Drive or Fly: Kensington, NY to Hempstead, 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 JFK–JFK. At 21 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

36m

Distance

21.3 mi

Total Cost

$40

CO2

9 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$5

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 31m

2m in the air

Air Distance

19 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

5 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Kensington, NY → JFK 15m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 2m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

JFK → Hempstead, NY 14m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Kensington, NY JFK — John F. Kennedy International Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

Hempstead, NY JFK — John F. Kennedy International Airport 10 mi, ~14m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between JFK and JFK. 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

1h 45m

29m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Northeast Regional

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 30m

Train ride 29m

Arrival 10m

New Rochelle Amtrak Station → Hempstead, NY 25m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $3) $3

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

Stations

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

To New Rochelle Amtrak Station 17 mi, ~25m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~100/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

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	36m	2h 31m	1h 45m
Total cost (1 person)	$40	$121	$3
Carbon footprint	9 kg CO₂	5 kg CO₂	1 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 Kensington, NY to Hempstead, NY with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.