IS IT CHEAPER TO DRIVE OR FLY THIS SUMMER?

Text Callout : Key Takeaways - Is It Cheaper to Drive or Fly This Summer?

If you're wondering whether it's cheaper to fly or drive to your vacation destination this summer, there are a range of factors to consider. While plane ticket and gas prices play a major role in travel costs, so will other elements such as how far you're traveling and with whom.

Here's a look at costs to consider when deciding between flying and driving to your summer destination.

Drive vs. Fly: Summer 2024 Cost Comparisons

When comparing the costs of traveling to three popular U.S. destinations from San Francisco, California, single plane tickets were cheaper than gas costs across the board.

For example, at the time of publication, economy flights from San Francisco to Las Vegas started at just $19. Meanwhile, the gas cost to drive a car the same route was approximately $87. In this case, you could buy several plane tickets for less than the cost of gas.

Travel Costs Beyond Plane Tickets and Gas

Aside from plane ticket and gas prices, there are other travel costs to consider. Read on to find out what they are.

Additional Costs of Driving

Driving requires more travel time than flying, which often means you'll need to budget for meals and hotel stays. For example, if you plan to drive the 45-hour route from San Francisco to Miami over five days, you'll need four places to stay overnight.

In the U.S., hotels average $159 per night, according to data solutions company STR. That would add $636 to your travel costs over four nights. You'll also need to plan for 15 meals on the road. With an average cost of about $15 per meal, food would add $225 to your costs. Add together gas (approximately $464), food and accommodations costs, and the drive would run about $1,325.

Additional Costs of Flying

Flying expedites your travel time but comes with costs of its own, including:

Checked baggage: If you want to check bags, you'll probably need to pay fees. American Airlines charges $40 for the first bag ($35 if you pay online) and $45 for the second.
Seat upgrades: If you prefer to fly in a class other than basic economy, you'll have to pay extra to upgrade.
Food and drinks: The food and drinks in airports and on airplanes are often marked up, so snacks and meals you buy along the way may be more expensive than usual.
Transportation at destination: Once you get to your destination, you'll often need ground transportation like a ride-share service, taxi, shuttle, public transportation or rental vehicle. Rental cars can range from around $50 to $500 or more per week, depending on the location, rental car company, and car you choose.

If you fly from San Francisco to Miami with one checked bag, buy lunch on the plane and rent a car for a week at your destination, your trip cost would end up closer to $315 versus the $100 for just the plane ticket.

That said, $315 is still quite a bit cheaper than the estimated $1,300 it would cost to drive and cover gas, hotels and meals. Plus, flying would cut down your travel time to just one day.

"If the destination is more than an 8- to 10-hour drive from home, I usually find that flying is the more cost-effective choice, especially when traveling to a city with accessible public transportation," Christy Woodrow, a seasoned travel writer and advisor at Ordinary Traveler, said in an email.

"However, if a car is essential at the destination, my decision depends on factors such as driving time, overall trip duration and the costs of flights and rental cars," she added.

Is Driving or Flying Better for You?

The only way to figure out whether flying or driving will actually be cheaper for your trip is to run the numbers.

Look up the rates for airplane tickets and check the gas prices along your route. Figure out how much gas will cost for your vehicle and the number of miles you'll travel. Also, consider additional costs such as food, drinks, hotels, transportation at your destination and baggage fees.

"To save money on flights, I always check Google Flights to find the most affordable travel dates. I also subscribe to flight deal services such as Dollar Flight Club and occasionally choose destinations based on discounted flights I've discovered,"

Woodrow said. She saves on rental cars by skipping the extra insurance and instead relying on her personal or American Express rental car insurance.

Once you have all the information, compare the costs to see which will actually be cheaper. But remember to also take into consideration your preference when it comes to travel.

"Flying can be convenient and it can be cheaper, especially if you hit a good airline sale. But if I have the time, I find that driving is the best way to travel," Jessica James, author and travel blogger at Past Lane Travels, said in an email. "Using hotel points and gas cards adds to making it an economic choice, but the freedom of not being in an airport is worth its weight in gold."

2023-06-30T14:05:38Z dg43tfdfdgfd