Drive or Fly: Albany, NY to Rockland, 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–SWF. At 118 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 24m

Distance

118.2 mi

Total Cost

$61

CO2

48 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$26

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 37m

9m in the air

Air Distance

77 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

20 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Albany, NY → ALB 11m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 9m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SWF → Rockland, NY 77m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

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

Rockland, NY SWF — New York Stewart International Airport 52 mi, ~77m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ALB and SWF. 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

2h 45m

41m on rail

Total Cost

$10

CO2

3 kg

Route

Ethan Allen Express

Door-to-Door Timeline

Albany, NY → Albany-Rensselaer Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 41m

Arrival 10m

Rhinecliff Amtrak Station → Rockland, NY 74m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $10) $10

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

Stations

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

To Rhinecliff Amtrak Station 49 mi, ~74m 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	2h 24m	3h 37m	2h 45m
Total cost (1 person)	$61	$123	$10
Carbon footprint	48 kg CO₂	20 kg CO₂	3 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

118.2 mi 2h 24m

via I 87, US 209, NY 52

Alternative (+19 min)

125 mi 2h 43m

via US 209, I 87, NY 52

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