Drive or Fly: Clear Lake, WA to Vancouver, 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

4h 40m

Distance

233.3 mi

Total Cost

$92

CO2

94 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$57

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

24m in the air

Air Distance

196 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

50 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Clear Lake, WA → BLI 40m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 24m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PDX → Vancouver, WA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Clear Lake, WA BLI — Bellingham International Airport 27 mi, ~40m drive

Vancouver, WA PDX — Portland International Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

7h 6m

5h 26m on rail

Total Cost

$39

CO2

14 kg

Route

Amtrak Cascades

Door-to-Door Timeline

Clear Lake, WA → Mount Vernon Amtrak Station (MVW) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 326m

Arrival 10m

Vancouver (VAN) → Vancouver, WA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $39) $39

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

Stations

From MVW — Mount Vernon Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To VAN — Vancouver 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 3 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	4h 40m	3h 14m	7h 6m
Total cost (1 person)	$92	$183	$39
Carbon footprint	94 kg CO₂	50 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: Amtrak 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 Oct 19, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Clear Lake, WA to Vancouver, WA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.