Drive or Fly: Port Ewen, 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

No scheduled commercial flights found for SWF–BUF. At 342 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 43m

Distance

342.1 mi

Total Cost

$108

CO2

138 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$73

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 26m

31m in the air

Air Distance

259 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

66 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Port Ewen, NY → SWF 43m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 31m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BUF → Buffalo, NY 12m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Port Ewen, NY SWF — New York Stewart International Airport 29 mi, ~43m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SWF and BUF. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 3h 17m 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 12m

6h 32m on rail

Total Cost

$52

CO2

20 kg

Route

Maple Leaf

Door-to-Door Timeline

Port Ewen, NY → Rhinecliff Amtrak Station 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 392m

Arrival 10m

Buffalo → Buffalo, NY 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $52) $52

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

Stations

From Rhinecliff Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Buffalo 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	6h 43m	3h 26m	8h 12m
Total cost (1 person)	$108	$185	$52
Carbon footprint	138 kg CO₂	66 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 Apr 26, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

342.1 mi 6h 42m

via I 90, I 87, NY 33

Shortest (+16 min)

330.8 mi 6h 58m

via I 86; NY 17, NY 17, US 20A

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