Drive or Fly: Spokane, WA to Rochester, 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–OLM. At 341 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 28m

Distance

341.4 mi

Total Cost

$110

CO2

138 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$75

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 4m

33m in the air

Air Distance

272 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

69 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Spokane, WA → GEG 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 33m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

OLM → Rochester, WA 21m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Rochester, WA OLM — Olympia Regional Airport 14 mi, ~21m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 3h 24m 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

8h 12m

7h 10m on road

Total Cost

$29

CO2

15 kg

Route

FlixBus 2120

Door-to-Door Timeline

Spokane, WA → Spokane Station (SPO6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 430m

Arrival 10m

Olympia (Intercity Transit Center) (1OL) → Rochester, WA 27m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $29) $29

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

Stations

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

To 1OL — Olympia (Intercity Transit Center) 18 mi, ~27m 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	6h 28m	3h 4m	8h 12m
Total cost (1 person)	$110	$186	$29
Carbon footprint	138 kg CO₂	69 kg CO₂	15 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 15, 2026.

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