Drive or Fly: Syracuse, NY to Aurora, 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 45 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:
Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

1h 8m

Distance

45.8 mi

Total Cost

$45

CO2

19 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$10
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 47m

4m in the air

Air Distance

35 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

9 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Syracuse, NY → SYR 10m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 4m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
ITH → Aurora, NY 33m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Syracuse, NY SYR — Syracuse Hancock International Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive
Aurora, NY ITH — Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport 22 mi, ~33m 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 20m

1h 9m on road

Total Cost

$5

CO2

3 kg

Route

FlixBus 2691

Door-to-Door Timeline

Syracuse, NY → Syracuse Bus Station (SYR) 10m
Boarding 15m
Bus ride 69m
Arrival 10m
Ithaca (6IT) → Aurora, NY 36m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $5) $5

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

Stations

From SYR — Syracuse Bus Station 2 mi, ~10m drive
To 6IT — Ithaca 24 mi, ~36m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/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
Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week
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 8m 2h 47m 2h 20m
Total cost (1 person) $45 $121 $5
Carbon footprint 19 kg CO2 9 kg CO2 3 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 12, 2026.

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