Drive or Fly: Manhattan, NY to Barnum Island, 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 LGA–JFK. At 28 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

51m

Distance

28.1 mi

Total Cost

$41

CO2

11 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$6

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 24m

3m in the air

Air Distance

21 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

5 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Manhattan, NY → LGA 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 3m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

JFK → Barnum Island, NY 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Manhattan, NY LGA — LaGuardia Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

Barnum Island, NY JFK — John F. Kennedy International Airport 8 mi, ~11m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between LGA 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

3h 1m

2h 15m on road

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Greyhound US0250

Door-to-Door Timeline

Manhattan, NY → New York Port Authority (NYD6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 135m

Arrival 10m

Hempstead Bus Station (LGI6) → Barnum Island, NY 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $2) $2

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

Stations

From NYD6 — New York Port Authority 2 mi, ~10m drive

To LGI6 — Hempstead Bus Station 7 mi, ~11m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/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

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	51m	2h 24m	3h 1m
Total cost (1 person)	$41	$121	$2
Carbon footprint	11 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: 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

28.1 mi 50m

via NY 27, I 495, I 678

Alternative (+4 min)

34.7 mi 55m

via I 295, I 95; US 1, NY 27

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