Drive or Fly: Richmond Hill, NY to Ithaca, 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–ITH. At 236 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

4h 58m

Distance

236.4 mi

Total Cost

$88

CO2

96 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$53

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 42m

22m in the air

Air Distance

183 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

47 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Richmond Hill, NY → JFK 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 22m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ITH → Ithaca, NY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Ithaca, NY ITH — Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 2h 16m 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

7h 45m

5h 41m on rail

Total Cost

$39

CO2

11 kg

Route

Empire Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 30m

Train ride 341m

Arrival 10m

Syracuse Regional Transportation Center → Ithaca, NY 70m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $39) $39

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

Stations

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

To Syracuse Regional Transportation Center 47 mi, ~70m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/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 2 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	4h 58m	2h 42m	7h 45m
Total cost (1 person)	$88	$182	$39
Carbon footprint	96 kg CO₂	47 kg CO₂	11 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 13, 2026.

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