Drive or Fly: Patterson, NY to Greece, 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–ROC. At 304 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 36m

Distance

304.3 mi

Total Cost

$102

CO2

123 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$67

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 18m

29m in the air

Air Distance

239 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

61 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Patterson, NY → SWF 39m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 29m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ROC → Greece, NY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Patterson, NY SWF — New York Stewart International Airport 26 mi, ~39m drive

Greece, NY ROC — Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 3h 18m 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

6h 51m

5h 28m on rail

Total Cost

$43

CO2

12 kg

Route

Maple Leaf

Door-to-Door Timeline

Patterson, NY → Poughkeepsie Amtrak Station 33m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 328m

Arrival 10m

Rochester → Greece, NY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $43) $43

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

Stations

From Poughkeepsie Amtrak Station 22 mi, ~33m drive

To Rochester 5 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	6h 36m	3h 18m	6h 51m
Total cost (1 person)	$102	$185	$43
Carbon footprint	123 kg CO₂	61 kg CO₂	12 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

304.3 mi 6h 35m

via NY 17, I 81, I 90

Alternative (+5 min)

325.5 mi 6h 40m

via I 90, I 87, Taconic State Parkway

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