Drive or Fly: Newburgh, NY to Syracuse, 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–SYR. At 204 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 17m

Distance

204.3 mi

Total Cost

$80

CO2

83 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$45

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 38m

18m in the air

Air Distance

153 mi

Total Cost

$181

CO2

39 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Newburgh, NY → SWF 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 18m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SYR → Syracuse, NY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Newburgh, NY SWF — New York Stewart International Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

Syracuse, NY SYR — Syracuse Hancock International Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SWF and SYR. 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

5h 24m

4h 12m on rail

Total Cost

$30

CO2

9 kg

Route

Maple Leaf

Door-to-Door Timeline

Newburgh, NY → Poughkeepsie Amtrak Station 22m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 252m

Arrival 10m

Syracuse Regional Transportation Center → Syracuse, NY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $30) $30

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

Stations

From Poughkeepsie Amtrak Station 15 mi, ~22m drive

To Syracuse Regional Transportation Center 2 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	4h 17m	2h 38m	5h 24m
Total cost (1 person)	$80	$181	$30
Carbon footprint	83 kg CO₂	39 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 — 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

204.3 mi 4h 17m

via NY 17, I 81, NY 17K

Alternative (+15 min)

230.1 mi 4h 32m

via I 90, I 87, I 690

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