Drive or Fly: Buffalo, NY to Washington Heights, 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

7h 45m

Distance

375 mi

Total Cost

$114

CO2

152 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$79

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

35m in the air

Air Distance

291 mi

Total Cost

$187

CO2

74 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Buffalo, NY → BUF 12m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 35m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LGA → Washington Heights, 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

Washington Heights, NY LGA — LaGuardia Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

90.9%

Cancellation

9.2%

+ Saves about 4h 48m 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 29m

7h 49m on rail

Total Cost

$58

CO2

22 kg

Route

Empire Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Buffalo, NY → Buffalo 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 469m

Arrival 10m

Yonkers Amtrak Station → Washington Heights, NY 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $58) $58

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

Stations

From Buffalo 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Yonkers Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~1/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 1 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	7h 45m	2h 57m	9h 29m
Total cost (1 person)	$114	$187	$58
Carbon footprint	152 kg CO₂	74 kg CO₂	22 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	91% 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

375 mi 7h 45m

via I 86, I 80, I 81

Alternative (+15 min)

388.4 mi 8h 0m

via I 80, US 15, I 390

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