Drive or Fly: Buffalo, NY to Bridgeport, 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–SYR. At 160 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 15m

Distance

160 mi

Total Cost

$70

CO2

65 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$35

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 41m

18m in the air

Air Distance

148 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

38 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Buffalo, NY → BUF 12m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 18m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SYR → Bridgeport, NY 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

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

Bridgeport, NY SYR — Syracuse Hancock International Airport 8 mi, ~11m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BUF 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

3h 26m

2h 19m on rail

Total Cost

$27

CO2

8 kg

Route

Maple Leaf

Door-to-Door Timeline

Buffalo, NY → Buffalo 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 139m

Arrival 10m

Syracuse Regional Transportation Center → Bridgeport, NY 17m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $27) $27

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

Stations

From Buffalo 1 mi, ~10m drive

To Syracuse Regional Transportation Center 11 mi, ~17m 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 44m

2h 52m on road

Total Cost

$15

CO2

8 kg

Route

Greyhound US0215

Door-to-Door Timeline

Buffalo, NY → Buffalo (BUF) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 172m

Arrival 10m

Syracuse Bus Station (SYR) → Bridgeport, NY 17m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $15) $15

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

Stations

From BUF — Buffalo 0 mi, ~10m drive

To SYR — Syracuse Bus Station 11 mi, ~17m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~21/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	3h 15m	2h 41m	3h 26m	3h 44m
Total cost (1 person)	$70	$126	$27	$15
Carbon footprint	65 kg CO₂	38 kg CO₂	8 kg CO₂	8 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

160 mi 3h 14m

via I 90, NY 33, NY 298

Alternative (+25 min)

167.8 mi 3h 40m

via I 90, US 20, I 390

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