Liverpool is very close to the SYR airport, so if your “task” is quick enough, I would try to do a same day flight up and back. You don’t say in your posts whether you would do an overnight. If you’re planning a one day drive and back, I would guess some of the drive will end up being in the dark.

There is a major reconstruction project going on in Syracuse with the eventual result of converting I81 to a ground level thoroughfare and rerouting I81to the current I481 bypass. There have been some overnight shutdowns for steel placement on new overpasses, but for the most part the roads have been ok. Coming up I81 just south of Syracuse there has been a split where the left lane takes you up I81 and the right lane is for 481. I don’t think it’s marked really well, so you end up with people switching lanes very late. I haven’t driven through there in a couple weeks, but I’d guess the split has not changed.

The other thing to be aware of is the large and active (especially near dawn and dusk) population's of deer in much of the area you’re driving through. If you’re doing an overnight, I’d drive. If you’re trying to do it in one day, I’d fly. YMMV