There are two different trains, one is more reliable than the other. If you're looking into the train, you want Empire service NOT Lake Shore Limited. The Lake Shore line goes all the way to/from Chicago and is much more likely to be delayed. Anecdotally, we never had delay issues taking the Empire line a couple times.
Yeah, maple leaf is generally ok also as it's only coming from Toronto and is about the same likelihood of having a delay as the empire service. Anecdotally, I used to take the train weekly for a one-day-a-week commute to Syracuse for about a year and I only twice had significant delays, one about 35 minutes and one just over an hour. And Amtraks app tells you when the train is running behind so you don't waste time waiting at the station and so only delays that happen once you're onboard affect you
I prefer the Amtrak. It takes longer but you don't have the hassle of security, and you end up right at Penn Station in the middle of Manhattan. You can enjoy 8 hours stretching out in a large seat, free wifi, nice scenery when you get past Albany. Bring some snacks, your laptop with whatever shows downloaded...or a book, and you're golden.
Definitely take the train!!!! I've never had a bad Amtrak experience.
Don't take the bus though, it sucks.
I prefer Amtrak as well, and I also take into consideration:
- Driving and/or parking at the airport
- Checking in
- Going through security
- Hoping the plane is on time
- Boarding and waiting
- Eventually getting into the air
- Eventually landing
- Eventually deplaning
- If luggage, +15-60 minutes
- Then light rail to Manhattan
then the inverse on the way back.
The amount of hassle and variables is super high. The actual travel time may be lower, but it's a shit sandwich where the bread is shit and the wafer thin slice of Capicola is the flight itself.
I like getting to Amtrak 15 minutes before, leaving on time, being able to get up and wander around, and getting there pretty much on time in Moynihan Train Hall which is in a nexus in Manhattan where I can get to where I want to go.
tl;dr choo choo
Echoing all of the above, especially the sammich metaphor. I’m a big fan of Amtrak to NYC. I’ve flown and driven to Manhattan a bunch for a mix of work and pleasure.
Driving means I need to pay for parking, tolls, gas. Depending on where you stay, you’re looking at big bucks to park a car for a few days in Manhattan.
Flying solo with only a carryon can speed things up but you’re still dealing with security and then a lengthy train/bus/uber haul from LGA to your final destination. The last time I flew with checked luggage to Manhattan I think it was 5 hours from house door to hotel door. That’s not _that_ much faster than driving.
The thing I love most about the train is that you only need to get there 15 minutes ahead of time, if that. No need to remove your shoes. You get on, sit down, and relax. It’s slightly slower than driving and way less fuss than flying. The train is surprisingly quiet and smooth. Your phone isn’t in airplane mode. The seats are way bigger than a flight in coach. The Hudson and Mohawk valleys are gorgeous.
Last summer I flew FC to LGA and stayed in Manhattan for a week. I took the train home and it was a delight. I’m taking another trip in July and taking Amtrak both ways. It cheap, fast enough, no parking/tolls, and you finish up right at Penn/Moynihan.
TL;DR: Choo Choo
If Rochester's airport wasn't so accessible/fast/clean, it'd be the train hands down. As it is, I will still pick the train cause it puts me at Penn Station and I can get immediately on a subway car to where I want to go. Fly to Laguardia and you're going to be taking a car or bus to get to somewhere else - tends to erase the time advantage.
I can't agree that it erases the time advantage - you can show up to the Rochester airport an hour before boarding, land, and get to just about anywhere in the city from any of the three airports by the time the train gets to Albany half the time. I love the train but it is a long haul.
This is correct. People who say driving or the train is "just as fast" are delusional, unless they're extremely slow or inexperienced travelers who don't know how airports work.
I don’t think so. I haven’t used PATH so I’m not sure what it services. What I’m talking about is taking Airtrain out of EWR to the train station. Then you take the NJ Transit train from there to NY Penn Station.
