Drive or Fly: Caldwell, ID to Saint Maries, ID?

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 BOI–PUW. At 349 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 31m

Distance

349.4 mi

Total Cost

$112

CO2

141 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$77

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

4h 17m

30m in the air

Air Distance

252 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

64 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Caldwell, ID → BOI 36m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 30m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PUW → Saint Maries, ID 71m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Caldwell, ID BOI — Boise Air Terminal/Gowen Field 24 mi, ~36m drive

Saint Maries, ID PUW — Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport 47 mi, ~71m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BOI and PUW. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 3h 14m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	7h 31m	4h 17m
Total cost (1 person)	$112	$185
Carbon footprint	141 kg CO₂	64 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

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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

349.4 mi 7h 31m

via US 95, ID 3, I 84; US 20; US 26; US 30

Alternative (+44 min)

389.8 mi 8h 15m

via I 84; US 20; US 26; US 30, US 12, WA 127

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Caldwell, ID to Saint Maries, ID with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.