If you're traveling to the United States and trying to save money on your trip, the decision to drive or fly to your destination can be important. The cheapest option isn't always what you might think.
You can assume that a road trip is always cheaper for those traveling on a budget. However, sometimes flying is not only the quickest way to reach your destination, but also the most affordable, especially if you learn how to maximize points and miles for travel.
Of course, every situation is different; in some cases, driving can make much more financial sense, especially if you have a large family or pets.
Here's how to determine which mode of transportation best suits you and your budget.
How to calculate the cost of driving versus flying
It's always best to start by getting out a pen and paper (and ideally a calculator) and doing the math. Let's look at the numbers for a hypothetical trip between Louisville, Kentucky and Chicago.
A June 2024 flight from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport (SDF) to Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) costs as little as $99 round-trip with United Airlines if you choose a basic economy ticket.
If you take the same trip in your car, you'll travel 590 miles round trip. As of this writing, average gas prices in the United States hover around $3.60 per gallon. Assuming a gas tank capacity of 14 gallons and a fuel economy of 25 miles per gallon, you will need to fill your car with fuel 1.68 times to get from Louisville to Chicago; this would be a total of $84.67.
For a solo trip, driving between Louisville and Chicago is only slightly cheaper than flying. This minor cost difference may not be worth spending five hours in the car when the flight time is only an hour and a half.
However, if you are traveling with a family or several people, a car can be a much cheaper option per person.
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Let's look at a second example with a longer trip that requires a hotel night to break up the journey.
A June 2024 flight from Atlanta to Miami costs as little as $40 round trip. Border Airlines or $157 on Southwest Airlines (if you want a more comprehensive service experience including checked baggage and carry-on baggage). This non-stop flight lasts approximately two hours.
The trip from Atlanta to Miami is 1,326 miles round trip. Assuming the same gas mileage and tank capacity as above, you need to fill your car's tank 3.79 times for the entire trip. The total cost of gas would be $191.02, or just under five Frontier Airlines tickets for the same trip.
Related: Here's how to save money and earn rewards on your gas purchases
Travel time is approximately 10 hours, so you may also want to stop and stay overnight in a hotel during your road trip. This would add at least $100, plus the cost of meals, to the total price of your trip.
This travel example is a perfect example of where flying is sometimes cheaper than driving.
Here are some other things to consider when choosing between driving and flying.
Consider how many people are in your travel group
If you find a great flight offer or book with a low cost airline, you can get one-way flights for less than $50. However, this cost increases when you add a spouse and children. If you're traveling with a large group, flying can be more expensive than driving, even when you add the cost of gas, meals, and an overnight hotel stay.
Use a calculator to help you compare costs
How do you determine whether flying or driving is the most affordable trip for you? The best way is to do calculations, as shown in the examples above.
Consider how much it costs to fill up your car with gas and how many times you will need to do it for the trip. Then add estimates for food stops along the way as well as any accommodations you'll need if it's a multi-day trip.
Tools like those from AAA easy to use gas cost calculator do most of the work for you. Simply plug in your origin, destination, and car make and model to find out how much you'll pay in gas to get where you're going.
Compare that price to flight prices for everyone making the trip. Flights on weekends or holidays will likely be more expensive, but if your dates are flexible, you might be able to find a good deal.
Choose a flight to anywhere
If you really want to play a joker, you can use sites like Google Flights Or Skyscanner to search for flights to multiple destinations by entering only your originating airport and travel dates. The results will show prices for multiple destinations so you can find the best fit for your budget.
Consider the time spent
Finally, we must not forget the time spent between driving and flying. For long road trips, is it worth spending all that time stuck in a car staring down the highway to reach your final destination? Would you rather pay more money to be able to spend that time at home or at your destination? Or is the journey part of what makes travel appealing?
On the other hand, flying can take almost as long as driving in some cases. You must arrive at the airport at least an hour before your flight (sometimes more), and if you have a connecting flight, you may have to wait for a long layover.
Conclusion
Driving isn't always the cheapest way to get to your destination. Quick road trips can be a great way to save money, but flying can be a surprising way to save money when booking your domestic getaways this year.
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