Drive or Fly: Riga, NY to Jamaica, 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

7h 23m

Distance

350.4 mi

Total Cost

$101

CO2

142 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$66

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 59m

32m in the air

Air Distance

266 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

68 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Riga, NY → ROC 17m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 32m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

JFK → Jamaica, NY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Riga, NY ROC — Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport 11 mi, ~17m drive

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

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

97.6%

Cancellation

2.4%

+ Saves about 4h 24m 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 57m

7h 17m on rail

Total Cost

$50

CO2

20 kg

Route

Empire Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Riga, NY → Rochester (ROC) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 437m

Arrival 10m

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

~6/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 6 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 23m	2h 59m	8h 57m
Total cost (1 person)	$101	$186	$50
Carbon footprint	142 kg CO₂	68 kg CO₂	20 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	98% 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 21, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

350.4 mi 7h 23m

via I 81, I 80, I 90

Alternative (+16 min)

372.9 mi 7h 39m

via I 80, US 15, I 390

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