Drive or Fly: Newport, WA to Federal Way, 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 28m

Distance

333.9 mi

Total Cost

$105

CO2

135 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$70

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 50m

30m in the air

Air Distance

252 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

64 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Newport, WA → GEG 67m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 30m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SEA → Federal Way, WA 13m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Newport, WA GEG — Spokane International Airport 45 mi, ~67m drive

Federal Way, WA SEA — Seattle–Tacoma International Airport 9 mi, ~13m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

99.5%

Cancellation

0.5%

+ Saves about 2h 38m 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

7h 50m

6h 25m on road

Total Cost

$26

CO2

19 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Newport, WA → Spokane Station (SPO6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 385m

Arrival 10m

Tacoma (G St & Puyallup Ave) (1TA) → Federal Way, WA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $26) $26

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

Stations

From SPO6 — Spokane Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To 1TA — Tacoma (G St & Puyallup Ave) 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	Bus
Door-to-door time	6h 28m	3h 50m	7h 50m
Total cost (1 person)	$105	$185	$26
Carbon footprint	135 kg CO₂	64 kg CO₂	19 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 Jun 3, 2026.

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