Drive or Fly: Sterling, NY to Elmwood, 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 SYR–ITH. At 39 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 3m

Distance

39.9 mi

Total Cost

$44

CO2

16 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$9

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

3h 25m

4m in the air

Air Distance

35 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

9 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Sterling, NY → SYR 46m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 4m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ITH → Elmwood, NY 35m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Sterling, NY SYR — Syracuse Hancock International Airport 31 mi, ~46m drive

Elmwood, NY ITH — Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport 23 mi, ~35m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SYR and ITH. 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

2h 22m

38m on road

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Greyhound US0215

Door-to-Door Timeline

Sterling, NY → Syracuse Bus Station (SYR) 44m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 38m

Arrival 10m

Cortland (City Office Building) (CRT6) → Elmwood, NY 35m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $4) $4

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

Stations

From SYR — Syracuse Bus Station 29 mi, ~44m drive

To CRT6 — Cortland (City Office Building) 24 mi, ~35m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~14/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	1h 3m	3h 25m	2h 22m
Total cost (1 person)	$44	$121	$4
Carbon footprint	16 kg CO₂	9 kg CO₂	2 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: FlixBus 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

39.9 mi 1h 2m

via NY 34, NY 38

Shortest (+1 min)

37.3 mi 1h 4m

via NY 38

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