Drive or Fly: Buffalo, NY to Alabama, 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–BUF. At 35 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

48m

Distance

35 mi

Total Cost

$43

CO2

14 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$8

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 45m

3m in the air

Air Distance

29 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

7 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Buffalo, NY → BUF 12m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 3m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BUF → Alabama, NY 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Buffalo, NY BUF — Buffalo Niagara International Airport 8 mi, ~12m drive

Alabama, NY BUF — Buffalo Niagara International Airport 20 mi, ~30m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BUF and BUF. 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

1h 33m

11m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

0 kg

Route

Maple Leaf

Door-to-Door Timeline

Buffalo, NY → Buffalo 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 11m

Arrival 10m

Buffalo Depew Station → Alabama, NY 32m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $2) $2

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

Stations

From Buffalo 1 mi, ~10m drive

To Buffalo Depew Station 21 mi, ~32m 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

1h 32m

40m on road

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Greyhound US0215

Door-to-Door Timeline

Buffalo, NY → Buffalo (BUF) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 40m

Arrival 10m

Batavia (48 Express) (BTA6) → Alabama, NY 17m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $4) $4

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

Stations

From BUF — Buffalo 0 mi, ~10m drive

To BTA6 — Batavia (48 Express) 11 mi, ~17m 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	48m	2h 45m	1h 33m	1h 32m
Total cost (1 person)	$43	$121	$2	$4
Carbon footprint	14 kg CO₂	7 kg CO₂	0 kg CO₂	2 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 12, 2026.

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