Drive or Fly: Elma, NY to Syracuse, 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 142 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

2h 26m

Distance

142.7 mi

Total Cost

$67

CO2

58 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$32

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 37m

15m in the air

Air Distance

127 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

32 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Elma, NY → BUF 12m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 15m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SYR → Syracuse, NY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

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

Syracuse, NY SYR — Syracuse Hancock International Airport 5 mi, ~10m 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 4m

2h 4m on rail

Total Cost

$26

CO2

8 kg

Route

Maple Leaf

Door-to-Door Timeline

Elma, NY → Buffalo Depew Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 124m

Arrival 10m

Syracuse Regional Transportation Center → Syracuse, NY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $26) $26

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

Stations

From Buffalo Depew Station 6 mi, ~10m drive

To Syracuse Regional Transportation Center 2 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

3h 34m

2h 48m on road

Total Cost

$14

CO2

8 kg

Route

FlixBus 2686

Door-to-Door Timeline

Elma, NY → Buffalo Niagara International Airport (6BN) 11m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 168m

Arrival 10m

Syracuse Bus Station (SYR) → Syracuse, NY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $14) $14

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

Stations

From 6BN — Buffalo Niagara International Airport 7 mi, ~11m drive

To SYR — Syracuse Bus Station 2 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~14/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	2h 26m	2h 37m	3h 4m	3h 34m
Total cost (1 person)	$67	$125	$26	$14
Carbon footprint	58 kg CO₂	32 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 12, 2026.

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