Driving vs. Flying: Which is cheaper?
Going on vacation requires a lot of careful planning. Do you have the money to go for two weeks? Or does it need to be a quick three-day stint away from home? You have to think about hotel accommodations, too. Perhaps you are visiting somewhere with family or friends who will let you bunk in their abode.
Perhaps the most vital question to be answered before you go is right in the title: Are you going to be driving or flying to your destination? The former is a lot more mentally and physically exhausting for the entire party. You have to take turns behind the wheel, drive in the middle of the night, and pull over when things get to be overbearing.
We’ll talk about some of the financial reasoning for taking a plane or a car to your destination. Some people argue that one method is always cheaper than the other, but it depends on the unique situation you’re in.
Lifestyle Choices That Affect the Price of Driving
One of the benefits of working from home is you don’t drive your car to your job. Your insurance company will see this and evaluate your policy based on your reason for driving. Auto insurance for business or pleasure is a real discussion that could see you saving money on your premiums because you only drive for vacations and other types of road trips.
On the other hand, if you are someone who drives hundreds of miles every weekend for trips, you may not get these savings. You would still be putting in large mileage as if you were driving to work.
This could come into the discussion when deciding whether to drive or fly to your next temporary locale. If you are someone who uses an insurance monitoring device to track safe driving, this could increase your rates at renewal time.
If you already drive a lot for business and career purposes, perhaps think about flying to your vacation destination. This will put less stress on your driving resume and might save you money in the long run.
You also need to think about whether you have the income to fix your vehicle in case it breaks down from taking too many road trips. Trekking from Washington to Maine in your ‘90s sedan might as well be an attempt to conquer Mount Everest for those old pistons and brakes.
This is when you can weigh the price between car maintenance and taking a flight. How old is your car? If it’s in good condition, this isn’t really a discussion. If it’s older and needs a lot of work, you should consider your options.
The price of plane tickets is daunting at first glance, but it pales in comparison to the receipt for a new car on a tight budget. Especially if driving is pivotal to the rest of your life, flying is going to be the way to go.
Think About Where You’re Going
The biggest benefit of driving instead of flying is you get to see all the sights and natural wonders of the environment. Flying doesn’t give you the option to look out the window and enjoy the world; all you would see is sky. This means you should think closely about where you are going to travel before deciding on the ground versus the sky.
Driving through Beartooth Highway on your way to Montana is going to be an event you will never forget. There are thousands of lakes and tons of gorgeous forestry and wildlife you would miss if you opted to take an airplane to this destination.
On the other hand, you also have to take into account the dangerous roads you might encounter the longer the journey is to your vacation spot. Not everyone is able to drive on the same treacherous roads.
Traversing Abano Pass in the country of Georgia may not be the smartest option if you live in the region. Flying to a different part of Georgia where you don’t have to drive on these types of roads might be better for you. It’s all about how comfortable you are with your driving skills. Every person needs to assess what they are able to handle behind the wheel.
Getting into an accident because you chose to drive thousands of miles instead of flying will start to make you realize a few things. Recovering financially from a wreck is actually a lot more expensive than splurging on first-class seats.
The Verdict on Your Chosen Route of Transportation
So what is the answer to the question? Is there a comprehensive solution to the matter of driving or flying to your vacation location?
No, there really isn’t. But there is a clear winner depending on the circumstance you find yourself in. If you are taking a quick trip from Colorado to Wyoming, and you have a reliable vehicle with solid auto insurance, driving is probably the way to go.
You’ll get to experience some on-road thrills that will last a lifetime. You will also save money on airplane tickets that are shockingly expensive even for brief stints out of town.
If you are going on a longer vacation, this is when you may need to consider an airplane. There is less risk of getting into an accident. If you don’t have good insurance or you already drive a lot for your job, your rates are not going to be very good.
You will see tremendous increases in insurance costs if you get into an accident trying to cross an entire country when you could have been safely gliding through the clouds above.
But there is no amount of internet research that can make a decision for you. Evaluate your skills as a driver, look at your bank account, and settle on the best choice for your lifestyle and financial situation.
If you have your heart set on one type of travel, look into the ways you can save money on that choice. Getting a credit card with airfare points is always a nice incentive to fly. Having a suped-up Corvette is going to increase your desire to take that new model on a great road trip.
Whatever choice you make is going to be correct in its own way if you have personalized it to your travel specifications.