Drive or Fly: Renton, WA to Clarkston, WA?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for BFI–LWS. At 306 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 33m

Distance

306.8 mi

Total Cost

$103

CO2

124 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$68

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

31m in the air

Air Distance

255 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

65 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Renton, WA → BFI 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 31m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LWS → Clarkston, WA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Renton, WA BFI — King County International Airport - Boeing Field 5 mi, ~10m drive

Clarkston, WA LWS — Lewiston Nez Perce County Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BFI and LWS. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 3h 42m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

9h 12m

8h 5m on road

Total Cost

$28

CO2

15 kg

Route

FlixBus 2120

Door-to-Door Timeline

Renton, WA → Seattle Tacoma Intl Airport (SAP6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 485m

Arrival 10m

Moscow (S.M.A.R.T Transit) (MOX6) → Clarkston, WA 32m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $28) $28

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

Stations

From SAP6 — Seattle Tacoma Intl Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

To MOX6 — Moscow (S.M.A.R.T Transit) 22 mi, ~32m 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 33m	2h 51m	9h 12m
Total cost (1 person)	$103	$185	$28
Carbon footprint	124 kg CO₂	65 kg CO₂	15 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

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 Apr 21, 2026.

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