How to Compare the Costs of Flying Vs. Driving on Vacation

Maps are important!

Have you had difficulties planning for a trip or vacation and deciding between flying and driving? Especially in today's economy, it makes sense to compare your costs very carefully!

Things You'll Need

• Time
• Maps
• Access to costs for car rentals, airlines, gas

Instructions

1. FIND OUT THE DISTANCE YOU ARE TRAVELING ON VACATION: Find out the actual distance for your trip on Google Maps (see Resources below). Consider the need for you to pull off the road for hotels, gas, food, sight-seeing, etc. It probably won't add a large amount of mileage, but at least factor it into your calculations.

2. CALCULATE THE COST OF GAS: What will be the cost of gas for your trip? For example, if you are traveling from Los Angeles to Portland, how many times will you need to fill up your gas tank (what is your gas mileage)? Find out the cost of a gallon of gas both where you are leaving, where your destination is, and all the points in between. See Resources below for a fuel calculator from AAA and a site that links you to the cost of gas in cities across the U.S.

3. ADD IN THE COST OF SERVICING YOUR CAR: Wouldn't it be wise to have your car serviced before you take off? You don't want any unwelcome surprises. Consider not only an oil change and tire rotation but more fluids switched out, plus a quick inspection of your vehicle and important parts like brakes and brake pads! Many dealerships offer this for around $75-$100 and it can be done within a day.

4. CONSIDER AAA: The peace of mind you have as a AAA member is worth the yearly membership fee, which is usually under $100 for two people. The person is covered, regardless of the vehicle they are in. AAA will come to your aid in case of a breakdown, needing more gas, locking your keys out, and so on. They also offer great deals on car rentals and free maps and tour books. See Resources below for their web site.

5. HOTEL, FOOD, SOUVENIRS: It's easy to say the costs of driving to your destination will only be gas but don't forget all the food you will need to bring or buy along the way. Will you need to stay in a hotel? What about stopping at tourist sites along the way? You might want to buy a little souvenir. All of these costs do add up.

6. COMPARE WITH FLYING: Finally, look at the cost for flying instead including all the taxes and service fees associated with plane tickets. Will you need a car rental when you arrive? If so, that is a big part of your calculations! See Resources below for great websites that help you compare costs for tickets and rentals. Then compare with the costs you have calculated for driving. Even if flying is a little more expensive, it might be worth it to save wear and tear on your car and all the potential hazards and accidents that could happen along the way!

Tips & Warnings

• Excel spreadsheets are very helpful in comparing costs. Set up your document with columns and rows covering all the categories, and then do side-by-side comparisons for both driving and flying!

• Don't forget that airlines and car rental agencies offer great deals at various times of the week and year. They also offer many coupons. Be sure to compare prices too!

Resources

• Current gas prices in U.S. cities
• AAA Fuel Cost Calculator
• SideStep (flight and car rental comparisons)
• Orbitz (flight and car rental comparisons)
• AAA
• Google Maps