Drive or Fly: Everett, 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 PAE–SEA. At 53 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

1h 1m

Distance

53 mi

Total Cost

$47

CO2

21 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$12

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 32m

6m in the air

Air Distance

46 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

12 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Everett, WA → PAE 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 6m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SEA → Auburn, WA 16m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

Everett, WA PAE — Seattle Paine Field International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PAE 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

3h 58m

2h 18m on rail

Total Cost

$10

CO2

3 kg

Route

Amtrak Cascades

Door-to-Door Timeline

Everett, WA → Everett Amtrak Station 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 138m

Arrival 10m

Tacoma → Auburn, WA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $10) $10

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

Stations

From Everett Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Tacoma 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~1/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 1 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 1m	2h 32m	3h 58m
Total cost (1 person)	$47	$122	$10
Carbon footprint	21 kg CO₂	12 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 Everett, WA to Auburn, WA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.