Drive or Fly: Rye, NH to Laconia, NH?

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 PSM–MHT. At 61 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 41m

Distance

61.7 mi

Total Cost

$49

CO2

25 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$14

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 18m

6m in the air

Air Distance

50 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

13 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Rye, NH → PSM 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 6m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MHT → Laconia, NH 62m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

Rye, NH PSM — Portsmouth International Airport at Pease 5 mi, ~10m drive

Laconia, NH MHT — Manchester-Boston Regional Airport 41 mi, ~62m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PSM and MHT. 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 12m

21m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Downeaster

Door-to-Door Timeline

Rye, NH → Exeter 15m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 21m

Arrival 10m

Dover → Laconia, NH 56m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $3) $3

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

Stations

From Exeter 10 mi, ~15m drive

To Dover 37 mi, ~56m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~90/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

− 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 41m	3h 18m	2h 12m
Total cost (1 person)	$49	$122	$3
Carbon footprint	25 kg CO₂	13 kg CO₂	1 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 16, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

61.7 mi 1h 40m

via US 4; NH 16, NH 11, NH 11A

Alternative (+8 min)

80.7 mi 1h 48m

via I 93, NH 101, US 3; NH 11; NH 132

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Rye, NH to Laconia, NH with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.