Drive or Fly: Hillsboro, OR to Merlin, OR?

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 PDX–MFR. At 247 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 3m

Distance

247.3 mi

Total Cost

$90

CO2

100 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$55

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 38m

25m in the air

Air Distance

209 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

53 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Hillsboro, OR → PDX 29m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 25m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MFR → Merlin, OR 44m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Hillsboro, OR PDX — Portland International Airport 20 mi, ~29m drive

Merlin, OR MFR — Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport 30 mi, ~44m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PDX and MFR. 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

5h 29m

4h 30m on road

Total Cost

$24

CO2

13 kg

Route

Greyhound US0500

Door-to-Door Timeline

Hillsboro, OR → Portland Curbside Bus Stop (PUT6) 23m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 270m

Arrival 10m

Grants Pass (A-1 Market) (GSP6) → Merlin, OR 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $24) $24

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

Stations

From PUT6 — Portland Curbside Bus Stop 15 mi, ~23m drive

To GSP6 — Grants Pass (A-1 Market) 7 mi, ~11m 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	5h 3m	3h 38m	5h 29m
Total cost (1 person)	$90	$183	$24
Carbon footprint	100 kg CO₂	53 kg CO₂	13 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 17, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Hillsboro, OR to Merlin, OR with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.