Drive or Fly: Spokane, WA to Kalama, 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 GEG–PDX. At 381 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

7h 8m

Distance

381.5 mi

Total Cost

$120

CO2

154 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$85

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 31m

34m in the air

Air Distance

280 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

71 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Spokane, WA → GEG 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 34m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PDX → Kalama, WA 47m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Spokane, WA GEG — Spokane International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

Kalama, WA PDX — Portland International Airport 31 mi, ~47m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between GEG and PDX. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 3h 37m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

10h 36m

9h 10m on road

Total Cost

$32

CO2

17 kg

Route

FlixBus 2120

Door-to-Door Timeline

Spokane, WA → Spokane Station (SPO6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 550m

Arrival 10m

Portland Curbside Bus Stop (PUT6) → Kalama, WA 51m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $32) $32

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

Stations

From SPO6 — Spokane Station 1 mi, ~10m drive

To PUT6 — Portland Curbside Bus Stop 34 mi, ~51m 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	Bus
Door-to-door time	7h 8m	3h 31m	10h 36m
Total cost (1 person)	$120	$186	$32
Carbon footprint	154 kg CO₂	71 kg CO₂	17 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 13, 2026.

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