Drive or Fly: Jamaica Plain, MA to New Bedford, 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 BOS–EWB. At 52 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 15m

Distance

52.9 mi

Total Cost

$47

CO2

21 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$12

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 26m

6m in the air

Air Distance

48 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

12 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Jamaica Plain, MA → BOS 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 6m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

EWB → New Bedford, MA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

Jamaica Plain, MA BOS — Boston Logan International Airport 7 mi, ~10m drive

New Bedford, MA EWB — New Bedford Regional Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BOS and EWB. 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

2h 2m

29m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Acela

Door-to-Door Timeline

Jamaica Plain, MA → Boston 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 29m

Arrival 10m

Providence → New Bedford, MA 43m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $8) $8

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

Stations

From Boston 3 mi, ~10m drive

To Providence 28 mi, ~43m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~88/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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	1h 15m	2h 26m	2h 2m
Total cost (1 person)	$47	$122	$8
Carbon footprint	21 kg CO₂	12 kg CO₂	2 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

52.9 mi 1h 14m

via MA 24, MA 140, Randolph Avenue

Alternative (+2 min)

57.4 mi 1h 17m

via MA 24, MA 140, Veterans of Foreign Wars Parkway

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Jamaica Plain, MA to New Bedford, MA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.