Drive or Fly: Lackawanna, 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 BUF–ISP. At 433 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

9h 7m

Distance

433.7 mi

Total Cost

$131

CO2

175 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$96

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

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 9m

40m in the air

Air Distance

335 mi

Total Cost

$188

CO2

86 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lackawanna, NY → BUF 14m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 40m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ISP → Brookhaven, NY 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $133) $133

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

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

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 5h 58m 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	9h 7m	3h 9m
Total cost (1 person)	$131	$188
Carbon footprint	175 kg CO₂	86 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 13, 2026.

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