Drive or Fly: Smithtown, NY to Big Flats, 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 ISP–ELM. At 291 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 1m

Distance

291.8 mi

Total Cost

$99

CO2

118 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$64

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 46m

26m in the air

Air Distance

213 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

54 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Smithtown, NY → ISP 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 26m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ELM → Big Flats, NY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Smithtown, NY ISP — Long Island MacArthur Airport 7 mi, ~10m drive

Big Flats, NY ELM — Elmira Corning Regional Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 3h 15m 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	6h 1m	2h 46m
Total cost (1 person)	$99	$184
Carbon footprint	118 kg CO₂	54 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 17, 2026.

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