Drive vs Fly Break‑Even Calculator
Compare door‑to‑door time and real out‑of‑pocket cost
Door‑to‑door travel, minus guesswork
What you’ll see
This calculator trims the decision to what matters: how long it takes and what you actually pay. You enter route distance, car efficiency, local fuel price, a realistic average speed, airfare per person, and one airport overhead number that represents transfers, security, boarding, deplaning, and the last mile at both ends. Optional per‑person fees are out of sight by default to keep the main view clean on phones. The results show totals for driving and flying, per‑person costs for easy splitting, and a plain‑English recommendation.
How we calculate
Driving time is distance divided by your average speed. Flying time is your overhead plus a conservative airborne estimate built on typical jet‑airliner cruise speed—800 km/h in metric or 500 mph with US units—so there’s nothing to look up. Driving cost is the fuel you’ll burn at your car’s efficiency and local price (metric uses L/100 km; US uses mpg). Flying cost is airfare (and, if you wish, any per‑person extras you fold into the fare). We display totals and per‑person numbers so a group of two, three, or five can split costs fairly without mental math.
Tips for a fair comparison
- Pick an average speed that reflects your route—drop it for city segments, mountains, bad weather, or heavy traffic.
- For big hubs or holiday travel, bump the airport overhead; for small regional airports, reduce it.
- Fold tolls, parking, and rideshares into overhead rather than pretending we can model every airport on earth.
- Test a couple of scenarios: add one traveler, tweak fuel price, or nudge speed to see where the break‑even flips.
Limits and intent
We intentionally keep scope tight. Live data varies, APIs break, and “averages” hide edge cases. Because everything here is input‑driven and visible, the tool works offline, stays fast, and reflects your reality. Use Copy summary to grab a concise line with your numbers, or Share to copy a permalink that preloads your scenario for a partner. The goal isn’t to predict the future; it’s to help you decide confidently with the information you control.
Drive vs fly — FAQs
What’s a sensible airport overhead?
For large hubs on busy days, 150–240 minutes per direction is common. For smaller airports or off‑peak times, 90–150 minutes may be more realistic. Include transfers, check‑in, security, boarding, and the last mile after landing.
Do I need to include tolls or parking?
These vary a lot. Add them to the airfare or increase the overhead for a fairer, route‑specific comparison.
Why not live flight times?
Live data is fragile and context‑blind. A simple cruise‑speed estimate plus a realistic overhead is transparent, fast, and portable.
How do groups change the result?
Driving costs are shared; airfare scales with people. Add travelers and you’ll often see driving win on cost even if flying is faster.