Drive or Fly: Eliot, ME to Augusta, ME?

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 PSM–AUG. At 108 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

1h 44m

Distance

108.1 mi

Total Cost

$59

CO2

44 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$24

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 31m

11m in the air

Air Distance

95 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

24 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Eliot, ME → PSM 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 11m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

AUG → Augusta, ME 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Eliot, ME PSM — Portsmouth International Airport at Pease 5 mi, ~10m drive

Augusta, ME AUG — Augusta State Airport 1 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PSM and AUG. 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 27m

1h 47m on rail

Total Cost

$13

CO2

6 kg

Route

Downeaster

Door-to-Door Timeline

Eliot, ME → Dover 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 107m

Arrival 10m

Brunswick Amtrak Station → Augusta, ME 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $13) $13

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

Stations

From Dover 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Brunswick Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

4h 15m

2h 50m on road

Total Cost

$11

CO2

6 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Eliot, ME → Portsmouth Bus Stop (PTM6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 170m

Arrival 10m

Augusta (Concord Coach Lines) (UGU6) → Augusta, ME 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $11) $11

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

Stations

From PTM6 — Portsmouth Bus Stop 0 mi, ~30m drive

To UGU6 — Augusta (Concord Coach Lines) 0 mi, ~30m 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	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	1h 44m	2h 31m	3h 27m	4h 15m
Total cost (1 person)	$59	$124	$13	$11
Carbon footprint	44 kg CO₂	24 kg CO₂	6 kg CO₂	6 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, 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 Eliot, ME to Augusta, ME with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.