Drive or Fly: Queens, NY to Silver Creek, 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 JFK–BUF. At 410 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

8h 40m

Distance

410.6 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

166 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$91

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

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 39m

36m in the air

Air Distance

304 mi

Total Cost

$187

CO2

77 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Queens, NY → JFK 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 36m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BUF → Silver Creek, NY 53m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $132) $132

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Queens, NY JFK — John F. Kennedy International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

Silver Creek, NY BUF — Buffalo Niagara International Airport 35 mi, ~53m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between JFK and BUF. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 5h 1m 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

9h 52m

8h 17m on rail

Total Cost

$58

CO2

17 kg

Route

Maple Leaf

Door-to-Door Timeline

Queens, NY → Ny Moynihan Train Hall At Penn Station 14m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 497m

Arrival 10m

Buffalo → Silver Creek, NY 41m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $58) $58

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

Stations

From Ny Moynihan Train Hall At Penn Station 10 mi, ~14m drive

To Buffalo 27 mi, ~41m 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	8h 40m	3h 39m	9h 52m
Total cost (1 person)	$126	$187	$58
Carbon footprint	166 kg CO₂	77 kg CO₂	17 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

410.6 mi 8h 40m

via I 86; NY 17, I 80, I 81

Alternative (+11 min)

418.5 mi 8h 51m

via I 80, US 219, PA 255

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