Drive or Fly: Barlow, OR to Molalla, OR?

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 PDX–SLE. At 15 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

23m

Distance

15.2 mi

Total Cost

$38

CO2

6 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$3

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

3h 17m

1m in the air

Air Distance

10 mi

Total Cost

$120

CO2

3 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Barlow, OR → PDX 36m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 1m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SLE → Molalla, OR 40m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $120) $120

Airports

Barlow, OR PDX — Portland International Airport 24 mi, ~36m drive

Molalla, OR SLE — Salem-Willamette Valley Airport/McNary Field 27 mi, ~40m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PDX and SLE. 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

2h 34m

1h on road

Total Cost

CO2

3 kg

Route

FlixBus N2111

Door-to-Door Timeline

Barlow, OR → Portland Curbside Bus Stop (PUT6) 29m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 60m

Arrival 10m

Salem (Chemeketa & Liberty) (1SA) → Molalla, OR 40m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $5) $5

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

Stations

From PUT6 — Portland Curbside Bus Stop 19 mi, ~29m drive

To 1SA — Salem (Chemeketa & Liberty) 27 mi, ~40m 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	23m	3h 17m	2h 34m
Total cost (1 person)	$38	$120	$5
Carbon footprint	6 kg CO₂	3 kg CO₂	3 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 16, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Barlow, OR to Molalla, OR with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.