Drive or Fly: Bartlett, NH to Salem, NH?

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 PWM–MHT. At 132 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

2h 56m

Distance

132.7 mi

Total Cost

$64

CO2

54 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$29

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 59m

11m in the air

Air Distance

89 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

23 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bartlett, NH → PWM 85m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 11m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MHT → Salem, NH 23m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Bartlett, NH PWM — Portland International Jetport 57 mi, ~85m drive

Salem, NH MHT — Manchester-Boston Regional Airport 16 mi, ~23m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PWM and MHT. 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 58m

1h 42m on rail

Total Cost

$15

CO2

4 kg

Route

Downeaster

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bartlett, NH → Portland 86m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 102m

Arrival 10m

Haverhill Amtrak → Salem, NH 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $15) $15

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

Stations

From Portland 57 mi, ~86m drive

To Haverhill Amtrak 6 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~46/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

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	2h 56m	3h 59m	3h 58m
Total cost (1 person)	$64	$124	$15
Carbon footprint	54 kg CO₂	23 kg CO₂	4 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 — 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 Bartlett, NH to Salem, NH with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.