Drive or Fly: Centennial, CO to Bayfield, CO?

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

7h 11m

Distance

349.4 mi

Total Cost

$101

CO2

141 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$66

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 14m

26m in the air

Air Distance

219 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

56 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Centennial, CO → DEN 33m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 26m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DRO → Bayfield, CO 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Centennial, CO DEN — Denver International Airport 22 mi, ~33m drive

Bayfield, CO DRO — Durango La Plata County Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

97.3%

Cancellation

2.7%

+ Saves about 3h 57m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	7h 11m	3h 14m
Total cost (1 person)	$101	$184
Carbon footprint	141 kg CO₂	56 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	97% on-time

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

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 19, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Centennial, CO to Bayfield, CO with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.