Drive or Fly: Spokane, WA to West Longview, 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

7h 10m

Distance

371.4 mi

Total Cost

$113

CO2

150 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$78

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

34m in the air

Air Distance

282 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

72 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Spokane, WA → GEG 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 34m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PDX → West Longview, WA 67m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Spokane, WA GEG — Spokane International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

West Longview, WA PDX — Portland International Airport 44 mi, ~67m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

97.5%

Cancellation

2.5%

+ Saves about 3h 19m 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

8h 50m

7h 5m on road

Total Cost

$32

CO2

17 kg

Route

FlixBus 2184

Door-to-Door Timeline

Spokane, WA → Spokane Station (SPO6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 425m

Arrival 10m

Portland Curbside Bus Stop (PUT6) → West Longview, WA 70m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $32) $32

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

Stations

From SPO6 — Spokane Station 1 mi, ~10m drive

To PUT6 — Portland Curbside Bus Stop 47 mi, ~70m 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	7h 10m	3h 51m	8h 50m
Total cost (1 person)	$113	$186	$32
Carbon footprint	150 kg CO₂	72 kg CO₂	17 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	98% 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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

371.4 mi 7h 10m

via US 12, I 90, I 90; US 395

Alternative (+70 min)

404.1 mi 8h 20m

via US 12, WA 26, WA 24

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