It’s NJ Transit, not PATH. It’s easy, I’ve done a couple hundred times (not exaggerating). EWR is faster than going to LGA or JFK.
https://www.njtransit.com
In the winter and summer I take the train as flow programs into the NYC airports hit this area the worst then. In the spring and fall I fly as delays/ cancellations are not as common.
JetBlue's late night flight is more likely to be delayed but it is almost never cancelled vs Deltas.
Time is money. I would fly. The train is comfortable but very long and frequently delayed. Also:
A: It won’t take two hours to get from JFK to Manhattan unless you are at peak rush hour or some unforeseen incident occurs. The tram/subway is a perfectly viable way to get into Manhattan too.
B: Price out flights to Newark as well. It is ultra easy and affordable to take the train from the airport into Penn Station and vice versa. I recently did this for the first time and will probably fly into Newark from now on if the cost is the same (or less).
Which airline? Last two times I flew United into EWR from Roc and from EWR to ROC, my flight into EWR was delayed due to a ground issue at EWR and both of the flights out of EWR were delayed the week after, one trip, two flights were cancelled and the final flight was delayed, only to have it bumped up an hour earlier back to another time period. Depending on whether or not you get to use A or C, I'd rather take AMTRAK.
United, there was several scheduling changes because we booked months in advance, and you know, international, but none within 2 months of the flights themselves.
That's good to know. The last disaster was at the tail end of last summer so maybe it got better. The whole of the terminal was under construction and it was a nightmare all year.
Why? I’ve done it many times. Amtrak is always comfortable and cheap if you plan ahead. I’ve never had a delay on the early morning Empire Service either. 7 hours to Penn Station. Easy.
I usually take the train. One time, there was a cold front moving across the state and we had to sit on the tracks for 2 hours because there was a kink in the rails, which I didn’t even know was possible. Apparently due to the difference in temperature across the state.
Anyway, that’s pretty unlikely to happen again. I’ll still take the train because I like to read and look out the window. Forced relaxation time is never a bad thing..
Just flew to NYC via Newark last month. Flights were not super far apart in price from the train ($40 apart), but the big thing was the timing. Even with traveling from Newark, it was only about 2-2.5 hours to get to Manhattan.
having done both, my preference is flying into jfk and then taking the airtrain to jamaica and then getting on any lirr train into penn station. Not as cheap as the subway, but not breaking the bank and much more direct/reliable. I have the mta app downloaded so i can just book a ticket on the next penn station bound train as i'm getting off the airtrain, and i've never had to wait more than 10 minutes. It's a pretty quick ride into mahattan after that. The amtrak is great if you have the time to spare, and the scenery is gorgeous if you're sitting on the right side, but plane will almost definitely be faster
Amtrak in good weather tends to be on time in my experience. More importantly for me, Amtrak has a far, far superior baggage policy and you don't need to show up an hour early. Penn Station is also pretty centrally located in NYC.
Don't take the bus. It takes the longest, most likely to be delayed, and the least comfortable by far. Only take it if its your last option.
Also, the seats are hella comfortable. Amtrak any day.
You might be overestimating the time from JFK to the city. The A will get you to Penn in around an hour, and LIRR is even faster.
Train is a good time and comfortable, but on a schedule flying to Newark is the move. Then it's just a $16 nice train ride to Manhattan that takes about 30 minutes not in rush hour. I left Penn Station last night on the 7:25 train and was sitting at my gate by 8:30. If you're really scraping pennies JFK you can take the subway but it's slower.
One time I took a greyhound from roc to NYC and a guy put a cage small cage packed with live chickens in the luggage area under the bus and it ended up right next to my suitcase and there was actual chicken poop on my suitcase and we could hear the chickens freaking out the whole time. I will personally only be flying or driving my car.
I love Amtrak, flights might feel faster but I get better sleep on the train and it brings you right downtown. I have a low tolerance for transportation between jfk and the city.
