Drive or Fly: Buffalo, NY to Almond, 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–ELM. At 89 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

2h 10m

Distance

89.5 mi

Total Cost

$55

CO2

36 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$20

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 27m

8m in the air

Air Distance

70 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

18 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Buffalo, NY → BUF 12m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 8m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ELM → Almond, NY 67m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

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

Almond, NY ELM — Elmira Corning Regional Airport 45 mi, ~67m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BUF and ELM. 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 23m

1h 5m on rail

Total Cost

$13

CO2

4 kg

Route

Maple Leaf

Door-to-Door Timeline

Buffalo, NY → Buffalo 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 65m

Arrival 10m

Rochester → Almond, NY 88m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $13) $13

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

Stations

From Buffalo 1 mi, ~10m drive

To Rochester 58 mi, ~88m 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

3h 5m

2h 5m on road

Total Cost

CO2

4 kg

Route

FlixBus 2686

Door-to-Door Timeline

Buffalo, NY → Buffalo (BUF) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 125m

Arrival 10m

Dansville (Family Dollar) (6DS) → Almond, NY 25m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $7) $7

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

Stations

From BUF — Buffalo 0 mi, ~10m drive

To 6DS — Dansville (Family Dollar) 17 mi, ~25m 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	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	2h 10m	3h 27m	3h 23m	3h 5m
Total cost (1 person)	$55	$123	$13	$7
Carbon footprint	36 kg CO₂	18 kg CO₂	4 kg CO₂	4 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 Almond, NY with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.