Drive or Fly: Manhattan, NY to East Aurora, 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–BUF. At 357 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 28m

Distance

357.2 mi

Total Cost

$114

CO2

144 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$79

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

3h 3m

33m in the air

Air Distance

276 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

70 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Manhattan, NY → LGA 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 33m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BUF → East Aurora, NY 20m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

East Aurora, NY BUF — Buffalo Niagara International Airport 13 mi, ~20m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 4h 25m 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 15m

8h 8m on rail

Total Cost

$57

CO2

17 kg

Route

Empire Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Manhattan, NY → Ny Moynihan Train Hall At Penn Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 488m

Arrival 10m

Buffalo Depew Station → East Aurora, NY 17m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $57) $57

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

Stations

From Ny Moynihan Train Hall At Penn Station 3 mi, ~10m drive

To Buffalo Depew Station 11 mi, ~17m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	7h 28m	3h 3m	9h 15m
Total cost (1 person)	$114	$186	$57
Carbon footprint	144 kg CO₂	70 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

357.2 mi 7h 28m

via I 86; NY 17, I 80, I 81

Alternative (+14 min)

370.1 mi 7h 42m

via I 80, US 15, US 20A

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