Drive or Fly: Kent, WA to Buckley, 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–SEA. At 26 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

40m

Distance

26.3 mi

Total Cost

$41

CO2

11 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 48m

2m in the air

Air Distance

18 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

5 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Kent, WA → SEA 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 2m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SEA → Buckley, WA 36m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Kent, WA SEA — Seattle–Tacoma International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

Buckley, WA SEA — Seattle–Tacoma International Airport 24 mi, ~36m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SEA and SEA. 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 49m

30m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Amtrak Cascades

Door-to-Door Timeline

Kent, WA → Tukwila Amtrak 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 30m

Arrival 10m

Tacoma → Buckley, WA 29m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $4) $4

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

Stations

From Tukwila Amtrak 6 mi, ~10m drive

To Tacoma 20 mi, ~29m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~6/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 6 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

1h 34m

30m on road

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

FlixBus 2110

Door-to-Door Timeline

Kent, WA → Seattle Tacoma Intl Airport (SAP6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 30m

Arrival 10m

Tacoma (G St & Puyallup Ave) (1TA) → Buckley, WA 29m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $2) $2

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

Stations

From SAP6 — Seattle Tacoma Intl Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

To 1TA — Tacoma (G St & Puyallup Ave) 19 mi, ~29m 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	40m	2h 48m	1h 49m	1h 34m
Total cost (1 person)	$41	$121	$4	$2
Carbon footprint	11 kg CO₂	5 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 Kent, WA to Buckley, WA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.