Drive or Fly: Alder Brook, NY to Saranac Lake, 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 SLK–SLK. At 20 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

38m

Distance

20.9 mi

Total Cost

$40

CO2

8 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$5

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 35m

2m in the air

Air Distance

16 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

4 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Alder Brook, NY → SLK 23m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 2m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SLK → Saranac Lake, NY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Alder Brook, NY SLK — Adirondack Regional Airport 16 mi, ~23m drive

Saranac Lake, NY SLK — Adirondack Regional Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SLK and SLK. 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

3h 14m

1h on rail

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Adirondack

Door-to-Door Timeline

Alder Brook, NY → Plattsburgh Amtrak Station 41m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 60m

Arrival 10m

Westport → Saranac Lake, NY 53m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $7) $7

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

Stations

From Plattsburgh Amtrak Station 28 mi, ~41m drive

To Westport 35 mi, ~53m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/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 2 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	38m	2h 35m	3h 14m
Total cost (1 person)	$40	$121	$7
Carbon footprint	8 kg CO₂	4 kg CO₂	2 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 16, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Alder Brook, NY to Saranac Lake, NY with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.