Drive or Fly: Brooklyn, NY to Ontario County, 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 JFK–ROC. At 297 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 34m

Distance

297.6 mi

Total Cost

$101

CO2

120 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$66

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 21m

28m in the air

Air Distance

230 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

59 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Brooklyn, NY → JFK 14m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 28m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ROC → Ontario County, NY 39m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Brooklyn, NY JFK — John F. Kennedy International Airport 9 mi, ~14m drive

Ontario County, NY ROC — Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport 26 mi, ~39m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 3h 13m 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

8h 33m

7h 2m on rail

Total Cost

$50

CO2

14 kg

Route

Empire Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Brooklyn, NY → Ny Moynihan Train Hall At Penn Station 11m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 422m

Arrival 10m

Rochester → Ontario County, NY 40m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $50) $50

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

Stations

From Ny Moynihan Train Hall At Penn Station 7 mi, ~11m drive

To Rochester 27 mi, ~40m 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	6h 34m	3h 21m	8h 33m
Total cost (1 person)	$101	$184	$50
Carbon footprint	120 kg CO₂	59 kg CO₂	14 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

297.6 mi 6h 33m

via I 81, I 80, US 11; NY 79

Alternative (+20 min)

317.6 mi 6h 54m

via I 81, I 78, US 11; NY 79

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