How to use the drive vs fly calculator
- Enter the number of travelers, the days at the destination and the driving distance one way.
- Fill in the driving costs: fuel economy, gas price, car wear per mile, tolls, hotel nights on the road and parking.
- Fill in the flying costs: airfare and bag fees per traveler, airport parking or rides, and a rental car or rides at the destination.
- Optionally enter the driving and flying times and the value of an hour of your time to include time in the comparison.
Formula
Driving = (2 x miles / mpg x gas price) + 2 x miles x wear per mile + tolls + parking x days + hotel nights x cost
Flying = (airfare + bag fees) x travelers + airport costs + ground costs
Time value = round trip hours x hourly value x travelers
The time value is added to each option and is 0 unless you enter an hourly value.
Two travelers, 600 miles each way
Driving 1,200 miles at 28 mpg and $3.50 a gallon is $150.00 of fuel. Car wear at $0.10 a mile is $120.00. Add $25 in tolls and one $140 hotel night for $435.00 in total, or $217.50 each.
Flying costs $260 plus $60 in bags per person, so $640 for two, plus $90 for airport costs and $300 for a rental car, a total of $1,030.00. Driving is $595.00 cheaper. Valuing time at $20 an hour adds $720 to driving (18 hours x 2 people) and $440 to flying (11 hours x 2), which makes driving $1,155.00 and flying $1,470.00.
What to count
Driving cost is more than gas. Tires, oil and repairs rise with every mile, so the tool includes a wear cost per mile that you set. Enter 0 to count fuel only. Flying cost is more than the ticket, because bag fees, getting to and from the airport and getting around at the destination can add up quickly.
Meals are left out because you eat either way. Leave hotel nights at 0 if you drive straight through. If you would pay for lodging at the destination either way, leave it out of both sides.
Time and group size
Group size is the biggest swing factor. A car with four people shares one fuel bill, while four plane tickets cost four times as much. Travelers also multiply the time value, since every person spends the hours. Door to door flying time should include getting to the airport, security and the trip out of the destination airport.
For fuel in more detail, use the fuel cost calculator, and to plan the rest of the trip, the trip budget planner. The mileage reimbursement calculator shows another way to price a mile.
Assumptions and limits
- Every price, distance and time is a number you enter, and the example values are only samples.
- Meals and other costs that are the same either way are not included.
- Depreciation beyond your wear figure, insurance, baggage delays, comfort and safety are not modeled.
- The round trip is twice the one-way distance and twice the one-way time.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to drive or fly?
It depends on distance, group size and prices. Driving tends to improve with more people sharing one car, and flying tends to improve on long distances. Enter your own numbers to see your trip.
What is car wear cost per mile?
It is a number for the money that tires, oil, repairs and similar items cost each mile. It is your estimate here, and 0 counts fuel only.
Should I count my time?
You can. Enter what an hour of your time is worth and the tool adds it to each option for every traveler. Leave it at 0 to compare money only.
Does it include meals?
No. Meals are assumed to cost about the same either way and are left out of both sides.