Drive or Fly: Ontario County, 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

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

6h 42m

Distance

299.7 mi

Total Cost

$109

CO2

121 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$74

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 17m

28m in the air

Air Distance

233 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

59 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ontario County, NY → ROC 39m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 28m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

JFK → Queens, NY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Ontario County, NY ROC — Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport 26 mi, ~39m drive

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

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

82.3%

Cancellation

17.7%

+ Saves about 3h 25m 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

8h 53m

7h 13m on rail

Total Cost

$50

CO2

17 kg

Route

Empire Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ontario County, NY → Rochester (ROC) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 433m

Arrival 10m

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

+ 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	6h 42m	3h 17m	8h 53m
Total cost (1 person)	$109	$184	$50
Carbon footprint	121 kg CO₂	59 kg CO₂	17 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	82% 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 23, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

299.7 mi 6h 42m

via I 81, I 80, NY 79

Alternative (+27 min)

315.1 mi 7h 10m

via I 81, NY 79, I 78; US 22

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