Drive or Fly: Buffalo, NY to Hancock, 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–BGM. At 239 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 3m

Distance

239.3 mi

Total Cost

$88

CO2

97 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$53

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 35m

23m in the air

Air Distance

194 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

50 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Buffalo, NY → BUF 12m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 23m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BGM → Hancock, NY 60m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Hancock, NY BGM — Greater Binghamton/Edwin A Link field 40 mi, ~60m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BUF and BGM. 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

8h 57m

6h 24m on rail

Total Cost

$52

CO2

15 kg

Route

Empire Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Buffalo, NY → Buffalo 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 384m

Arrival 10m

Rhinecliff Amtrak Station → Hancock, NY 103m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $52) $52

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

Stations

From Buffalo 1 mi, ~10m drive

To Rhinecliff Amtrak Station 68 mi, ~103m 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

6h 18m

4h 52m on road

Total Cost

$18

CO2

9 kg

Route

Greyhound US0215

Door-to-Door Timeline

Buffalo, NY → Buffalo (BUF) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 292m

Arrival 10m

Binghamton (BGH6) → Hancock, NY 51m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $18) $18

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

Stations

From BUF — Buffalo 0 mi, ~10m drive

To BGH6 — Binghamton 34 mi, ~51m 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	5h 3m	3h 35m	8h 57m	6h 18m
Total cost (1 person)	$88	$183	$52	$18
Carbon footprint	97 kg CO₂	50 kg CO₂	15 kg CO₂	9 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

239.3 mi 5h 2m

via I 86, I 86; NY 17, I 390

Alternative (+5 min)

242.9 mi 5h 8m

via I 90, I 81, I 86; NY 17

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