Drive or Fly: Ritzville, WA to Tacoma, 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 GEG–TIW. At 233 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 25m

Distance

233.7 mi

Total Cost

$87

CO2

94 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$52

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 51m

23m in the air

Air Distance

191 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

49 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ritzville, WA → GEG 78m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 23m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

TIW → Tacoma, WA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Ritzville, WA GEG — Spokane International Airport 52 mi, ~78m drive

Tacoma, WA TIW — Tacoma Narrows Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between GEG and TIW. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ 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

6h 21m

4h 45m on road

Total Cost

$16

CO2

9 kg

Route

FlixBus 2120

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ritzville, WA → Moses Lake (1ML) 61m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 285m

Arrival 10m

Tacoma (G St & Puyallup Ave) (1TA) → Tacoma, WA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $16) $16

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

Stations

From 1ML — Moses Lake 41 mi, ~61m drive

To 1TA — Tacoma (G St & Puyallup Ave) 1 mi, ~10m 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	4h 25m	3h 51m	6h 21m
Total cost (1 person)	$87	$183	$16
Carbon footprint	94 kg CO₂	49 kg CO₂	9 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 19, 2026.

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