Drive or Fly: Clarkson, NY to Manhattan, 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 ROC–LGA. At 340 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

7h 13m

Distance

340.7 mi

Total Cost

$111

CO2

138 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$76

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 5m

32m in the air

Air Distance

265 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

67 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Clarkson, NY → ROC 23m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 32m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LGA → Manhattan, NY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Clarkson, NY ROC — Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport 15 mi, ~23m drive

Manhattan, NY LGA — LaGuardia Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ROC and LGA. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 4h 8m compared to driving

+ 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 23m

7h 8m on rail

Total Cost

$50

CO2

14 kg

Route

Empire Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Clarkson, NY → Rochester 25m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 428m

Arrival 10m

Ny Moynihan Train Hall At Penn Station → Manhattan, NY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $50) $50

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

Stations

From Rochester 17 mi, ~25m drive

To Ny Moynihan Train Hall At Penn Station 3 mi, ~10m 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

7h 35m

6h 35m on road

Total Cost

$27

CO2

14 kg

Route

Greyhound US0205

Door-to-Door Timeline

Clarkson, NY → Rochester Bus Stop (ROC6) 25m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 395m

Arrival 10m

New York Port Authority (NYD6) → Manhattan, NY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $27) $27

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

Stations

From ROC6 — Rochester Bus Stop 17 mi, ~25m drive

To NYD6 — New York Port Authority 2 mi, ~10m 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	7h 13m	3h 5m	8h 23m	7h 35m
Total cost (1 person)	$111	$186	$50	$27
Carbon footprint	138 kg CO₂	67 kg CO₂	14 kg CO₂	14 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 Clarkson, NY to Manhattan, NY with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.