Drive or Fly: Brooklyn, NY to Red Hook, 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–SWF. At 115 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 34m

Distance

115.5 mi

Total Cost

$61

CO2

47 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$26

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 19m

11m in the air

Air Distance

93 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

24 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Brooklyn, NY → JFK 14m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 11m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SWF → Red Hook, NY 54m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

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

Red Hook, NY SWF — New York Stewart International Airport 36 mi, ~54m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between JFK and SWF. 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

2h 41m

1h 40m on rail

Total Cost

$16

CO2

5 kg

Route

Empire Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 30m

Train ride 100m

Arrival 10m

Rhinecliff Amtrak Station → Red Hook, NY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $16) $16

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

Stations

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

To Rhinecliff Amtrak Station 6 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~12/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 12 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	2h 34m	3h 19m	2h 41m
Total cost (1 person)	$61	$124	$16
Carbon footprint	47 kg CO₂	24 kg CO₂	5 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

115.5 mi 2h 33m

via NY 17, NJ 17, NY 199

Alternative (+7 min)

116.4 mi 2h 41m

via Taconic State Parkway, I 684, HR

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