Drive or Fly: Milton, NY to Astoria, 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 ALB–LGA. At 179 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 47m

Distance

179.5 mi

Total Cost

$75

CO2

73 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$40

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 59m

19m in the air

Air Distance

156 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

40 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Milton, NY → ALB 30m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 19m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LGA → Astoria, NY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Milton, NY ALB — Albany International Airport 20 mi, ~30m drive

Astoria, NY LGA — LaGuardia Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ALB and LGA. 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

5h 2m

4h 2m on rail

Total Cost

$32

CO2

9 kg

Route

Ethan Allen Express

Door-to-Door Timeline

Milton, NY → Saratoga Springs Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 242m

Arrival 10m

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

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $32) $32

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

Stations

From Saratoga Springs Amtrak Station 4 mi, ~10m drive

To Ny Moynihan Train Hall At Penn Station 4 mi, ~10m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

4h 53m

4h 8m on road

Total Cost

$18

CO2

9 kg

Route

Greyhound US0200

Door-to-Door Timeline

Milton, NY → Saratoga Springs Train Station (SGA6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 248m

Arrival 10m

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

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $18) $18

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

Stations

From SGA6 — Saratoga Springs Train Station 4 mi, ~10m drive

To NYD6 — New York Port Authority 3 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~21/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

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	3h 47m	2h 59m	5h 2m	4h 53m
Total cost (1 person)	$75	$126	$32	$18
Carbon footprint	73 kg CO₂	40 kg CO₂	9 kg CO₂	9 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, 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

179.5 mi 3h 47m

via I 87, NJ 17, NJ 4

Alternative (+34 min)

205.3 mi 4h 21m

via I 87, US 209, NY 17

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