Drive or Fly: Elmhurst, NY to Buffalo, 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 1m

Distance

380.9 mi

Total Cost

$107

CO2

154 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$72

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

297 mi

Total Cost

$187

CO2

76 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Elmhurst, NY → LGA 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 36m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BUF → Buffalo, NY 12m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $132) $132

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Elmhurst, NY LGA — LaGuardia Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

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

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

88.2%

Cancellation

11.8%

+ Saves about 5h 3m 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 6m

8h 26m on rail

Total Cost

$58

CO2

22 kg

Route

Maple Leaf

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 30m

Train ride 506m

Arrival 10m

Buffalo (BFX) → Buffalo, NY 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $58) $58

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

Stations

From NYP — Ny Moynihan Train Hall At Penn Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To BFX — Buffalo 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 1m	2h 58m	10h 6m
Total cost (1 person)	$107	$187	$58
Carbon footprint	154 kg CO₂	76 kg CO₂	22 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	88% 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 Jul 20, 2026.

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