Drive or Fly: Spokane Valley, WA to Vashon, 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 4m

Distance

303.1 mi

Total Cost

$99

CO2

122 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$64

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 1m

29m in the air

Air Distance

244 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

62 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Spokane Valley, WA → GEG 21m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 29m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SEA → Vashon, WA 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Vashon, WA SEA — Seattle–Tacoma International Airport 7 mi, ~11m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

99.5%

Cancellation

0.5%

+ Saves about 3h 3m 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

6h 33m

5h 45m on road

Total Cost

$25

CO2

13 kg

Route

FlixBus 2120

Door-to-Door Timeline

Spokane Valley, WA → Spokane Station (SPO6) 12m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 345m

Arrival 10m

Seattle Tacoma Intl Airport (SAP6) → Vashon, WA 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $25) $25

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

Stations

From SPO6 — Spokane Station 8 mi, ~12m drive

To SAP6 — Seattle Tacoma Intl Airport 8 mi, ~11m 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 4m	3h 1m	6h 33m
Total cost (1 person)	$99	$185	$25
Carbon footprint	122 kg CO₂	62 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: 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 4, 2026.

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