Drive or Fly: Gary, IN to Ashland, IN?

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 GYY–IND. At 196 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

3h 53m

Distance

196 mi

Total Cost

$79

CO2

79 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$44

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 51m

19m in the air

Air Distance

157 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

40 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Gary, IN → GYY 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 19m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

IND → Ashland, IN 82m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Gary, IN GYY — Gary/Chicago International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

Ashland, IN IND — Indianapolis International Airport 55 mi, ~82m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between GYY and IND. 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

7h 5m

5h 37m on rail

Total Cost

$36

CO2

10 kg

Route

Cardinal

Door-to-Door Timeline

Gary, IN → Dyer Amtrak 16m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 337m

Arrival 10m

Connersville Amtrak → Ashland, IN 32m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $36) $36

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

Stations

From Dyer Amtrak 10 mi, ~16m drive

To Connersville Amtrak 21 mi, ~32m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/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 3 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

3h 15m on road

Total Cost

$16

CO2

8 kg

Route

FlixBus 2515

Door-to-Door Timeline

Gary, IN → Gary Bus Station (GRY6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 195m

Arrival 10m

Indianapolis (E Washington St) (5IN) → Ashland, IN 70m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $16) $16

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

Stations

From GRY6 — Gary Bus Station 1 mi, ~10m drive

To 5IN — Indianapolis (E Washington St) 46 mi, ~70m 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	3h 53m	3h 51m	7h 5m	5h
Total cost (1 person)	$79	$126	$36	$16
Carbon footprint	79 kg CO₂	40 kg CO₂	10 kg CO₂	8 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 Gary, IN to Ashland, IN with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.