Jun 3, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

397.4 mi 8h 17m

via I 90, I 81, I 80

Alternative (+3 min)

405.5 mi 8h 21m

via I 86, I 80, I 81

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