Drive or Fly: Medford, OR to Milwaukie, OR?

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 31m

Distance

277.1 mi

Total Cost

$93

CO2

112 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$58

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 51m

26m in the air

Air Distance

216 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

55 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Medford, OR → MFR 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 26m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PDX → Milwaukie, OR 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Medford, OR MFR — Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

Milwaukie, OR PDX — Portland International Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

95.2%

Cancellation

4.8%

+ Saves about 2h 40m 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

6h 37m

5h 12m on road

Total Cost

$24

CO2

16 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Medford, OR → Grants Pass (A-1 Market) (GSP6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 312m

Arrival 10m

Portland Curbside Bus Stop (PUT6) → Milwaukie, OR 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $24) $24

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

Stations

From GSP6 — Grants Pass (A-1 Market) 0 mi, ~30m drive

To PUT6 — Portland Curbside Bus Stop 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~15/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

− 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 31m	2h 51m	6h 37m
Total cost (1 person)	$93	$184	$24
Carbon footprint	112 kg CO₂	55 kg CO₂	16 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	95% 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 Jun 3, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Medford, OR to Milwaukie, OR with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.