Drive or Fly: Tonawanda, NY to Union, 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 IAG–SYR. At 165 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 34m

Distance

165.9 mi

Total Cost

$72

CO2

67 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$37

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 58m

18m in the air

Air Distance

152 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

39 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Tonawanda, NY → IAG 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 18m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SYR → Union, NY 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Tonawanda, NY IAG — Niagara Falls International Airport 7 mi, ~10m drive

Union, NY SYR — Syracuse Hancock International Airport 20 mi, ~30m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between IAG and SYR. 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

3h 44m

2h 19m on rail

Total Cost

$27

CO2

8 kg

Route

Maple Leaf

Door-to-Door Timeline

Tonawanda, NY → Buffalo 15m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 139m

Arrival 10m

Syracuse Regional Transportation Center → Union, NY 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $27) $27

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

Stations

From Buffalo 10 mi, ~15m drive

To Syracuse Regional Transportation Center 20 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 1m

2h 52m on road

Total Cost

$15

CO2

8 kg

Route

Greyhound US0215

Door-to-Door Timeline

Tonawanda, NY → Buffalo (BUF) 14m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 172m

Arrival 10m

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

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $15) $15

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

Stations

From BUF — Buffalo 9 mi, ~14m drive

To SYR — Syracuse Bus Station 20 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~21/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	3h 34m	2h 58m	3h 44m	4h 1m
Total cost (1 person)	$72	$126	$27	$15
Carbon footprint	67 kg CO₂	39 kg CO₂	8 kg CO₂	8 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

165.9 mi 3h 33m

via I 90, US 20, US 20; NY 5

Alternative (+2 min)

171.8 mi 3h 36m

via I 90, Oran Delphi Road, I 290

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