Drive or Fly: Auburn, WA to Battle Ground, WA?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for SEA–PDX. At 141 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 48m

Distance

141.4 mi

Total Cost

$66

CO2

57 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$31

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

2h 49m

13m in the air

Air Distance

106 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

27 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Auburn, WA → SEA 16m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 13m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PDX → Battle Ground, WA 20m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Auburn, WA SEA — Seattle–Tacoma International Airport 10 mi, ~16m drive

Battle Ground, WA PDX — Portland International Airport 14 mi, ~20m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SEA and PDX. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

3h 26m

2h 11m on rail

Total Cost

$22

CO2

6 kg

Route

Amtrak Cascades

Door-to-Door Timeline

Auburn, WA → Tacoma 16m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 131m

Arrival 10m

Vancouver → Battle Ground, WA 19m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $22) $22

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

Stations

From Tacoma 10 mi, ~16m drive

To Vancouver 13 mi, ~19m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~6/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 6 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

3h 53m

2h 45m on road

Total Cost

$15

CO2

8 kg

Route

FlixBus 2115

Door-to-Door Timeline

Auburn, WA → Seattle Tacoma Intl Airport (SAP6) 15m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 165m

Arrival 10m

Portland Curbside Bus Stop (PUT6) → Battle Ground, WA 28m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $15) $15

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

Stations

From SAP6 — Seattle Tacoma Intl Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

To PUT6 — Portland Curbside Bus Stop 19 mi, ~28m 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	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	2h 48m	2h 49m	3h 26m	3h 53m
Total cost (1 person)	$66	$124	$22	$15
Carbon footprint	57 kg CO₂	27 kg CO₂	6 kg CO₂	8 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: Amtrak GTFS, 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 Apr 17, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Auburn, WA to Battle Ground, WA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.