Given the record high gas prices, is it now cheaper to fly than to drive for long distance road trips?
NPR recently analyzed the cost of a typical family road trip by plane, train, bus and automobile. The conclusion: Driving is still the cheapest way to travel and will remain so until gas prices go up to $15 per gallon.
NPR used the example of a one-way trip for a family of four traveling from D.C. to Boston. Here's the breakdown:
| Means of Travel |
Estimated Cost |
|
Flying |
$400 |
| Train via Amtrak | $500 |
| Bus via Greyhound | $325 |
| Driving with current gas prices of $3.20 / gallon |
$100 |
|
Driving if gas is $10/gallon |
$250 |
| Driving if gas is $15/gallon | $355 |
Of course, you can probably make your drive even cheaper by using a gas price finder, driving more efficiently, studying up on gas savings tips, or adding acetone to your gas tank.
You can listen to the NPR story here. I couldn't find the transcript for the show. But I did take some detailed notes for those of you who are interested in how NPR reached their conclusions.
Flying
- Coach tickets ($260) + cab fare ($90 to $140) = roughly $400
Amtrak
- Coach tickets ($472) + cab fare ($25) = roughly $500
- Cab fare assumed to be cheaper as compared to flying because Amtrak station is more likely to be closer to final destination.
Greyhound
- Tickets ($300) + cab fare ($25) = roughly $325
Driving
- Cost of gas at $3.20 per gallon ($70.40) + tolls ($25.60) = roughly $100
- Assumes trip is 453 miles, 22 gallons of fuel is used, and car gets 20 miles per gallon.


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