Drive or Fly: Colton, 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

No scheduled commercial flights found for MSS–JFK. At 343 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 30m

Distance

343.6 mi

Total Cost

$119

CO2

139 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$84

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 23m

33m in the air

Air Distance

273 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

70 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Colton, NY → MSS 40m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 33m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

JFK → Queens, NY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Colton, NY MSS — Massena International Airport Richards Field 27 mi, ~40m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MSS and JFK. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 4h 7m 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

9h 10m

7h 30m on rail

Total Cost

$55

CO2

20 kg

Route

Adirondack

Door-to-Door Timeline

Colton, NY → Plattsburgh Amtrak Station (PLB) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 450m

Arrival 10m

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

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $55) $55

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

Stations

From PLB — Plattsburgh Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To NYP — Ny Moynihan Train Hall At Penn 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 30m	3h 23m	9h 10m
Total cost (1 person)	$119	$186	$55
Carbon footprint	139 kg CO₂	70 kg CO₂	20 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

343.6 mi 7h 30m

via I 87, NY 28N, NY 56

Alternative (+49 min)

403.5 mi 8h 19m

via I 81, I 80, US 11

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