Drive or Fly: Groton, MA to Lawrence, MA?

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 BED–BED. At 28 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

41m

Distance

28.9 mi

Total Cost

$41

CO2

12 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$6

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 55m

3m in the air

Air Distance

22 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

6 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Groton, MA → BED 26m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 3m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BED → Lawrence, MA 26m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Groton, MA BED — Laurence G Hanscom Field 18 mi, ~26m drive

Lawrence, MA BED — Laurence G Hanscom Field 18 mi, ~26m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BED and BED. 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

1h 54m

30m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Downeaster

Door-to-Door Timeline

Groton, MA → Woburn Amtrak Station 34m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 30m

Arrival 10m

Haverhill Amtrak → Lawrence, MA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $4) $4

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

Stations

From Woburn Amtrak Station 23 mi, ~34m drive

To Haverhill Amtrak 6 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~90/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

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

1h 19m

30m on road

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Greyhound US0256S

Door-to-Door Timeline

Groton, MA → Ayer MA (DVN6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 30m

Arrival 10m

Robert B Kennedy Bus Transfer Center (Lowell, MA) (6LW) → Lawrence, MA 14m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $2) $2

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

Stations

From DVN6 — Ayer MA 4 mi, ~10m drive

To 6LW — Robert B Kennedy Bus Transfer Center (Lowell, MA) 9 mi, ~14m 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	41m	2h 55m	1h 54m	1h 19m
Total cost (1 person)	$41	$121	$4	$2
Carbon footprint	12 kg CO₂	6 kg CO₂	1 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, 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 Groton, MA to Lawrence, MA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.