Drive or Fly: Seattle, WA to Lynden, 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 BFI–BLI. At 102 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

2h 11m

Distance

102.5 mi

Total Cost

$58

CO2

41 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$23

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 38m

11m in the air

Air Distance

93 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

24 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Seattle, WA → BFI 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 11m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BLI → Lynden, WA 17m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Seattle, WA BFI — King County International Airport - Boeing Field 6 mi, ~10m drive

Lynden, WA BLI — Bellingham International Airport 11 mi, ~17m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BFI and BLI. 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

3h 18m

2h 4m on rail

Total Cost

$16

CO2

5 kg

Route

Amtrak Cascades

Door-to-Door Timeline

Seattle, WA → Seattle 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 124m

Arrival 10m

Bellingham Amtrak Station → Lynden, WA 24m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $16) $16

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

Stations

From Seattle 1 mi, ~10m drive

To Bellingham Amtrak Station 16 mi, ~24m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/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 3 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	2h 11m	2h 38m	3h 18m
Total cost (1 person)	$58	$124	$16
Carbon footprint	41 kg CO₂	24 kg CO₂	5 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 13, 2026.

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