Drive or Fly: North Madison, OH to Kettering, OH?

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 ERI–DAY. At 254 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 51m

Distance

254.9 mi

Total Cost

$91

CO2

103 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$56

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 3m

26m in the air

Air Distance

219 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

56 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

North Madison, OH → ERI 74m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 26m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DAY → Kettering, OH 23m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

North Madison, OH ERI — Erie International Tom Ridge Field 49 mi, ~74m drive

Kettering, OH DAY — James M. Cox Dayton International Airport 15 mi, ~23m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ERI and DAY. 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

7h 10m

5h 31m on road

Total Cost

$20

CO2

10 kg

Route

Greyhound US0105

Door-to-Door Timeline

North Madison, OH → Cleveland Bus Station (CLD6) 58m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 331m

Arrival 10m

Dayton Trotwood Bus Station (DAY6) → Kettering, OH 16m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $20) $20

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

Stations

From CLD6 — Cleveland Bus Station 39 mi, ~58m drive

To DAY6 — Dayton Trotwood Bus Station 11 mi, ~16m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~8/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 8 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	4h 51m	4h 3m	7h 10m
Total cost (1 person)	$91	$184	$20
Carbon footprint	103 kg CO₂	56 kg CO₂	10 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

254.9 mi 4h 50m

via I 71, I 70, I 271

Shortest (+1 min)

250.3 mi 4h 51m

via I 71, US 36; SR 4, I 271

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