Drive or Fly: Brooklyn, NY to Marion, 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

6h 46m

Distance

311.4 mi

Total Cost

$94

CO2

126 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$59

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 20m

29m in the air

Air Distance

240 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

61 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Brooklyn, NY → JFK 14m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 29m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ROC → Marion, NY 37m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Brooklyn, NY JFK — John F. Kennedy International Airport 9 mi, ~14m drive

Marion, NY ROC — Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport 24 mi, ~37m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 3h 26m 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

8h 44m

7h 4m on rail

Total Cost

$50

CO2

18 kg

Route

Empire Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 30m

Train ride 424m

Arrival 10m

Rochester (ROC) → Marion, NY 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $50) $50

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

Stations

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

To ROC — Rochester 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~8/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 8 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 46m	3h 20m	8h 44m
Total cost (1 person)	$94	$185	$50
Carbon footprint	126 kg CO₂	61 kg CO₂	18 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	100% 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 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

311.4 mi 6h 45m

via I 81, I 80, I 380

Alternative (+20 min)

331.4 mi 7h 6m

via I 81, I 78, I 380

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