Drive or Fly: Carthage, 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 ART–LGA. At 304 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 15m

Distance

304 mi

Total Cost

$92

CO2

123 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$57

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 9m

28m in the air

Air Distance

236 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

60 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Carthage, NY → ART 31m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 28m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LGA → Manhattan, NY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Carthage, NY ART — Watertown International Airport 21 mi, ~31m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 3h 6m 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

6h 47m

5h 7m on rail

Total Cost

$37

CO2

18 kg

Route

Empire Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Carthage, NY → Rome Amtrak Station (ROM) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 307m

Arrival 10m

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

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $37) $37

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

Stations

From ROM — Rome Amtrak Station 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	6h 15m	3h 9m	6h 47m
Total cost (1 person)	$92	$184	$37
Carbon footprint	123 kg CO₂	60 kg CO₂	18 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 Jul 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

304 mi 6h 15m

via New York State Thruway, I 90, NY 12

Shortest (+4 min)

286.7 mi 6h 20m

via I 87, NY 12, I 90

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