Drive or Fly: Aurora, NY to Syracuse, 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 ITH–SYR. At 46 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

1h 9m

Distance

46.1 mi

Total Cost

$45

CO2

19 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$10

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 47m

4m in the air

Air Distance

35 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

9 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Aurora, NY → ITH 33m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 4m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SYR → Syracuse, NY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Aurora, NY ITH — Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport 22 mi, ~33m drive

Syracuse, NY SYR — Syracuse Hancock International Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ITH 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

2h 26m

1h 15m on road

Total Cost

CO2

3 kg

Route

FlixBus 2691

Door-to-Door Timeline

Aurora, NY → Ithaca (6IT) 36m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 75m

Arrival 10m

Syracuse Bus Station (SYR) → Syracuse, NY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $5) $5

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

Stations

From 6IT — Ithaca 24 mi, ~36m drive

To SYR — Syracuse Bus Station 2 mi, ~10m 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	Bus
Door-to-door time	1h 9m	2h 47m	2h 26m
Total cost (1 person)	$45	$121	$5
Carbon footprint	19 kg CO₂	9 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: 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 12, 2026.

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