Drive or Fly: Kalama, WA to Olequa, 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 PDX–OLM. At 28 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

40m

Distance

28.3 mi

Total Cost

$41

CO2

11 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$6

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 52m

3m in the air

Air Distance

26 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

7 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Kalama, WA → PDX 47m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 3m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

OLM → Olequa, WA 62m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Kalama, WA PDX — Portland International Airport 31 mi, ~47m drive

Olequa, WA OLM — Olympia Regional Airport 41 mi, ~62m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

4h 21m

1h 55m on road

Total Cost

$12

CO2

6 kg

Route

FlixBus 2120

Door-to-Door Timeline

Kalama, WA → Portland Curbside Bus Stop (PUT6) 51m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 115m

Arrival 10m

Olympia (Intercity Transit Center) (1OL) → Olequa, WA 70m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $12) $12

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

Stations

From PUT6 — Portland Curbside Bus Stop 34 mi, ~51m drive

To 1OL — Olympia (Intercity Transit Center) 46 mi, ~70m 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	40m	3h 52m	4h 21m
Total cost (1 person)	$41	$121	$12
Carbon footprint	11 kg CO₂	7 kg CO₂	6 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 Jun 4, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

28.3 mi 40m

via I 5, Westside Highway

Alternative (+6 min)

29.2 mi 46m

via WA 411, I 5

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