Drive or Fly: Arcanum, OH to Cleveland, OH?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for DAY–CLE. At 232 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 23m

Distance

232.2 mi

Total Cost

$79

CO2

94 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$44

Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0

Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Comfortable one-day drive

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 5m

22m in the air

Air Distance

182 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

46 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Arcanum, OH → DAY 28m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 22m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

CLE → Cleveland, OH 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Arcanum, OH DAY — James M. Cox Dayton International Airport 19 mi, ~28m drive

Cleveland, OH CLE — Cleveland Hopkins International Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DAY and CLE. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

6h 10m

4h 45m on road

Total Cost

$20

CO2

13 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Arcanum, OH → Dayton Trotwood Bus Station (DAY6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 285m

Arrival 10m

Cleveland (E 12th St) (CLV6) → Cleveland, OH 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $20) $20

Estimated based on distance. Check flixbus.com for current prices.

Stations

From DAY6 — Dayton Trotwood Bus Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To CLV6 — Cleveland (E 12th St) 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	4h 23m	3h 5m	6h 10m
Total cost (1 person)	$79	$182	$20
Carbon footprint	94 kg CO₂	46 kg CO₂	13 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: FlixBus GTFS — fares estimated

Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Jul 20, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

232.2 mi 4h 22m

via I 71, I 70, SR 49

Shortest (+0 min)

226.9 mi 4h 22m

via I 71, SR 4, I 70

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Arcanum, OH to Cleveland, OH with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.