Drive or Fly: Dryden, NY to Brookhaven, 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 ITH–ISP. At 281 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 54m

Distance

281.5 mi

Total Cost

$97

CO2

114 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$62

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 52m

25m in the air

Air Distance

211 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

54 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Dryden, NY → ITH 12m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 25m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ISP → Brookhaven, NY 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Dryden, NY ITH — Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport 8 mi, ~12m drive

Brookhaven, NY ISP — Long Island MacArthur Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ITH and ISP. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 3h 2m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	5h 54m	2h 52m
Total cost (1 person)	$97	$183
Carbon footprint	114 kg CO₂	54 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

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

281.5 mi 5h 53m

via I 80, I 81, I 495

Shortest (+6 min)

280 mi 6h 0m

via I 86; NY 17, I 495, I 81

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