Drive or Fly: Fairwood, WA to Kent, 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 32m

Distance

286.8 mi

Total Cost

$89

CO2

116 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$54

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

2h 54m

27m in the air

Air Distance

226 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

58 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Fairwood, WA → GEG 17m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 27m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SEA → Kent, WA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Fairwood, WA GEG — Spokane International Airport 12 mi, ~17m drive

Kent, WA SEA — Seattle–Tacoma International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 2h 38m 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 10m

5h 45m on road

Total Cost

$25

CO2

17 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Fairwood, WA → Spokane Station (SPO6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 345m

Arrival 10m

Seattle Tacoma Intl Airport (SAP6) → Kent, WA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $25) $25

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

Stations

From SPO6 — Spokane Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To SAP6 — Seattle Tacoma Intl Airport 0 mi, ~30m 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 32m	2h 54m	7h 10m
Total cost (1 person)	$89	$184	$25
Carbon footprint	116 kg CO₂	58 kg CO₂	17 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 19, 2026.

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