Drive or Fly: Mastic, NY to Amherst, 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 ISP–BUF. At 436 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

9h 12m

Distance

436.2 mi

Total Cost

$132

CO2

176 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$97

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 11m

41m in the air

Air Distance

341 mi

Total Cost

$189

CO2

87 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Mastic, NY → ISP 20m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 41m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BUF → Amherst, NY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $134) $134

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Mastic, NY ISP — Long Island MacArthur Airport 14 mi, ~20m drive

Amherst, NY BUF — Buffalo Niagara International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 6h 1m 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 12m	3h 11m
Total cost (1 person)	$132	$189
Carbon footprint	176 kg CO₂	87 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 Mastic, NY to Amherst, NY with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.