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Is driving or flying cheaper for this trip?

Compare driving and flying with the prices you enter for travel, lodging, food, activities, vehicle use, and a small surprise cost buffer.

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How this tool was checked

Sources and review

Code and tests checked

StepShown checked the calculation code and its tests. The answer is still an estimate, not professional advice. Rules can also be different where you live.

Calculation version
Version 1.0
Last updated
Person responsible
StepShown engineering
  • Vehicle Cost Calculator assumptions and methodology

    Published by U.S. Department of Energy. Area covered: United States. StepShown owner: StepShown editorial. Checked . Check again by . The use of vehicle efficiency, energy consumption, operating costs, and user overridable estimates in ownership comparisons. Reference guidance; no date specific value is ingested.

Read the StepShown calculation and writing rules, or report a problem.

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How the comparison works

Fuel use is the entered round trip distance divided by vehicle fuel economy. Fuel cost multiplies those gallons by the entered price. Other vehicle cost per mile and driving tolls and parking stay separate so fuel is not mistaken for the entire cost of driving.

Driving transport
fuel plus other vehicle cost plus tolls and parking
Flying transport
airfare for every traveler plus airport transport and rental vehicle
Common trip costs
lodging plus food plus activities plus other shared costs
Complete total
transport plus common trip costs plus the planning buffer

The traveler crossing changes only group size and holds every quoted cost fixed. It shows when the same driving transport cost becomes no greater than airfare and shared flying transport costs.

Travel time, schedule reliability, route safety, fatigue, baggage, accessibility, overnight stops, charging, lost work time, and disruption risk are not priced unless you add them. Confirm every fare, fee, and reservation before deciding.

Common questions

What belongs in other vehicle cost per mile?

Use it for costs you want to attribute to the trip beyond fuel, such as maintenance, tires, or vehicle wear. Leave it at zero when fuel is the only marginal vehicle cost you want to compare. StepShown does not supply a universal rate because vehicle and ownership costs vary.

Why are lodging and food included in both choices?

They are common trip costs unless the travel choice changes them. If driving adds a hotel night, increase lodging nights for a driving scenario or include the extra amount in driving tolls and parking. The comparison keeps shared costs visible so the full trip budget is not mistaken for a transport quote.

Does the airfare field include fees and baggage?

Only if the amount you enter includes them. Use the total quoted round trip amount per traveler, including baggage, seat fees, and other charges you expect to pay.

What does the planning buffer do?

It adds the chosen percentage to every cost in both choices. For example, 10% adds 10 dollars for every 100 dollars of cost. It creates room for surprises but does not predict the trip will cost that much more.

What is not modeled?

Travel time, lost income, route risk, charging time, parking changes, vehicle breakdowns, flight disruption, rewards, exchange rates, tax treatment, and price changes are outside the model unless you enter them as costs.

Where to go next

Or browse everything in Everyday Life.

Trip Cost Planner: Is driving or flying cheaper for this trip? · StepShown