Drive or Fly: Potsdam, NY to Brookhaven, 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 MSS–ISP. At 398 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

8h 43m

Distance

398.2 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 19m

35m in the air

Air Distance

289 mi

Total Cost

$187

CO2

74 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Potsdam, NY → MSS 29m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 35m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ISP → Brookhaven, NY 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $132) $132

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Potsdam, NY MSS — Massena International Airport Richards Field 20 mi, ~29m drive

Brookhaven, NY ISP — Long Island MacArthur Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MSS and ISP. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 5h 24m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	8h 43m	3h 19m
Total cost (1 person)	$123	$187
Carbon footprint	161 kg CO₂	74 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

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 15, 2026.

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