Drive or Fly: Amherst, NY to Merrick, 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 BUF–JFK. At 402 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

8h 23m

Distance

402.6 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

163 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$89

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

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 6m

38m in the air

Air Distance

314 mi

Total Cost

$188

CO2

80 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Amherst, NY → BUF 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 38m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

JFK → Merrick, NY 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $133) $133

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Amherst, NY BUF — Buffalo Niagara International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

Merrick, NY JFK — John F. Kennedy International Airport 12 mi, ~18m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 5h 17m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	8h 23m	3h 6m
Total cost (1 person)	$124	$188
Carbon footprint	163 kg CO₂	80 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

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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

402.6 mi 8h 23m

via I 90, I 81, I 80

Alternative (+3 min)

410.6 mi 8h 27m

via I 86, I 80, I 81

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