Drive or Fly: Manchester, NH to Madison, NH?

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 MHT–PWM. At 87 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

2h 6m

Distance

87.1 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 26m

8m in the air

Air Distance

64 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

16 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Manchester, NH → MHT 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 8m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PWM → Madison, NH 68m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

Manchester, NH MHT — Manchester-Boston Regional Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

Madison, NH PWM — Portland International Jetport 45 mi, ~68m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MHT and PWM. 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

3h 40m

1h 17m on rail

Total Cost

$12

CO2

3 kg

Route

Downeaster

Door-to-Door Timeline

Manchester, NH → Haverhill Amtrak 36m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 77m

Arrival 10m

Saco Amtrak Station → Madison, NH 67m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $12) $12

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

Stations

From Haverhill Amtrak 24 mi, ~36m drive

To Saco Amtrak Station 45 mi, ~67m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~90/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	2h 6m	3h 26m	3h 40m
Total cost (1 person)	$54	$123	$12
Carbon footprint	35 kg CO₂	16 kg CO₂	3 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 13, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Manchester, NH to Madison, NH with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.