Drive or Fly: Dayton, OH to Powell, OH?

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 DAY–CAK. At 155 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 7m

Distance

155.9 mi

Total Cost

$69

CO2

63 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$34

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 37m

16m in the air

Air Distance

137 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

35 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Dayton, OH → DAY 15m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 16m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

CAK → Powell, OH 66m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Dayton, OH DAY — James M. Cox Dayton International Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

Powell, OH CAK — Akron Canton Regional Airport 44 mi, ~66m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DAY and CAK. 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

5h 13m

4h 5m on road

Total Cost

$16

CO2

8 kg

Route

Greyhound US0421

Door-to-Door Timeline

Dayton, OH → Dayton Trotwood Bus Station (DAY6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 245m

Arrival 10m

Cambridge, OH (Shell Gas Station) (CMB6) → Powell, OH 33m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $16) $16

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

Stations

From DAY6 — Dayton Trotwood Bus Station 6 mi, ~10m drive

To CMB6 — Cambridge, OH (Shell Gas Station) 22 mi, ~33m 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	3h 7m	3h 37m	5h 13m
Total cost (1 person)	$69	$125	$16
Carbon footprint	63 kg CO₂	35 kg CO₂	8 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

155.9 mi 3h 7m

via I 70, SR 37, SR 4

Alternative (+10 min)

163 mi 3h 17m

via SR 79, I 71, US 35

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Dayton, OH to Powell, OH with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.