Drive or Fly: Carbondale, CO to Loveland, CO?

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 ASE–BJC. At 218 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 24m

Distance

218 mi

Total Cost

$83

CO2

88 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$48

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 40m

16m in the air

Air Distance

132 mi

Total Cost

$180

CO2

34 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Carbondale, CO → ASE 33m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 16m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BJC → Loveland, CO 51m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Carbondale, CO ASE — Aspen-Pitkin County Airport (Sardy Field) 22 mi, ~33m drive

Loveland, CO BJC — Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport 34 mi, ~51m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ASE and BJC. 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

8h 50m

6h 45m on rail

Total Cost

$25

CO2

7 kg

Route

California Zephyr

Door-to-Door Timeline

Carbondale, CO → Glenwood Springs 18m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 405m

Arrival 10m

Denver → Loveland, CO 67m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $25) $25

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

Stations

From Glenwood Springs 12 mi, ~18m drive

To Denver 45 mi, ~67m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~1/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 1 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	4h 24m	3h 40m	8h 50m
Total cost (1 person)	$83	$180	$25
Carbon footprint	88 kg CO₂	34 kg CO₂	7 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 15, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Carbondale, CO to Loveland, CO with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.