Drive or Fly: New York City, NY to Sheridan, 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 23m

Distance

393.4 mi

Total Cost

$132

CO2

159 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$97

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 49m

36m in the air

Air Distance

297 mi

Total Cost

$187

CO2

76 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

New York City, NY → LGA 12m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 36m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BUF → Sheridan, NY 61m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $132) $132

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Sheridan, NY BUF — Buffalo Niagara International Airport 40 mi, ~61m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

89.3%

Cancellation

10.8%

+ Saves about 4h 34m 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 3m

8h 23m on rail

Total Cost

$58

CO2

23 kg

Route

Maple Leaf

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 30m

Train ride 503m

Arrival 10m

Buffalo (BFX) → Sheridan, 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 23m	3h 49m	10h 3m
Total cost (1 person)	$132	$187	$58
Carbon footprint	159 kg CO₂	76 kg CO₂	23 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	89% 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 Oct 22, 2026.

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