Drive or Fly: Paris, 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 SYR–BUF. At 197 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

Distance

197.4 mi

Total Cost

$79

CO2

80 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$44

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 35m

22m in the air

Air Distance

180 mi

Total Cost

$127

CO2

46 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Paris, NY → SYR 61m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 22m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BUF → Buffalo, NY 12m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Airports

Paris, NY SYR — Syracuse Hancock International Airport 41 mi, ~61m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SYR and BUF. 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

4h 45m

3h 42m on rail

Total Cost

$37

CO2

11 kg

Route

Maple Leaf

Door-to-Door Timeline

Paris, NY → Utica Amtrak Station 13m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 222m

Arrival 10m

Buffalo → Buffalo, NY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $37) $37

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

Stations

From Utica Amtrak Station 8 mi, ~13m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	4h	3h 35m	4h 45m
Total cost (1 person)	$79	$127	$37
Carbon footprint	80 kg CO₂	46 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 — 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

197.4 mi 4h 0m

via I 90, NY 33, NY 233

Alternative (+20 min)

198.8 mi 4h 20m

via I 90, US 20, US 20; NY 46

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