Drive or Fly: Concord, NH to North Conway, 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 MHT–PWM. At 81 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 8m

Distance

81.6 mi

Total Cost

$53

CO2

33 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$18

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 51m

7m in the air

Air Distance

62 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

16 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Concord, NH → MHT 30m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 7m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PWM → North Conway, NH 74m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

Concord, NH MHT — Manchester-Boston Regional Airport 20 mi, ~30m drive

North Conway, NH PWM — Portland International Jetport 50 mi, ~74m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MHT and PWM. 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 49m

1h 8m on rail

Total Cost

$10

CO2

3 kg

Route

Downeaster

Door-to-Door Timeline

Concord, NH → Durham 46m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 68m

Arrival 10m

Portland → North Conway, NH 75m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $10) $10

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

Stations

From Durham 31 mi, ~46m drive

To Portland 50 mi, ~75m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~90/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 8m	3h 51m	3h 49m
Total cost (1 person)	$53	$122	$10
Carbon footprint	33 kg CO₂	16 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: 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

81.6 mi 2h 7m

via I 93, NH 25, NH 16

Shortest (+7 min)

81.4 mi 2h 15m

via NH 28, NH 16, I 393; US 4; US 202

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Concord, NH to North Conway, NH with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.