Drive or Fly: Amherst, NY to Seneca Falls, 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–ITH. At 108 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 11m

Distance

108.3 mi

Total Cost

$59

CO2

44 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$24

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 13m

12m in the air

Air Distance

101 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

26 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Amherst, NY → BUF 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 12m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ITH → Seneca Falls, NY 51m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

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

Seneca Falls, NY ITH — Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport 34 mi, ~51m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BUF and ITH. 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 45m

2h 4m on rail

Total Cost

$26

CO2

8 kg

Route

Maple Leaf

Door-to-Door Timeline

Amherst, NY → Buffalo Depew Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 124m

Arrival 10m

Syracuse Regional Transportation Center → Seneca Falls, NY 51m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $26) $26

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

Stations

From Buffalo Depew Station 6 mi, ~10m drive

To Syracuse Regional Transportation Center 34 mi, ~51m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

4h 14m

2h 48m on road

Total Cost

$14

CO2

8 kg

Route

FlixBus 2686

Door-to-Door Timeline

Amherst, NY → Buffalo Niagara International Airport (6BN) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 168m

Arrival 10m

Syracuse Bus Station (SYR) → Seneca Falls, NY 51m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $14) $14

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

Stations

From 6BN — Buffalo Niagara International Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

To SYR — Syracuse Bus Station 34 mi, ~51m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~14/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

− 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	2h 11m	3h 13m	3h 45m	4h 14m
Total cost (1 person)	$59	$124	$26	$14
Carbon footprint	44 kg CO₂	26 kg CO₂	8 kg CO₂	8 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 15, 2026.

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