Drive or Fly: Neversink, NY to Buffalo, 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 SWF–BUF. At 289 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 11m

Distance

289 mi

Total Cost

$99

CO2

117 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$64

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 32m

27m in the air

Air Distance

229 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

58 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Neversink, NY → SWF 53m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 27m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BUF → Buffalo, NY 12m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Neversink, NY SWF — New York Stewart International Airport 35 mi, ~53m drive

Buffalo, NY BUF — Buffalo Niagara International Airport 8 mi, ~12m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 2h 39m 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

8h 14m

6h 32m on rail

Total Cost

$52

CO2

15 kg

Route

Maple Leaf

Door-to-Door Timeline

Neversink, NY → Rhinecliff Amtrak Station 52m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 392m

Arrival 10m

Buffalo → Buffalo, NY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $52) $52

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

Stations

From Rhinecliff Amtrak Station 35 mi, ~52m drive

To Buffalo 1 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

8h 38m

6h 30m on road

Total Cost

$21

CO2

11 kg

Route

Greyhound US0215

Door-to-Door Timeline

Neversink, NY → Scranton Bus Station (SCR6) 93m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 390m

Arrival 10m

Buffalo (BUF) → Buffalo, NY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $21) $21

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

Stations

From SCR6 — Scranton Bus Station 62 mi, ~93m drive

To BUF — Buffalo 0 mi, ~10m 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	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	6h 11m	3h 32m	8h 14m	8h 38m
Total cost (1 person)	$99	$184	$52	$21
Carbon footprint	117 kg CO₂	58 kg CO₂	15 kg CO₂	11 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

289 mi 6h 11m

via I 86; NY 17, NY 17, US 20A

Alternative (+5 min)

291.4 mi 6h 16m

via I 90, NY 17, I 81

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