Drive or Fly: Ilwaco, WA to Spokane, WA?

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 OLM–GEG. At 429 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

8h 38m

Distance

429.3 mi

Total Cost

$130

CO2

173 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$95

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

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

4h 35m

39m in the air

Air Distance

325 mi

Total Cost

$188

CO2

83 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ilwaco, WA → OLM 106m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 39m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

GEG → Spokane, WA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $133) $133

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Ilwaco, WA OLM — Olympia Regional Airport 71 mi, ~106m drive

Spokane, WA GEG — Spokane International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between OLM and GEG. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 4h 3m compared to driving

+ 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

8h 50m

7h 25m on road

Total Cost

$29

CO2

25 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ilwaco, WA → Olympia (Intercity Transit Center) (1OL) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 445m

Arrival 10m

Spokane Station (SPO6) → Spokane, WA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $29) $29

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

Stations

From 1OL — Olympia (Intercity Transit Center) 0 mi, ~30m drive

To SPO6 — Spokane Station 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	8h 38m	4h 35m	8h 50m
Total cost (1 person)	$130	$188	$29
Carbon footprint	173 kg CO₂	83 kg CO₂	25 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 Apr 19, 2026.

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