Drive or Fly: Lynbrook, NY to Tonawanda, 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–IAG. At 402 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

8h 26m

Distance

402.1 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

162 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$89

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

2h 58m

38m in the air

Air Distance

314 mi

Total Cost

$188

CO2

80 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lynbrook, NY → JFK 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 38m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

IAG → Tonawanda, NY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $133) $133

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Lynbrook, NY JFK — John F. Kennedy International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

Tonawanda, NY IAG — Niagara Falls International Airport 7 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 5h 28m 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 39m

8h 17m on rail

Total Cost

$58

CO2

17 kg

Route

Maple Leaf

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lynbrook, NY → Ny Moynihan Train Hall At Penn Station 27m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 497m

Arrival 10m

Buffalo → Tonawanda, NY 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $58) $58

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

Stations

From Ny Moynihan Train Hall At Penn Station 18 mi, ~27m drive

To Buffalo 10 mi, ~15m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~1/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 1 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	8h 26m	2h 58m	9h 39m
Total cost (1 person)	$124	$188	$58
Carbon footprint	162 kg CO₂	80 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 15, 2026.

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