Drive or Fly: Gaines, NY to New York City, 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 ROC–LGA. At 349 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 30m

Distance

349.7 mi

Total Cost

$120

CO2

141 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$85

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 31m

34m in the air

Air Distance

280 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

71 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Gaines, NY → ROC 45m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 34m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LGA → New York City, NY 12m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Gaines, NY ROC — Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport 30 mi, ~45m drive

New York City, NY LGA — LaGuardia Airport 8 mi, ~12m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 3h 59m 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

8h 53m

7h 13m on rail

Total Cost

$50

CO2

20 kg

Route

Empire Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Gaines, NY → Rochester (ROC) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 433m

Arrival 10m

Ny Moynihan Train Hall At Penn Station (NYP) → New York City, NY 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $50) $50

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

Stations

From ROC — Rochester 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	7h 30m	3h 31m	8h 53m
Total cost (1 person)	$120	$186	$50
Carbon footprint	141 kg CO₂	71 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 20, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

349.7 mi 7h 30m

via I 81, I 80, I 90

Alternative (+24 min)

376.8 mi 7h 54m

via I 80, US 15, I 390

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Gaines, NY to New York City, NY with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.