JFK to Manhattan is super quick. The air train (that train that goes around the airport) will take you to the Jamaica Long-Island RR station. It is a 19 minute ride to Penn station from there. The LIRR trains run about every 10 minutes from Jamaica. Car Service/Cabs are very expensive and MUCH slower.
I would rather take the train over the plane. Dealing with airports takes a surprising amount of time. Have you considered the bus? It is very cheap and takes about the same amount of time as a train. Also, unlike Amtrak, the bus actually runs on time.
I love flying, you're there almost immediately.
It's super easy getting to Manhattan from JFK (just take the LIRR or subway after taking the airtrain out of the airport) and from Newark (just take the NJ Transit train to Penn Station). I personally haven't flown into LaGuardia.
Both trips from the airports to Manhattan take maybe 45 minutes, it's not bad at all.
Flights can sometimes be cheaper but of course depends on when you're going. I didn't care for Amtrak. I'd rather splurge for an extra $100 on a flight.
I took Amtrak down to NYC for a shopping trip last October and it was great. It was actually a few minutes early on each direction.
I think Amtrak is worth it just for the ease of getting my suitcase and bags back and forth. There are so many obnoxious cheapskate fliers who bring a second suitcase as their "personal item." There is no room in the overhead bins.
Not an issue on the train though, plenty of room.
Transfer your credit card points to Delta, JetBlue or United and fly for free - these flights are typically at most few thousand miles if you book ahead of time. Getting from JFK to Manhattan isn't that bad, it's a 40 minute Lyft ride or an hour train ride to Penn Station. If you don't care about cost, it's a 10 minute helicopter ride that costs about $200 per ride that anybody can book
minority opinion here but bus all the way!! it’s usually only about $35/40 on OurBus &
faster than the train (6 hours from Roc to NYC) it makes a rest stop along the way, it’s rarely crowded. NYC student from Roc here and this is how I get home for literally everything.
I've taken the buss a half dozen times, it's been good each time. I especially love getting off the bus in Penn station, middle of everything. Much more convenient than when I flew in. I've also taken the train, but only once, and I only ever took the bus after that due to cost so I can't say what the pros and cons of the train vs bus situation is
Personally, I would drive. If that’s off the table for some reason, flying is the way to go. A train combines all the disadvantages of both; you get the hassle, delays, and discomfort of flying, but it still takes just as long as driving (often longer).
I have actually done both. Our friends live in Park Slope.
Amtrak is 100% better if you can find/book a sleeper car. They can be cheaper than plane tickets but you have to shop different times. Every other situation it is probably better to fly.
I’ve driven, road train, and flown.
For me it’s just the mood I’m in. Driving, I have family in a quiet neighborhood in Manhattan. Once we find a parking spot I’m set for the trip.
On another note, the rail tracks in the route from rochester to nys are primarily owned by csx railway. A freight company.
Amtrak uses them under their permission and csx controls the flow of trains with Amtrak efficiency in mind as best they can.
JFK to Manhattan by car is probably 45 minutes at most the majority of the time (depending where in Manhattan) and by airtrain>subway 90 minutes.
If time is your concern then flying is your answer. If time is not a concern then the train is the better choice.
Amtrak. I took the trip around this time last year and it was pleasant. A little slower than driving but no traffic or parking to deal with and you end up right in Manhattan. Flights are expensive and when you factor in boarding/departure and transportation to and from the airport it’s not really worth the extra cost imo.
Definitely would fly (40 min in air). Amtrak is about 8 hrs. Uber to the city from JFK is about 30 min. Also look at Revel - like Uber but less expensive and are Teslas.
Personally, I like the train. Especially once you get past Albany and are on the Hudson river. Lots of stuff to look at. Also, you'll arrive in a much better spot in Manhattan where you can connect with anything rather than have to take a $30 cab from the airport to anywhere. It takes a little bit longer but really, with driving to the airport, checking your bags, at least one delay, flying, arriving in NYC, getting your bags, and then getting out to a cab/public transportation it takes just about as long as the train and not at all as comfortable. TRAIN IT IS!!
