Drive or Fly: Syracuse, NY to Beacon, 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–SWF. At 207 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 20m

Distance

207.4 mi

Total Cost

$81

CO2

84 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$46

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 39m

18m in the air

Air Distance

154 mi

Total Cost

$181

CO2

39 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Syracuse, NY → SYR 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 18m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SWF → Beacon, NY 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Syracuse, NY SYR — Syracuse Hancock International Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

Beacon, NY SWF — New York Stewart International Airport 7 mi, ~11m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SYR and SWF. 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

5h 48m

4h 8m on rail

Total Cost

$30

CO2

12 kg

Route

Empire Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Syracuse, NY → Syracuse Regional Transportation Center 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 248m

Arrival 10m

Poughkeepsie Amtrak Station → Beacon, NY 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $30) $30

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

Stations

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

To Poughkeepsie Amtrak 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	4h 20m	2h 39m	5h 48m
Total cost (1 person)	$81	$181	$30
Carbon footprint	84 kg CO₂	39 kg CO₂	12 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 16, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

207.4 mi 4h 20m

via I 86; NY 17, I 81, NY 17K

Alternative (+15 min)

232.1 mi 4h 35m

via I 90, New York State Thruway, I 84

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