Drive or Fly: Palmer, AK to Haines, AK?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No direct flights for MRI–HNS. Driving is the practical choice at this distance.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

49h 48m

Distance

779.1 mi

Total Cost

$787

CO2

315 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$172

Hotel (1 room, 4 nights) $440

Meals (1 pax, 5 days) $175

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

− Requires 5 days of driving

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

4h 3m

59m in the air

Air Distance

493 mi

Total Cost

$195

CO2

126 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Palmer, AK → MRI 54m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 59m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

HNS → Haines, AK 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $140) $140

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Palmer, AK MRI — Merrill Field 36 mi, ~54m drive

Haines, AK HNS — Haines Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MRI and HNS. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 45h 45m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	49h 48m	4h 3m
Total cost (1 person)	$787	$195
Carbon footprint	315 kg CO₂	126 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

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 18, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Palmer, AK to Haines, AK with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.