Drive or Fly: Nassau, NY to Queens, 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–JFK. At 148 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 25m

Distance

148.6 mi

Total Cost

$68

CO2

60 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$33

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 53m

15m in the air

Air Distance

127 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

32 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Nassau, NY → ALB 28m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 15m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

JFK → Queens, NY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Nassau, NY ALB — Albany International Airport 19 mi, ~28m drive

Queens, NY JFK — John F. Kennedy International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ALB 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

3h 42m

2h 32m on rail

Total Cost

$26

CO2

8 kg

Route

Empire Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Nassau, NY → Albany-Rensselaer Amtrak Station 16m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 152m

Arrival 10m

Ny Moynihan Train Hall At Penn Station → Queens, NY 14m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $26) $26

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

Stations

From Albany-Rensselaer Amtrak Station 11 mi, ~16m drive

To Ny Moynihan Train Hall At Penn Station 10 mi, ~14m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~10/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 10 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	3h 25m	2h 53m	3h 42m
Total cost (1 person)	$68	$125	$26
Carbon footprint	60 kg CO₂	32 kg CO₂	8 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 16, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

148.6 mi 3h 25m

via Taconic State Parkway, I 684, NY 9H

Alternative (+1 min)

160.6 mi 3h 26m

via I 87, NJ 17, NJ 4

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