Drive or Fly: Elma Center, NY to Brooklyn, 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–JFK. At 365 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

7h 49m

Distance

365.8 mi

Total Cost

$116

CO2

148 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$81

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 2m

34m in the air

Air Distance

285 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

73 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Elma Center, NY → BUF 14m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 34m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

JFK → Brooklyn, NY 14m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Elma Center, NY BUF — Buffalo Niagara International Airport 9 mi, ~14m drive

Brooklyn, NY JFK — John F. Kennedy International Airport 9 mi, ~14m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BUF and JFK. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 4h 47m 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

9h 5m

8h 3m on rail

Total Cost

$57

CO2

17 kg

Route

Empire Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Elma Center, NY → Buffalo Depew Station 11m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 483m

Arrival 10m

Ny Moynihan Train Hall At Penn Station → Brooklyn, NY 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $57) $57

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

Stations

From Buffalo Depew Station 7 mi, ~11m drive

To Ny Moynihan Train Hall At Penn Station 7 mi, ~11m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	7h 49m	3h 2m	9h 5m
Total cost (1 person)	$116	$186	$57
Carbon footprint	148 kg CO₂	73 kg CO₂	17 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 — 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 Elma Center, NY to Brooklyn, NY with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.