Drive or Fly: Lakewood, CO to Monte Vista, CO?

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 BJC–ALS. At 207 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

4h 42m

Distance

207.3 mi

Total Cost

$81

CO2

84 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$46

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 8m

19m in the air

Air Distance

158 mi

Total Cost

$181

CO2

40 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lakewood, CO → BJC 21m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 19m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ALS → Monte Vista, CO 28m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Lakewood, CO BJC — Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport 14 mi, ~21m drive

Monte Vista, CO ALS — San Luis Valley Regional Airport/Bergman Field 18 mi, ~28m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BJC and ALS. 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 57m

3h 30m on road

Total Cost

$16

CO2

9 kg

Route

Greyhound US1140

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lakewood, CO → Denver Union Station Bus Concourse (DEN6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 210m

Arrival 10m

Walsenburg (Paperback Trading Post) (WSG6) → Monte Vista, CO 112m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $16) $16

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

Stations

From DEN6 — Denver Union Station Bus Concourse 5 mi, ~10m drive

To WSG6 — Walsenburg (Paperback Trading Post) 75 mi, ~112m 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	4h 42m	3h 8m	5h 57m
Total cost (1 person)	$81	$181	$16
Carbon footprint	84 kg CO₂	40 kg CO₂	9 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 13, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Lakewood, CO to Monte Vista, CO with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.