Drive or Fly: Sullivan, NY to Amherst, 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–BUF. At 169 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

2h 38m

Distance

169.4 mi

Total Cost

$73

CO2

68 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$38

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 49m

18m in the air

Air Distance

149 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

38 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Sullivan, NY → SYR 21m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 18m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BUF → Amherst, NY 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Sullivan, NY SYR — Syracuse Hancock International Airport 14 mi, ~21m drive

Amherst, NY BUF — Buffalo Niagara International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SYR and BUF. 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

4h 7m

2h 27m on rail

Total Cost

$26

CO2

10 kg

Route

Empire Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Sullivan, NY → Syracuse Regional Transportation Center 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 147m

Arrival 10m

Buffalo Depew Station → Amherst, NY 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $26) $26

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

Stations

From Syracuse Regional Transportation Center 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Buffalo Depew Station 0 mi, ~30m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

4h 10m

2h 45m on road

Total Cost

$14

CO2

10 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Sullivan, NY → Syracuse Bus Station (SYR) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 165m

Arrival 10m

Buffalo Niagara International Airport (6BN) → Amherst, NY 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $14) $14

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

Stations

From SYR — Syracuse Bus Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To 6BN — Buffalo Niagara International Airport 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~15/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	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	2h 38m	2h 49m	4h 7m	4h 10m
Total cost (1 person)	$73	$126	$26	$14
Carbon footprint	68 kg CO₂	38 kg CO₂	10 kg CO₂	10 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, 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 13, 2026.

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