Drive or Fly: Lawrence, MA to Amherst Center, 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–BDL. At 87 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 6m

Distance

87.3 mi

Total Cost

$54

CO2

35 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$19

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 22m

9m in the air

Air Distance

73 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

19 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lawrence, MA → BED 26m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 9m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BDL → Amherst Center, MA 47m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

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

Amherst Center, MA BDL — Bradley International Airport 31 mi, ~47m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BED and BDL. 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

4h 3m

3h 14m on road

Total Cost

CO2

4 kg

Route

Greyhound US0256S

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 194m

Arrival 10m

University of Massachusetts Amherst (AMH6) → Amherst Center, MA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $7) $7

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

Stations

From 6LW — Robert B Kennedy Bus Transfer Center (Lowell, MA) 9 mi, ~14m drive

To AMH6 — University of Massachusetts Amherst 1 mi, ~10m 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	2h 6m	3h 22m	4h 3m
Total cost (1 person)	$54	$123	$7
Carbon footprint	35 kg CO₂	19 kg CO₂	4 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 16, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Lawrence, MA to Amherst Center, MA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.