For a trip of about 550 miles, would you drive or fly?

[LeftyMom]

Upside of flying is that it's faster, a direct flight of a bit over an hour, figure three hours and change in transit time due to airport security. Driving would be a bit cheaper and I'd have a car on my trip (not a huge deal where I'm going, but always convenient.)

Assuming gas is at $3/ gallon, fuel would be about half of a cheap airfare.. The the drive would be somewhere between eight and nine hours, mostly along very boring roads no challenging German car commercial hairpin turns or long lonely stretches. I'd bring my ipod and keep myself occupied but it would be somewhat boring, at least on the parts I've traveled by car before (about 2/3 of the trip.)

As far as I know I'd be traveling by myself either way, if I were traveling with somebody else the decision would definitely be to drive because the savings would increase and it wouldn't be so darn boring.

[AlCzervik]

1. is it somewhere in Ca? i drove to Las Vegas once from Sac and i will never do that again.

if it's a scenic ride i would drive.

[LeftyMom]

3. Let's say that probably answered my question.

:)

Also, in the winter I probably don't want to have to worry about the passes and if they're open or not (I've played the beat the chain controls game enough heading back from Reno and Tahoe.) I think I'll fly down.

[AlCzervik]

6. good, that ride totally sucks and the ride back home was even worse, i flew last time

and it was hella cheap.

[mwdem]

2. I love driving, if the countryside is halfway interesting,

otherwise, I'm into a quick flight, but I would have to rent a car.

[Blue-Jay]

4. I would walk 500 miles.

[AwakeAtLast]

5. By the time you showed up 2 hrs early

checked in, took off (maybe) on time, then land, I would bet you that you would have reached your destination earlier by driving. Of course that does not account for the construction zones and accidents.

I still say to drive.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

7. My dear LeftyMom!

The one thing you didn't mention....How much time do you have?

If time isn't a problem, then I'd drive......

My two cents!

Where you going?

:hi:

[LeftyMom]

8. Vegas.

Depends on how busy things are at work.

Then again, if I have to take time off to drive, that eats away at any savings involved, to say nothing of irritating my boss needlessly. I should probably fly.

[driver8]

9. Vegas??!! Definitely fly!!

I have driven home from Vegas and flown home from Vegas (I live in Los Angeles) -- flying home beats driving home any day of the week!!

[Omphaloskepsis]

10. Vegas... Fly... SackTown to Vegas in a car is horrible. I have done it.

Fly... The drive is painful. I have done it, so bad.. Please don't drive, It is so bad. Really, don't drive it, not during the summer. Please..

[Fleshdancer]

11. I would drive....

2 reasons:

1. Austin doesn't have many direct flights so flying 550 miles can easily take all day.

2. My car gets great milage for a non-hybrid.

[MonkeyFunk]

12. a few years ago...

I would've definitely flown. But flying is such an ordeal these days, I'd probably drive.

[Blue-Jay]

13. Yeah, but McCarron is a very easy in/easy out airport.

Compared to most of them, that is. I don't know about the starting airport.

Still, it's nice to have a car in Vegas if you're going to do any touristy things.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

17. Yes, McCarron is easy to get to/from

but sometimes the check-in lines and security lines are ENDLESS!!!

If I had the time, I'd drive. Only because it's probably cheaper and I wouldn't have to rent a car once I'm there.

[rug]

14. I once went to Vegas in a $20,000 car and left in a $20,000,000 airplane.

[Rosemary2205]

15. I paid about $80 to drive 520 miles in June (1040 round trip).

I have an old Econoline lift van - after my last flight I didn't dare bother with the airport.

I drive alone.

I only drive in daylight -- meaning I leave as soon as it's light enough to see usually around 6:30am. I do drink about 8oz of caffeinated something about an hour before I leave.

I stop at EVERY rest area or every 90 minutes, whichever comes sooner. I exercise at every stop to get the blood flowing (( warning herky jerkying around in wheelchair in the rest area does attract attention! :) ))

I do not drink eat in the car - I stop midpoint for a full hour to eat and shake myself up.

I stop for gas at 1/2 a tank to assure I don't run out if I get stuck in a backup.

You need good beebop sing along music in the car - and you should sing out loud with it - just as long you can quickly turn it down or off when traffic gets too heavy and you need all your attention on driving.

