Drive or Fly: Vestal, NY to Gravesend, 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 BGM–JFK. At 193 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 13m

Distance

193.2 mi

Total Cost

$78

CO2

78 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$43

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

18m in the air

Air Distance

149 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

38 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Vestal, NY → BGM 14m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 18m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

JFK → Gravesend, NY 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Vestal, NY BGM — Greater Binghamton/Edwin A Link field 9 mi, ~14m drive

Gravesend, NY JFK — John F. Kennedy International Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BGM and JFK. 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

8h 22m

5h 43m on rail

Total Cost

$39

CO2

11 kg

Route

Empire Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Vestal, NY → Syracuse Regional Transportation Center 103m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 343m

Arrival 10m

Ny Moynihan Train Hall At Penn Station → Gravesend, NY 16m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $39) $39

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

Stations

From Syracuse Regional Transportation Center 69 mi, ~103m drive

To Ny Moynihan Train Hall At Penn Station 11 mi, ~16m 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 13m	2h 47m	8h 22m
Total cost (1 person)	$78	$126	$39
Carbon footprint	78 kg CO₂	38 kg CO₂	11 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

193.2 mi 4h 12m

via I 80, I 81, I 380

Alternative (+14 min)

204.1 mi 4h 27m

via I 86; NY 17, NJ 17, I 87

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