Drive or Fly: Everett, WA to Key Center, 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–TIW. At 83 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 51m

Distance

83.5 mi

Total Cost

$53

CO2

34 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$18

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 30m

6m in the air

Air Distance

51 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

13 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Everett, WA → PAE 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 6m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

TIW → Key Center, WA 14m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

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

Key Center, WA TIW — Tacoma Narrows Airport 9 mi, ~14m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PAE and TIW. 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 33m

2h 18m on rail

Total Cost

$10

CO2

3 kg

Route

Amtrak Cascades

Door-to-Door Timeline

Everett, WA → Everett Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 138m

Arrival 10m

Tacoma → Key Center, WA 25m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $10) $10

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

Stations

From Everett Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~10m drive

To Tacoma 16 mi, ~25m 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 51m	2h 30m	3h 33m
Total cost (1 person)	$53	$122	$10
Carbon footprint	34 kg CO₂	13 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

83.5 mi 1h 51m

via I 5, WA 16, WA 302

Alternative (+3 min)

85.8 mi 1h 54m

via I 5, I 405, WA 16

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