Drive or Fly: East Wenatchee, WA to Auburn, 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 EAT–SEA. At 150 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

3h 6m

Distance

150.1 mi

Total Cost

$68

CO2

61 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$33

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

2h 37m

11m in the air

Air Distance

91 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

23 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

East Wenatchee, WA → EAT 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 11m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SEA → Auburn, WA 16m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

East Wenatchee, WA EAT — Pangborn Memorial Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

Auburn, WA SEA — Seattle–Tacoma International Airport 10 mi, ~16m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between EAT and SEA. 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

4h 6m

2h 40m on road

Total Cost

$10

CO2

5 kg

Route

FlixBus 2120

Door-to-Door Timeline

East Wenatchee, WA → Ellensburg (Central Washington University) (1CW) 46m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 160m

Arrival 10m

Seattle Tacoma Intl Airport (SAP6) → Auburn, WA 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $10) $10

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

Stations

From 1CW — Ellensburg (Central Washington University) 31 mi, ~46m drive

To SAP6 — Seattle Tacoma Intl Airport 10 mi, ~15m 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 6m	2h 37m	4h 6m
Total cost (1 person)	$68	$124	$10
Carbon footprint	61 kg CO₂	23 kg CO₂	5 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 13, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from East Wenatchee, WA to Auburn, WA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.