Drive or Fly: City of Lowell, MA to Winchendon, MA?

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 BED–ORH. At 49 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 8m

Distance

49.8 mi

Total Cost

$46

CO2

20 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$11

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 7m

4m in the air

Air Distance

37 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

9 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

City of Lowell, MA → BED 18m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 4m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ORH → Winchendon, MA 45m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

City of Lowell, MA BED — Laurence G Hanscom Field 12 mi, ~18m drive

Winchendon, MA ORH — Worcester Regional Airport 30 mi, ~45m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BED and ORH. 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 46m

1h 54m on road

Total Cost

CO2

3 kg

Route

Greyhound US0256S

Door-to-Door Timeline

City of Lowell, MA → Robert B Kennedy Bus Transfer Center (Lowell, MA) (6LW) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 114m

Arrival 10m

Athol MA (ATL6) → Winchendon, MA 17m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $5) $5

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

Stations

From 6LW — Robert B Kennedy Bus Transfer Center (Lowell, MA) 0 mi, ~10m drive

To ATL6 — Athol MA 11 mi, ~17m 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	1h 8m	3h 7m	2h 46m
Total cost (1 person)	$46	$121	$5
Carbon footprint	20 kg CO₂	9 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 City of Lowell, MA to Winchendon, MA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.