Flight
As the gateway to Upstate New York and beyond, Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) serves nearly 2.6 million passengers annually. Offering nonstop service to 29 destinations, SYR features a diverse offering of restaurants and retail shops, baby care/mother’s rooms and a pet relief room. SYR offers non-stop flights from the DC metro area and many other major cities and can support large aircraft, has more flight options per day, and numerous rental car options. This is still a smaller airport (2 terminals) so security does not take forever. However, you will need a rental car and it's a beautiful, scenic, 45-50 minute drive to downtown Ithaca from the airport. We highly recommend you stop at Dinosaur BBQ in Syracuse for a meal! It's AMAZING.
Flight
Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport (ITH) the closest airport to Cornell University, Ithaca College, and many Finger Lakes destinations. Located just minutes from downtown Ithaca, our airport ensures minimal travel time, making your journey quick and hassle-free. Skip the long lines and congested terminals, and enjoy a smoother travel experience. ITH does not have non-stop flights from the DC metro area (or from most anywhere). You will be on a small aircraft, however, it is easy to avoid a rental car due to it's proximity to town. There is not reliable public transit outside of Ithaca proper and Ubers can take time. If you'd like to explore the beautiful Finger Lakes and all it has to offer, we recommend still getting a rental car.
Travel Note
If you are driving from the DC Metro area, you can expect the drive to take 6-8hrs. We highly recommend you start your trip before or after DC rush hour to avoid DC and Baltimore chaos. Hershey, PA is a very short detour along your way and makes for a fun day trip to break up your travels!