Drive or Fly: Syracuse, NY to Hillside, 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

5h 22m

Distance

265.9 mi

Total Cost

$91

CO2

107 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$56

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 44m

24m in the air

Air Distance

202 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

52 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Syracuse, NY → SYR 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 24m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

JFK → Hillside, NY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Syracuse, NY SYR — Syracuse Hancock International Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

Hillside, NY JFK — John F. Kennedy International Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

90.9%

Cancellation

9.1%

+ Saves about 2h 38m 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

6h 52m

5h 45m on rail

Total Cost

$39

CO2

11 kg

Route

Empire Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Syracuse, NY → Syracuse Regional Transportation Center 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 345m

Arrival 10m

Ny Moynihan Train Hall At Penn Station → Hillside, NY 17m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $39) $39

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

Stations

From Syracuse Regional Transportation Center 2 mi, ~10m drive

To Ny Moynihan Train Hall At Penn Station 11 mi, ~17m 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	5h 22m	2h 44m	6h 52m
Total cost (1 person)	$91	$183	$39
Carbon footprint	107 kg CO₂	52 kg CO₂	11 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	91% 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 Jun 3, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

265.9 mi 5h 22m

via I 81, I 80, I 380

Shortest (+6 min)

264.3 mi 5h 29m

via I 86; NY 17, I 81, NJ 17

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