Drive or Fly: Richmond Hill, NY to Brunswick, 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–ALB. At 168 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

3h 36m

Distance

168 mi

Total Cost

$72

CO2

68 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$37

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 45m

17m in the air

Air Distance

141 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

36 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Richmond Hill, NY → JFK 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 17m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ALB → Brunswick, NY 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Richmond Hill, NY JFK — John F. Kennedy International Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

Brunswick, NY ALB — Albany International Airport 12 mi, ~18m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between JFK 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

3h 42m

2h 31m on rail

Total Cost

$26

CO2

8 kg

Route

Empire Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 30m

Train ride 151m

Arrival 10m

Albany-Rensselaer Amtrak Station → Brunswick, NY 17m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $26) $26

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

Stations

From Ny Moynihan Train Hall At Penn Station 9 mi, ~14m drive

To Albany-Rensselaer Amtrak Station 11 mi, ~17m 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	3h 36m	2h 45m	3h 42m
Total cost (1 person)	$72	$126	$26
Carbon footprint	68 kg CO₂	36 kg CO₂	8 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 12, 2026.

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