Drive or Fly: Medford, OR to Stafford, 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 9m

Distance

260.7 mi

Total Cost

$90

CO2

105 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$55

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 1m

25m in the air

Air Distance

210 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

53 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Medford, OR → MFR 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 25m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PDX → Stafford, OR 26m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Stafford, OR PDX — Portland International Airport 17 mi, ~26m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

95.2%

Cancellation

4.8%

+ Saves about 2h 8m 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 32m

5h 13m on road

Total Cost

$24

CO2

13 kg

Route

Greyhound US0500

Door-to-Door Timeline

Medford, OR → Grants Pass (A-1 Market) (GSP6) 36m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 313m

Arrival 10m

Portland Curbside Bus Stop (PUT6) → Stafford, OR 18m

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) 24 mi, ~36m drive

To PUT6 — Portland Curbside Bus Stop 12 mi, ~18m 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 9m	3h 1m	6h 32m
Total cost (1 person)	$90	$183	$24
Carbon footprint	105 kg CO₂	53 kg CO₂	13 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 Stafford, OR with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.