Drive or Fly: Albany, NY to Auburn, 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 ALB–SYR. At 173 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 29m

Distance

173.2 mi

Total Cost

$73

CO2

70 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$38

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 7m

17m in the air

Air Distance

144 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

37 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Albany, NY → ALB 11m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 17m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SYR → Auburn, NY 39m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Albany, NY ALB — Albany International Airport 7 mi, ~11m drive

Auburn, NY SYR — Syracuse Hancock International Airport 26 mi, ~39m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ALB and SYR. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

4h 10m

2h 46m on rail

Total Cost

$25

CO2

7 kg

Route

Lake Shore Limited

Door-to-Door Timeline

Albany, NY → Albany-Rensselaer Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 166m

Arrival 10m

Syracuse Regional Transportation Center → Auburn, NY 34m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $25) $25

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

Stations

From Albany-Rensselaer Amtrak Station 1 mi, ~10m drive

To Syracuse Regional Transportation Center 22 mi, ~34m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

3h 59m

2h 50m on road

Total Cost

$14

CO2

7 kg

Route

FlixBus 2691

Door-to-Door Timeline

Albany, NY → Albany Bus Terminal, NY (ALB6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 170m

Arrival 10m

Syracuse Bus Station (SYR) → Auburn, NY 34m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $14) $14

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

Stations

From ALB6 — Albany Bus Terminal, NY 1 mi, ~10m drive

To SYR — Syracuse Bus Station 22 mi, ~34m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	3h 29m	3h 7m	4h 10m	3h 59m
Total cost (1 person)	$73	$126	$25	$14
Carbon footprint	70 kg CO₂	37 kg CO₂	7 kg CO₂	7 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, FlixBus 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

173.2 mi 3h 28m

via I 90, NY 34

Shortest (+18 min)

157.3 mi 3h 47m

via US 20, I 90, US 20; NY 46

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