Drive or Fly: Ashford, NY to Manhattan, 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 BFD–LGA. At 365 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 30m

Distance

365.6 mi

Total Cost

$104

CO2

148 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$69

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 35m

31m in the air

Air Distance

262 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

67 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ashford, NY → BFD 54m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 31m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LGA → Manhattan, NY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Ashford, NY BFD — Bradford Regional Airport 36 mi, ~54m drive

Manhattan, NY LGA — LaGuardia Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 3h 55m 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

10h 9m

8h 29m on rail

Total Cost

$58

CO2

21 kg

Route

Empire Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ashford, NY → Buffalo (BFX) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 509m

Arrival 10m

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

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $58) $58

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

Stations

From BFX — Buffalo 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

9h 40m

8h 15m on road

Total Cost

$32

CO2

21 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ashford, NY → Buffalo (BUF) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 495m

Arrival 10m

New York Port Authority (NYD6) → Manhattan, NY 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $32) $32

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

Stations

From BUF — Buffalo 0 mi, ~30m drive

To NYD6 — New York Port Authority 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~11/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 11 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	7h 30m	3h 35m	10h 9m	9h 40m
Total cost (1 person)	$104	$185	$58	$32
Carbon footprint	148 kg CO₂	67 kg CO₂	21 kg CO₂	21 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, FlixBus 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

365.6 mi 7h 30m

via I 86; NY 17, I 80, I 81

Alternative (+14 min)

379 mi 7h 45m

via I 80, US 15, I 86; NY 17

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