Drive or Fly: Buffalo, NY to DeRuyter, 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 172 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 43m

Distance

172.1 mi

Total Cost

$73

CO2

70 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$38

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 10m

18m in the air

Air Distance

152 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

39 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Buffalo, NY → BUF 12m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 18m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SYR → DeRuyter, NY 40m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

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

DeRuyter, NY SYR — Syracuse Hancock International Airport 27 mi, ~40m 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 48m

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 → DeRuyter, NY 39m

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 26 mi, ~39m 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

4h 54m

3h 53m on road

Total Cost

$15

CO2

8 kg

Route

FlixBus 2686

Door-to-Door Timeline

Buffalo, NY → Buffalo (BUF) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 233m

Arrival 10m

Cortland (Onvo Travel Plaza) (5CT) → DeRuyter, NY 26m

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 5CT — Cortland (Onvo Travel Plaza) 17 mi, ~26m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~25/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 43m	3h 10m	3h 48m	4h 54m
Total cost (1 person)	$73	$126	$27	$15
Carbon footprint	70 kg CO₂	39 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

172.1 mi 3h 43m

via I 90, US 20, US 20; NY 5

Alternative (+38 min)

191.2 mi 4h 21m

via NY 104, I 90, I 490

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