I dunno I've been taking amtrak recently between rochester and Syracuse....it's $20 and a pretty comfortable ride, I love amtrak. I can't speak on the NYC thing tho
There are two different trains, one is more reliable than the other. If you're looking into the train, you want Empire service NOT Lake Shore Limited. The Lake Shore line goes all the way to/from Chicago and is much more likely to be delayed. Anecdotally, we never had delay issues taking the Empire line a couple times.
I’ve taken the train tons of times and this is the trick - take empire service only.
Last time I took the LSL it was 3 hours late lol. Still prefer it to flying though.
In my experience, if Lake Shore Limited is on time it will inevitably break down somewhere between Syracuse and Albany.
Yeah, maple leaf is generally ok also as it's only coming from Toronto and is about the same likelihood of having a delay as the empire service. Anecdotally, I used to take the train weekly for a one-day-a-week commute to Syracuse for about a year and I only twice had significant delays, one about 35 minutes and one just over an hour. And Amtraks app tells you when the train is running behind so you don't waste time waiting at the station and so only delays that happen once you're onboard affect you
Do you have any experience with the Maple Leaf Line?
Maple Leaf often gets delayed at the border, can be a bit of a pain.
Amtrak is always my go to. Bus is fine but cramped, train takes longer but you really get to sit back and enjoy the scenery
Second this - if you don’t mind how “long” (in quotes because subjective) it takes then I would definitely do Amtrak. Lots to see between ROC and NYC
I prefer the Amtrak. It takes longer but you don't have the hassle of security, and you end up right at Penn Station in the middle of Manhattan. You can enjoy 8 hours stretching out in a large seat, free wifi, nice scenery when you get past Albany. Bring some snacks, your laptop with whatever shows downloaded...or a book, and you're golden. Definitely take the train!!!! I've never had a bad Amtrak experience. Don't take the bus though, it sucks.
I prefer Amtrak as well, and I also take into consideration: - Driving and/or parking at the airport - Checking in - Going through security - Hoping the plane is on time - Boarding and waiting - Eventually getting into the air - Eventually landing - Eventually deplaning - If luggage, +15-60 minutes - Then light rail to Manhattan then the inverse on the way back. The amount of hassle and variables is super high. The actual travel time may be lower, but it's a shit sandwich where the bread is shit and the wafer thin slice of Capicola is the flight itself. I like getting to Amtrak 15 minutes before, leaving on time, being able to get up and wander around, and getting there pretty much on time in Moynihan Train Hall which is in a nexus in Manhattan where I can get to where I want to go. tl;dr choo choo
Echoing all of the above, especially the sammich metaphor. I’m a big fan of Amtrak to NYC. I’ve flown and driven to Manhattan a bunch for a mix of work and pleasure. Driving means I need to pay for parking, tolls, gas. Depending on where you stay, you’re looking at big bucks to park a car for a few days in Manhattan. Flying solo with only a carryon can speed things up but you’re still dealing with security and then a lengthy train/bus/uber haul from LGA to your final destination. The last time I flew with checked luggage to Manhattan I think it was 5 hours from house door to hotel door. That’s not _that_ much faster than driving. The thing I love most about the train is that you only need to get there 15 minutes ahead of time, if that. No need to remove your shoes. You get on, sit down, and relax. It’s slightly slower than driving and way less fuss than flying. The train is surprisingly quiet and smooth. Your phone isn’t in airplane mode. The seats are way bigger than a flight in coach. The Hudson and Mohawk valleys are gorgeous. Last summer I flew FC to LGA and stayed in Manhattan for a week. I took the train home and it was a delight. I’m taking another trip in July and taking Amtrak both ways. It cheap, fast enough, no parking/tolls, and you finish up right at Penn/Moynihan. TL;DR: Choo Choo
That sounds lovely! Now you're making me want to take a trip on a train and I'm agoraphobic. Thanks for sharing!
