Drive or Fly: South Russell, OH to Hamilton, 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 CLE–LUK. At 248 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 48m

Distance

248.2 mi

Total Cost

$90

CO2

100 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$55

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 37m

26m in the air

Air Distance

219 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

56 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

South Russell, OH → CLE 38m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 26m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LUK → Hamilton, OH 33m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

South Russell, OH CLE — Cleveland Hopkins International Airport 25 mi, ~38m drive

Hamilton, OH LUK — Cincinnati Municipal Airport Lunken Field 22 mi, ~33m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between CLE and LUK. 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

8h 8m

6h 56m on road

Total Cost

$24

CO2

12 kg

Route

Greyhound US0105

Door-to-Door Timeline

South Russell, OH → Cleveland Bus Station (CLD6) 26m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 416m

Arrival 10m

Cincinnati Bus Station (CIN) → Hamilton, OH 21m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $24) $24

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

Stations

From CLD6 — Cleveland Bus Station 17 mi, ~26m drive

To CIN — Cincinnati Bus Station 14 mi, ~21m 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 48m	3h 37m	8h 8m
Total cost (1 person)	$90	$184	$24
Carbon footprint	100 kg CO₂	56 kg CO₂	12 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

248.2 mi 4h 48m

via I 71, I 271, Butler County Veterans Highway

Alternative (+9 min)

254.8 mi 4h 57m

via I 71, I 70, SR 4

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from South Russell, OH to Hamilton, OH with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.