Drive or Fly: Buffalo, NY to Queens, 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 14m

Distance

386.1 mi

Total Cost

$129

CO2

156 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$94

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 58m

36m in the air

Air Distance

301 mi

Total Cost

$187

CO2

77 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Buffalo, NY → BUF 12m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 36m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

JFK → Queens, NY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $132) $132

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

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

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

80.7%

Cancellation

19.4%

+ Saves about 5h 16m 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

10h 5m

8h 25m on rail

Total Cost

$58

CO2

22 kg

Route

Empire Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Buffalo, NY → Buffalo (BFX) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 505m

Arrival 10m

Ny Moynihan Train Hall At Penn Station (NYP) → Queens, 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

~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	8h 14m	2h 58m	10h 5m
Total cost (1 person)	$129	$187	$58
Carbon footprint	156 kg CO₂	77 kg CO₂	22 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	81% 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

386.1 mi 8h 13m

via I 86, I 80, I 81

Alternative (+14 min)

399.5 mi 8h 28m

via I 80, US 15, I 390

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