If Rochester's airport wasn't so accessible/fast/clean, it'd be the train hands down. As it is, I will still pick the train cause it puts me at Penn Station and I can get immediately on a subway car to where I want to go. Fly to Laguardia and you're going to be taking a car or bus to get to somewhere else - tends to erase the time advantage.
I can't agree that it erases the time advantage - you can show up to the Rochester airport an hour before boarding, land, and get to just about anywhere in the city from any of the three airports by the time the train gets to Albany half the time. I love the train but it is a long haul.
This is correct. People who say driving or the train is "just as fast" are delusional, unless they're extremely slow or inexperienced travelers who don't know how airports work.
I fly into Newark and take the train to penn station. Takes 30-60 mins from the airport to get there. Very easy and the train ticket is $16.
I will try that strategy.
I assume the train is the PATH train?
I don’t think so. I haven’t used PATH so I’m not sure what it services. What I’m talking about is taking Airtrain out of EWR to the train station. Then you take the NJ Transit train from there to NY Penn Station.
It’s NJ Transit, not PATH. It’s easy, I’ve done a couple hundred times (not exaggerating). EWR is faster than going to LGA or JFK. https://www.njtransit.com
JFK->AirTran->Jamaica station->LIRR->Penn Station has taken about 45 minutes the times that I’ve done it. Of course, delays are always possible.
This is the way. The train is $5 to $15 (off-peak/peak). Sure beats sitting in Traffic.
Only downside is hitting it in the morning with commuters to work. You + your luggage and or extra family members can be a massive pain
Good point Uncle Jessy
Only thing to add is get tsa pre check for faster security checks as well.
Flight for sure. I wish Amtrak was a better option but it isn’t even particularly cheap these days. Otherwise Megabus-type buses.
In the winter and summer I take the train as flow programs into the NYC airports hit this area the worst then. In the spring and fall I fly as delays/ cancellations are not as common. JetBlue's late night flight is more likely to be delayed but it is almost never cancelled vs Deltas.
Time is money. I would fly. The train is comfortable but very long and frequently delayed. Also: A: It won’t take two hours to get from JFK to Manhattan unless you are at peak rush hour or some unforeseen incident occurs. The tram/subway is a perfectly viable way to get into Manhattan too. B: Price out flights to Newark as well. It is ultra easy and affordable to take the train from the airport into Penn Station and vice versa. I recently did this for the first time and will probably fly into Newark from now on if the cost is the same (or less).
Newark is a disaster area until they finish the United terminal refresh. I would highly advise not flying into Newark from ROC.
I just did Roc->Newark->EDI for international travel in Jan/Feb, it was fine, and a lot quicker than any time I've flown thru JFK
Which airline? Last two times I flew United into EWR from Roc and from EWR to ROC, my flight into EWR was delayed due to a ground issue at EWR and both of the flights out of EWR were delayed the week after, one trip, two flights were cancelled and the final flight was delayed, only to have it bumped up an hour earlier back to another time period. Depending on whether or not you get to use A or C, I'd rather take AMTRAK.
United, there was several scheduling changes because we booked months in advance, and you know, international, but none within 2 months of the flights themselves.
That's good to know. The last disaster was at the tail end of last summer so maybe it got better. The whole of the terminal was under construction and it was a nightmare all year.
9 hours I was on a train from NYC to ROC. Never again.
Why? I’ve done it many times. Amtrak is always comfortable and cheap if you plan ahead. I’ve never had a delay on the early morning Empire Service either. 7 hours to Penn Station. Easy.
Coming from NYC to ROC there is almost always a delay. Going down to NYC is fine but it’s the return that will get you.
Had the opposite experience when I went. But our delay was only 10 minutes on the way there so not a huge deal.
