Drive or Fly: Verona, NY to New York City, 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 11m

Distance

259.9 mi

Total Cost

$99

CO2

105 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$64

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 15m

22m in the air

Air Distance

186 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

47 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Verona, NY → SYR 41m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 22m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LGA → New York City, NY 12m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Verona, NY SYR — Syracuse Hancock International Airport 27 mi, ~41m drive

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

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

93.3%

Cancellation

6.7%

+ 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 45m

5h 5m on rail

Total Cost

$37

CO2

15 kg

Route

Empire Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Verona, NY → Rome Amtrak Station (ROM) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 305m

Arrival 10m

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

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $37) $37

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

Stations

From ROM — Rome Amtrak Station 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	5h 11m	3h 15m	6h 45m
Total cost (1 person)	$99	$182	$37
Carbon footprint	105 kg CO₂	47 kg CO₂	15 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	93% 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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

259.9 mi 5h 10m

via New York State Thruway, I 90, NJ 17

Shortest (+14 min)

250.1 mi 5h 25m

via NY 17, NY 8, NJ 17

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