Drive or Fly: Centralia, WA to Spokane Valley, 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 OLM–GEG. At 352 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 40m

Distance

352.2 mi

Total Cost

$113

CO2

142 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$78

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 21m

33m in the air

Air Distance

276 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

70 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Centralia, WA → OLM 27m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 33m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

GEG → Spokane Valley, WA 21m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Centralia, WA OLM — Olympia Regional Airport 18 mi, ~27m drive

Spokane Valley, WA GEG — Spokane International Airport 14 mi, ~21m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 3h 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

8h 36m

7h 25m on road

Total Cost

$29

CO2

15 kg

Route

FlixBus 2120

Door-to-Door Timeline

Centralia, WA → Olympia (Intercity Transit Center) (1OL) 34m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 445m

Arrival 10m

Spokane Station (SPO6) → Spokane Valley, WA 12m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $29) $29

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

Stations

From 1OL — Olympia (Intercity Transit Center) 23 mi, ~34m drive

To SPO6 — Spokane Station 8 mi, ~12m 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	6h 40m	3h 21m	8h 36m
Total cost (1 person)	$113	$186	$29
Carbon footprint	142 kg CO₂	70 kg CO₂	15 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

352.2 mi 6h 39m

via I 90, I 5; US 12, WA 18

Alternative (+36 min)

378.9 mi 7h 16m

via US 12, US 395, I 82; US 12

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