Drive or Fly: Seaside, OR to Medford, 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

Distance

344.1 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

139 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$91

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

4h 26m

31m in the air

Air Distance

259 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

66 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Seaside, OR → PDX 105m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 31m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MFR → Medford, OR 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Seaside, OR PDX — Portland International Airport 70 mi, ~105m drive

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

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 2h 34m 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

12h 45m

9h 26m on rail

Total Cost

$55

CO2

16 kg

Route

Coast Starlight

Door-to-Door Timeline

Seaside, OR → Kelso-Longview (KEL) 74m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 566m

Arrival 10m

Klamath Falls (KFS) → Medford, OR 85m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $55) $55

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

Stations

From KEL — Kelso-Longview 49 mi, ~74m drive

To KFS — Klamath Falls 57 mi, ~85m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~5/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 5 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

5h 17m on road

Total Cost

$24

CO2

13 kg

Route

Greyhound US0500

Door-to-Door Timeline

Seaside, OR → Portland Curbside Bus Stop (PUT6) 102m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 317m

Arrival 10m

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

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $24) $24

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

Stations

From PUT6 — Portland Curbside Bus Stop 68 mi, ~102m drive

To GSP6 — Grants Pass (A-1 Market) 24 mi, ~36m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~19/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	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	7h	4h 26m	12h 45m	8h
Total cost (1 person)	$126	$185	$55	$24
Carbon footprint	139 kg CO₂	66 kg CO₂	16 kg CO₂	13 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: 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 Oct 19, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Seaside, OR to Medford, OR with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.