Drive or Fly: Mount Vista, WA to Bellingham, 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–BLI. At 249 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 58m

Distance

249.1 mi

Total Cost

$90

CO2

101 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$55

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 50m

25m in the air

Air Distance

209 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

53 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Mount Vista, WA → PDX 15m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 25m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BLI → Bellingham, WA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Mount Vista, WA PDX — Portland International Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

Bellingham, WA BLI — Bellingham International Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PDX and BLI. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 2h 8m compared to driving

+ 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

6h 38m

5h 36m on rail

Total Cost

$43

CO2

12 kg

Route

Amtrak Cascades

Door-to-Door Timeline

Mount Vista, WA → Vancouver 12m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 336m

Arrival 10m

Bellingham Amtrak Station → Bellingham, WA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $43) $43

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

Stations

From Vancouver 8 mi, ~12m drive

To Bellingham Amtrak Station 3 mi, ~10m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

7h 1m

6h 5m on road

Total Cost

$24

CO2

13 kg

Route

FlixBus 2115

Door-to-Door Timeline

Mount Vista, WA → Portland Curbside Bus Stop (PUT6) 21m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 365m

Arrival 10m

Bellingham (WWU - Lincoln Creek Park & Ride) (1BH) → Bellingham, WA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $24) $24

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

Stations

From PUT6 — Portland Curbside Bus Stop 14 mi, ~21m drive

To 1BH — Bellingham (WWU - Lincoln Creek Park & Ride) 2 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	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	4h 58m	2h 50m	6h 38m	7h 1m
Total cost (1 person)	$90	$183	$43	$24
Carbon footprint	101 kg CO₂	53 kg CO₂	12 kg CO₂	13 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, 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 17, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Mount Vista, WA to Bellingham, WA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.