Drive or Fly: Paris, ME to West Scarborough, ME?

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 AUG–PWM. At 54 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

1h 11m

Distance

54.6 mi

Total Cost

$47

CO2

22 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$12

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

3h 9m

6m in the air

Air Distance

48 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

12 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Paris, ME → AUG 53m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 6m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PWM → West Scarborough, ME 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

Paris, ME AUG — Augusta State Airport 35 mi, ~53m drive

West Scarborough, ME PWM — Portland International Jetport 7 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between AUG and PWM. 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

2h 31m

50m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Downeaster

Door-to-Door Timeline

Paris, ME → Freeport Amtrak Station 51m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 50m

Arrival 10m

Old Orchard Beach Amtrak → West Scarborough, ME 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $5) $5

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

Stations

From Freeport Amtrak Station 34 mi, ~51m drive

To Old Orchard Beach Amtrak 4 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~8/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 8 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

1h 54m

50m on road

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Greyhound US0265s

Door-to-Door Timeline

Paris, ME → Lewiston Bus Stop (LEW6) 27m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 50m

Arrival 10m

City of Portland (PVT6) → West Scarborough, ME 12m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $3) $3

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

Stations

From LEW6 — Lewiston Bus Stop 18 mi, ~27m drive

To PVT6 — City of Portland 8 mi, ~12m 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	1h 11m	3h 9m	2h 31m	1h 54m
Total cost (1 person)	$47	$122	$5	$3
Carbon footprint	22 kg CO₂	12 kg CO₂	2 kg CO₂	2 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 13, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Paris, ME to West Scarborough, ME with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.