Drive or Fly: Washington Heights, NY to Ellicott, 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 LGA–BUF. At 364 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 36m

Distance

364.3 mi

Total Cost

$112

CO2

147 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$77

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 5m

34m in the air

Air Distance

279 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

71 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Washington Heights, NY → LGA 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 34m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BUF → Ellicott, NY 21m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Washington Heights, NY LGA — LaGuardia Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

Ellicott, NY BUF — Buffalo Niagara International Airport 14 mi, ~21m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 4h 31m 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 43m

7h 35m on rail

Total Cost

$57

CO2

16 kg

Route

Maple Leaf

Door-to-Door Timeline

Washington Heights, NY → Yonkers Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 455m

Arrival 10m

Buffalo Depew Station → Ellicott, NY 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $57) $57

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

Stations

From Yonkers Amtrak Station 6 mi, ~10m drive

To Buffalo Depew Station 12 mi, ~18m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~1/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 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	7h 36m	3h 5m	8h 43m
Total cost (1 person)	$112	$186	$57
Carbon footprint	147 kg CO₂	71 kg CO₂	16 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 27, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

364.3 mi 7h 35m

via I 86; NY 17, I 80, I 81

Alternative (+14 min)

377.2 mi 7h 49m

via I 80, US 15, US 20A

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