Drive or Fly: Minnehaha, WA to Yakima, 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 PDX–YKM. At 191 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

3h 19m

Distance

191 mi

Total Cost

$77

CO2

77 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$42

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 35m

15m in the air

Air Distance

122 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

31 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Minnehaha, WA → PDX 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 15m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

YKM → Yakima, WA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Minnehaha, WA PDX — Portland International Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

Yakima, WA YKM — Yakima Air Terminal McAllister Field 3 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PDX and YKM. 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

7h 25m

6h 5m on road

Total Cost

$16

CO2

8 kg

Route

FlixBus 2120

Door-to-Door Timeline

Minnehaha, WA → Portland Curbside Bus Stop (PUT6) 13m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 365m

Arrival 10m

Ellensburg (Central Washington University) (1CW) → Yakima, WA 42m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $16) $16

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

Stations

From PUT6 — Portland Curbside Bus Stop 9 mi, ~13m drive

To 1CW — Ellensburg (Central Washington University) 28 mi, ~42m 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	3h 19m	2h 35m	7h 25m
Total cost (1 person)	$77	$125	$16
Carbon footprint	77 kg CO₂	31 kg CO₂	8 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 Minnehaha, WA to Yakima, WA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.