Drive or Fly: Montague, CA to Macdoel, CA?

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 MFR–MFR. At 51 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 12m

Distance

51.8 mi

Total Cost

$46

CO2

21 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$11

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

4h 43m

3m in the air

Air Distance

28 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

7 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Montague, CA → MFR 72m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 3m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MFR → Macdoel, CA 88m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Montague, CA MFR — Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport 48 mi, ~72m drive

Macdoel, CA MFR — Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport 58 mi, ~88m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MFR and MFR. 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

4h 57m

2h 35m on rail

Total Cost

$15

CO2

4 kg

Route

Coast Starlight

Door-to-Door Timeline

Montague, CA → Dunsmuir Amtrak Station 57m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 155m

Arrival 10m

Klamath Falls → Macdoel, CA 45m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $15) $15

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

Stations

From Dunsmuir Amtrak Station 38 mi, ~57m drive

To Klamath Falls 30 mi, ~45m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~1/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 1 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	1h 12m	4h 43m	4h 57m
Total cost (1 person)	$46	$121	$15
Carbon footprint	21 kg CO₂	7 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: 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

51.8 mi 1h 11m

via US 97, A12, A28

Shortest (+13 min)

51.2 mi 1h 25m

via US 97, Harry Cash Road, A12

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Montague, CA to Macdoel, CA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.