Make sure someone on both ends has your route, car make and tag # and cell number.

It takes me about 9 hours to cover 520 miles between Georgia and Ohio up I-75.


PS -- I know this is totally not helpful to you going California to Vegas -- I just slapped it in here in case someone end up with this on a google. :)

[taterguy]

16. I'd look into AMTRAK

If the route is convenient it's a great way to travel. Minimal check-in hassle, more room than a plane. While you're traveling you can read, play with a laptop or talk to your fellow passengers.

[DrDan]

18. I used to fly from the Orlando area to Atlanta quite often

I finally decided to quit flying and drive . . .

I would leave quite early - like 5 of so and could be there just after lunch. So the actual time was not that much different - considering the time spent at OIA.

I would pop in my SIRIUS and listen to SIRIUS LEFT or some commercial-free music. Stop at a Subway for a Veggie Sub half-way through the drive . . . and just enjoy being alone.

I had/have no regrets. I still do it on occasion.

[In_The_Wind]

19. Drive & take a camera.

Enjoy the ride ~

[NewWaveChick1981]

20. I'd drive.

I freaking HATE putzing around an airport for an hour-long flight. By the time you get through with everything, an hour-long flight turns into six hours of your day, including all the bullshit time you spend in airport security, waiting for delayed flights, etc. I have a rule that if it will take me no more than seven to eight hours to drive somewhere, I'll drive instead of flying.

[Tyler Durden]

22. Anything less than 800 miles...I drive.

Found that the cheap flights don't save more than an hour or two thanks to layovers.

Besides, I LUVS me mah Saturn.

[slj0101]

21. Time-wise, it's probably a wash these days.

But 500 miles is a puddle jump by plane, and cheaper in the long run if you can find a good deal.

[havocmom]

23. Since it would be over half that distance for me just to get to the airport...

I'd drive, especially if the destination was in the opposite direction from the airport in relation to where my house sits.

[TommyO]

24. Personally I would drive.

Fewer hassles with containers of liquid over 3oz and I don't have my luggage pawed over by TSA hacks.

[HughBeaumont]

25. If it was just me, I'd fly.

Family, I'd drive. 550 miles translates into about 400-450 bucks for all of us, even with the discount. You're saving money driving.

[flvegan]

26. Vegas? Don't you come back wit no husband.

[LeftyMom]

27. Well shit, there go my plans.

:P

[Left Is Write]

33. I'd think you'd prefer for her to come back with no husband.

[huskerlaw]

28. Depends...

on the reliability of the car, the conditions of the roads, the weather, and who I'd be traveling with.

I'd probably lean towards driving if the car was really reliable, the roads were decent, there wasn't any ick weather (including mad-crazy heat), and I could stand to spend that much time in the car with whoever I was going with.

[mvd]

29. I would take the train if I could

I don't drive yet, and I don't like flying.

[trof]

30. Drive. 1. Guaranteed a window seat.

And your choice of smoking or non-smoking section.
2. Your choice of meals.
3. Your choice of 'in-flight' entertainment (audio books).
4. No weather diversions to a city hundreds of miles from your destination.
5. No oversold flights.
6. No flight cancellations due to mechanical problems (assuming your car is in good shape).

[skygazer]

31. I always choose driving and I prefer to drive alone

That way you can stop when you want, you can eat when you want, you can take whatever route you want. I love that freedom.

I also love having the time to myself. If there's a long stretch I've traveled before, I take a route I haven't taken. I've driven across the entire US several times - maybe it's just me but I don't find any of it boring.

[Left Is Write]

32. Going alone? I might decide to fly, but if you need a car while you're there...

you'd have to add the cost of car rental.

The longest drive I've ever made alone was about five hours, but it's not too bad.

Add in the fact that I really hate to fly, and I guess that tips the scale in favor of driving. Bring along lots of good music to help keep you alert along those boring roadways.

[Left Is Write]

34. I'm going to amend this, 'cause I see that you're going to Vegas.

That changes my advice. Fly.

[NaturalHigh]

35. I'd drive...

The infernal wait in the airport at both ends makes flying more trouble than it's worth. I hate airports to begin with, and my wife and I like long drives together.