Drive or Fly: Putnam Valley, NY to Albany, 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–ALB. At 115 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 26m

Distance

115.5 mi

Total Cost

$61

CO2

47 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$26

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 47m

11m in the air

Air Distance

91 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

23 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Putnam Valley, NY → SWF 25m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 11m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ALB → Albany, NY 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Putnam Valley, NY SWF — New York Stewart International Airport 17 mi, ~25m drive

Albany, NY ALB — Albany International Airport 7 mi, ~11m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SWF and ALB. 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

2h 53m

1h 48m on rail

Total Cost

$20

CO2

6 kg

Route

Empire Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Putnam Valley, NY → Croton-Harmon Amtrak Station 15m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 108m

Arrival 10m

Albany-Rensselaer Amtrak Station → Albany, NY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $20) $20

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

Stations

From Croton-Harmon Amtrak Station 10 mi, ~15m drive

To Albany-Rensselaer Amtrak Station 1 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~12/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 12 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	2h 26m	2h 47m	2h 53m
Total cost (1 person)	$61	$124	$20
Carbon footprint	47 kg CO₂	23 kg CO₂	6 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

115.5 mi 2h 26m

via I 87, US 9, I 84

Shortest (+4 min)

106.1 mi 2h 30m

via Taconic State Parkway, I 87, Peekskill Hollow Road

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