Drive or Fly: Minnehaha, WA to Spokane Valley, 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

6h 56m

Distance

366.2 mi

Total Cost

$104

CO2

148 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 6m

35m in the air

Air Distance

292 mi

Total Cost

$187

CO2

74 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Minnehaha, WA → PDX 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 35m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

GEG → Spokane Valley, WA 21m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $132) $132

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Minnehaha, WA PDX — Portland International Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

Spokane Valley, WA GEG — Spokane International Airport 14 mi, ~21m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

98.5%

Cancellation

1.5%

+ Saves about 3h 50m 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

8h 48m

7h 8m on rail

Total Cost

$57

CO2

21 kg

Route

Empire Builder

Door-to-Door Timeline

Minnehaha, WA → Vancouver (VAN) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 428m

Arrival 10m

Spokane (SPK) → Spokane Valley, WA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $57) $57

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

Stations

From VAN — Vancouver 0 mi, ~30m drive

To SPK — Spokane 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~1/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ Scenic views along the route

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 1 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

7h 35m on road

Total Cost

$32

CO2

21 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Minnehaha, WA → Portland Curbside Bus Stop (PUT6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 455m

Arrival 10m

Spokane Station (SPO6) → Spokane Valley, 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

~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	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	6h 56m	3h 6m	8h 48m	9h
Total cost (1 person)	$104	$187	$57	$32
Carbon footprint	148 kg CO₂	74 kg CO₂	21 kg CO₂	21 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	98% on-time

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: Amtrak GTFS, 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.

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