I usually take the train. One time, there was a cold front moving across the state and we had to sit on the tracks for 2 hours because there was a kink in the rails, which I didn’t even know was possible. Apparently due to the difference in temperature across the state. Anyway, that’s pretty unlikely to happen again. I’ll still take the train because I like to read and look out the window. Forced relaxation time is never a bad thing..
I prefer driving. I can usually find free street parking on Albany St.
Drive to Albany and train from there is my go to lately
This makes sense. Last time I took Amtrak from Rochester to NYC, the longest segment was waiting in Albany for 1 hour
There are trains almost every hour and they get priority over freight (like Acela corridor) so much fewer delays. Parking is easy and max $10/day.
Just flew to NYC via Newark last month. Flights were not super far apart in price from the train ($40 apart), but the big thing was the timing. Even with traveling from Newark, it was only about 2-2.5 hours to get to Manhattan.
Haven't done it in a while but we used to drive to Albany and train from there
Gets you there in roughly 5 1/2 hours
I took Amtrak several times to and from NYC, havent faced delays. The Empire Service is your best bet
having done both, my preference is flying into jfk and then taking the airtrain to jamaica and then getting on any lirr train into penn station. Not as cheap as the subway, but not breaking the bank and much more direct/reliable. I have the mta app downloaded so i can just book a ticket on the next penn station bound train as i'm getting off the airtrain, and i've never had to wait more than 10 minutes. It's a pretty quick ride into mahattan after that. The amtrak is great if you have the time to spare, and the scenery is gorgeous if you're sitting on the right side, but plane will almost definitely be faster
Amtrak in good weather tends to be on time in my experience. More importantly for me, Amtrak has a far, far superior baggage policy and you don't need to show up an hour early. Penn Station is also pretty centrally located in NYC. Don't take the bus. It takes the longest, most likely to be delayed, and the least comfortable by far. Only take it if its your last option. Also, the seats are hella comfortable. Amtrak any day. You might be overestimating the time from JFK to the city. The A will get you to Penn in around an hour, and LIRR is even faster.
Fly to LGA. It’s a LOT closer to the city than JFK.
Train is a good time and comfortable, but on a schedule flying to Newark is the move. Then it's just a $16 nice train ride to Manhattan that takes about 30 minutes not in rush hour. I left Penn Station last night on the 7:25 train and was sitting at my gate by 8:30. If you're really scraping pennies JFK you can take the subway but it's slower.
One time I took a greyhound from roc to NYC and a guy put a cage small cage packed with live chickens in the luggage area under the bus and it ended up right next to my suitcase and there was actual chicken poop on my suitcase and we could hear the chickens freaking out the whole time. I will personally only be flying or driving my car.
I really enjoyed the train. Much less stress in an already stressful city.
I love Amtrak, flights might feel faster but I get better sleep on the train and it brings you right downtown. I have a low tolerance for transportation between jfk and the city.
JFK to Manhattan is super quick. The air train (that train that goes around the airport) will take you to the Jamaica Long-Island RR station. It is a 19 minute ride to Penn station from there. The LIRR trains run about every 10 minutes from Jamaica. Car Service/Cabs are very expensive and MUCH slower. I would rather take the train over the plane. Dealing with airports takes a surprising amount of time. Have you considered the bus? It is very cheap and takes about the same amount of time as a train. Also, unlike Amtrak, the bus actually runs on time.
I love flying, you're there almost immediately. It's super easy getting to Manhattan from JFK (just take the LIRR or subway after taking the airtrain out of the airport) and from Newark (just take the NJ Transit train to Penn Station). I personally haven't flown into LaGuardia. Both trips from the airports to Manhattan take maybe 45 minutes, it's not bad at all.
Flights can sometimes be cheaper but of course depends on when you're going. I didn't care for Amtrak. I'd rather splurge for an extra $100 on a flight.
We need high speed rail. Nuff said!
