Drive or Fly: Auburn, WA to Spokane, 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–GEG. At 279 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

5h 12m

Distance

279.5 mi

Total Cost

$97

CO2

113 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$62

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 53m

27m in the air

Air Distance

225 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

57 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Auburn, WA → SEA 16m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 27m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

GEG → Spokane, WA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

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

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 2h 19m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

6h 50m

6h on road

Total Cost

$25

CO2

13 kg

Route

FlixBus 2120

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 360m

Arrival 10m

Spokane Station (SPO6) → Spokane, WA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $25) $25

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

Stations

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

To SPO6 — Spokane Station 1 mi, ~10m 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	5h 12m	2h 53m	6h 50m
Total cost (1 person)	$97	$184	$25
Carbon footprint	113 kg CO₂	57 kg CO₂	13 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: 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 13, 2026.

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