Drive or Fly: Federal Way, WA to Newport, 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 SEA–GEG. At 331 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

6h 30m

Distance

331.5 mi

Total Cost

$109

CO2

134 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$74

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 50m

30m in the air

Air Distance

252 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

64 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Federal Way, WA → SEA 13m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 30m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

GEG → Newport, WA 67m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Federal Way, WA SEA — Seattle–Tacoma International Airport 9 mi, ~13m drive

Newport, WA GEG — Spokane International Airport 45 mi, ~67m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SEA and GEG. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 2h 40m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

8h 17m

6h 40m on road

Total Cost

$26

CO2

14 kg

Route

FlixBus 2120

Door-to-Door Timeline

Federal Way, WA → Tacoma (G St & Puyallup Ave) (1TA) 12m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 400m

Arrival 10m

Spokane Station (SPO6) → Newport, WA 60m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $26) $26

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

Stations

From 1TA — Tacoma (G St & Puyallup Ave) 8 mi, ~12m drive

To SPO6 — Spokane Station 40 mi, ~60m 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	Bus
Door-to-door time	6h 30m	3h 50m	8h 17m
Total cost (1 person)	$109	$185	$26
Carbon footprint	134 kg CO₂	64 kg CO₂	14 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: 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 Federal Way, WA to Newport, WA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.