Drive or Fly: Elma, WA to Newton, 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 OLM–OLM. At 36 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

Distance

36.1 mi

Total Cost

$43

CO2

15 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$8

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

4h 2m

4m in the air

Air Distance

31 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

8 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Elma, WA → OLM 36m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 4m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

OLM → Newton, WA 82m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Elma, WA OLM — Olympia Regional Airport 24 mi, ~36m drive

Newton, WA OLM — Olympia Regional Airport 55 mi, ~82m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between OLM and OLM. 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 8m

18m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Amtrak Cascades

Door-to-Door Timeline

Elma, WA → Olympia-Lacey Amtrak Station 43m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 18m

Arrival 10m

Centralia Amtrak Station → Newton, WA 87m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $4) $4

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

Stations

From Olympia-Lacey Amtrak Station 29 mi, ~43m drive

To Centralia Amtrak Station 58 mi, ~87m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~6/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 6 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	1h	4h 2m	3h 8m
Total cost (1 person)	$43	$121	$4
Carbon footprint	15 kg CO₂	8 kg CO₂	1 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

36.1 mi 59m

via US 12, Ocean Beach Road, US 101

Alternative (+11 min)

40.4 mi 1h 11m

via US 101, Ocean Beach Road, US 12

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