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Drive or Fly: Longview Heights, 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

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

368 mi

Total Cost

$104

CO2

149 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$69
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 51m

34m in the air

Air Distance

280 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

71 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Longview Heights, WA → PDX 67m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 34m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
GEG → Spokane, WA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131
Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Longview Heights, WA PDX — Portland International Airport 44 mi, ~67m drive
Spokane, WA GEG — Spokane International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 3h 20m 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

9h

7h 35m on road

Total Cost

$32

CO2

21 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Longview Heights, WA → Portland Curbside Bus Stop (PUT6) 30m
Boarding 15m
Bus ride 455m
Arrival 10m
Spokane Station (SPO6) → Spokane, WA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $32) $32

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

Stations

From PUT6 — Portland Curbside Bus Stop 0 mi, ~30m drive
To SPO6 — Spokane Station 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 7h 11m 3h 51m 9h
Total cost (1 person) $104 $186 $32
Carbon footprint 149 kg CO2 71 kg CO2 21 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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest
368 mi 7h 10m

via I 90, US 12, I 82; US 97

Alternative (+70 min)
401.5 mi 8h 21m

via US 12, WA 26, WA 24

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