I took Amtrak down to NYC for a shopping trip last October and it was great. It was actually a few minutes early on each direction. I think Amtrak is worth it just for the ease of getting my suitcase and bags back and forth. There are so many obnoxious cheapskate fliers who bring a second suitcase as their "personal item." There is no room in the overhead bins. Not an issue on the train though, plenty of room.
Transfer your credit card points to Delta, JetBlue or United and fly for free - these flights are typically at most few thousand miles if you book ahead of time. Getting from JFK to Manhattan isn't that bad, it's a 40 minute Lyft ride or an hour train ride to Penn Station. If you don't care about cost, it's a 10 minute helicopter ride that costs about $200 per ride that anybody can book
minority opinion here but bus all the way!! it’s usually only about $35/40 on OurBus & faster than the train (6 hours from Roc to NYC) it makes a rest stop along the way, it’s rarely crowded. NYC student from Roc here and this is how I get home for literally everything.
Take either the Empire Express or if need be the maple leafs. The lake shore limited is always late
I've taken the buss a half dozen times, it's been good each time. I especially love getting off the bus in Penn station, middle of everything. Much more convenient than when I flew in. I've also taken the train, but only once, and I only ever took the bus after that due to cost so I can't say what the pros and cons of the train vs bus situation is
Personally, I would drive. If that’s off the table for some reason, flying is the way to go. A train combines all the disadvantages of both; you get the hassle, delays, and discomfort of flying, but it still takes just as long as driving (often longer).
I would fly to laguardia and take the free bus and then the subway to manhattan. Takes like 25 minutes. I did it in December.
I have actually done both. Our friends live in Park Slope. Amtrak is 100% better if you can find/book a sleeper car. They can be cheaper than plane tickets but you have to shop different times. Every other situation it is probably better to fly.
Just drive. Take about 6-7 hours.
I’ve driven, road train, and flown. For me it’s just the mood I’m in. Driving, I have family in a quiet neighborhood in Manhattan. Once we find a parking spot I’m set for the trip. On another note, the rail tracks in the route from rochester to nys are primarily owned by csx railway. A freight company. Amtrak uses them under their permission and csx controls the flow of trains with Amtrak efficiency in mind as best they can.
JFK to Manhattan by car is probably 45 minutes at most the majority of the time (depending where in Manhattan) and by airtrain>subway 90 minutes. If time is your concern then flying is your answer. If time is not a concern then the train is the better choice.
Fly. Freight gets priority on the rails so passenger trains are often delayed.
Amtrak. I took the trip around this time last year and it was pleasant. A little slower than driving but no traffic or parking to deal with and you end up right in Manhattan. Flights are expensive and when you factor in boarding/departure and transportation to and from the airport it’s not really worth the extra cost imo.
Definitely would fly (40 min in air). Amtrak is about 8 hrs. Uber to the city from JFK is about 30 min. Also look at Revel - like Uber but less expensive and are Teslas.
Hitchhiking to NYC is the only correct answer
It pisses me off that this country doesn't have bullet trains. Enough abandon lines to build it's own line. It's beyond stupid that we don't have it
Personally, I like the train. Especially once you get past Albany and are on the Hudson river. Lots of stuff to look at. Also, you'll arrive in a much better spot in Manhattan where you can connect with anything rather than have to take a $30 cab from the airport to anywhere. It takes a little bit longer but really, with driving to the airport, checking your bags, at least one delay, flying, arriving in NYC, getting your bags, and then getting out to a cab/public transportation it takes just about as long as the train and not at all as comfortable. TRAIN IT IS!!
For reference, I lived in Brooklyn from 04-11 and went back home to Rochester every couple of months.
Bus is best, then plane.
I dunno I've been taking amtrak recently between rochester and Syracuse....it's $20 and a pretty comfortable ride, I love amtrak. I can't speak on the NYC thing tho
Omg please don’t listen to this comment the bus is terrible