Drive or Fly: New York City, NY to Portland, 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–ERI. At 397 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

8h 33m

Distance

397.5 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

161 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$88

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 51m

37m in the air

Air Distance

305 mi

Total Cost

$187

CO2

78 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

New York City, NY → LGA 12m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 37m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ERI → Portland, NY 62m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $132) $132

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

New York City, NY LGA — LaGuardia Airport 8 mi, ~12m drive

Portland, NY ERI — Erie International Tom Ridge Field 42 mi, ~62m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 4h 42m 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

12h 14m

10h 30m on rail

Total Cost

$66

CO2

19 kg

Route

Lake Shore Limited

Door-to-Door Timeline

New York City, NY → Ny Moynihan Train Hall At Penn Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 630m

Arrival 10m

Erie Amtrak Station → Portland, NY 54m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $66) $66

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

Stations

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

To Erie Amtrak Station 36 mi, ~54m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~1/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ Scenic views along the route

+ 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	8h 33m	3h 51m	12h 14m
Total cost (1 person)	$123	$187	$66
Carbon footprint	161 kg CO₂	78 kg CO₂	19 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 13, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from New York City, NY to Portland, NY with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.