Drive or Fly: Buckley, WA to Spokane Valley, WA?

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

Driving wins

Medium

Short enough to drive comfortably in a day. Airport overhead makes flying slower door-to-door. Available flights require a connection, adding time and cost.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 38m

Distance

293.8 mi

Total Cost

$90

CO2

119 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$55

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 24m

27m in the air

Air Distance

227 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

58 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Buckley, WA → SEA 36m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 27m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

GEG → Spokane Valley, WA 21m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Buckley, WA SEA — Seattle–Tacoma International Airport 24 mi, ~36m drive

Spokane Valley, WA GEG — Spokane International Airport 14 mi, ~21m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 2h 14m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

7h 46m

6h 40m on road

Total Cost

$26

CO2

14 kg

Route

FlixBus 2120

Door-to-Door Timeline

Buckley, WA → Tacoma (G St & Puyallup Ave) (1TA) 29m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 400m

Arrival 10m

Spokane Station (SPO6) → Spokane Valley, WA 12m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $26) $26

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

Stations

From 1TA — Tacoma (G St & Puyallup Ave) 19 mi, ~29m drive

To SPO6 — Spokane Station 8 mi, ~12m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~8/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 8 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	5h 38m	3h 24m	7h 46m
Total cost (1 person)	$90	$184	$26
Carbon footprint	119 kg CO₂	58 kg CO₂	14 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	100% on-time

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 21, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

293.8 mi 5h 38m

via I 90, WA 18, I 90; US 2; US 395

Alternative (+56 min)

321.6 mi 6h 34m

via I 90, WA 410, I 82; US 97

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Buckley, WA to Spokane Valley, WA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.