Drive or Fly: Buffalo, NY to Hamptonburgh, 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 BUF–SWF. At 325 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 55m

Distance

325.8 mi

Total Cost

$83

CO2

132 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$48

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

31m in the air

Air Distance

257 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

66 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Buffalo, NY → BUF 12m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 31m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SWF → Hamptonburgh, NY 14m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Buffalo, NY BUF — Buffalo Niagara International Airport 8 mi, ~12m drive

Hamptonburgh, NY SWF — New York Stewart International Airport 9 mi, ~14m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BUF and SWF. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 3h 58m 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

8h 30m

6h 50m on rail

Total Cost

$53

CO2

19 kg

Route

Empire Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Buffalo, NY → Buffalo (BFX) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 410m

Arrival 10m

Poughkeepsie Amtrak Station (POU) → Hamptonburgh, NY 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $53) $53

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

Stations

From BFX — Buffalo 0 mi, ~30m drive

To POU — Poughkeepsie Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~4/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 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	6h 55m	2h 57m	8h 30m
Total cost (1 person)	$83	$185	$53
Carbon footprint	132 kg CO₂	66 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 Oct 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

325.8 mi 6h 55m

via I 86; NY 17, I 86, I 390

Alternative (+59 min)

380.6 mi 7h 55m

via US 15, I 84, I 80

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