Drive or Fly: Eaton, OH to Kettering, 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–DAY. At 28 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

45m

Distance

28.9 mi

Total Cost

$41

CO2

12 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$6

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 3m

3m in the air

Air Distance

25 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

6 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Eaton, OH → DAY 37m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 3m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DAY → Kettering, OH 23m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Eaton, OH DAY — James M. Cox Dayton International Airport 25 mi, ~37m drive

Kettering, OH DAY — James M. Cox Dayton International Airport 15 mi, ~23m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DAY and DAY. 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

4h 24m

1h 56m on rail

Total Cost

$10

CO2

3 kg

Route

Cardinal

Door-to-Door Timeline

Eaton, OH → Connersville Amtrak 41m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 116m

Arrival 10m

Cincinnati Union Terminal → Kettering, OH 67m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $10) $10

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

Stations

From Connersville Amtrak 27 mi, ~41m drive

To Cincinnati Union Terminal 45 mi, ~67m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/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

− Limited schedule — about 3 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	45m	3h 3m	4h 24m
Total cost (1 person)	$41	$121	$10
Carbon footprint	12 kg CO₂	6 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 13, 2026.

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