Drive or Fly: Topsham, ME to Brightwater, ME?

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 PWM–PWM. At 17 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

40m

Distance

17.2 mi

Total Cost

$39

CO2

7 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$4

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 17m

1m in the air

Air Distance

10 mi

Total Cost

$120

CO2

3 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Topsham, ME → PWM 38m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 1m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PWM → Brightwater, ME 38m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $120) $120

Airports

Topsham, ME PWM — Portland International Jetport 26 mi, ~38m drive

Brightwater, ME PWM — Portland International Jetport 25 mi, ~38m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PWM and PWM. 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

2h 20m

55m on road

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Greyhound US0265s

Door-to-Door Timeline

Topsham, ME → Lewiston (Bates Coll) (BTS6) 25m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 55m

Arrival 10m

City of Portland (PVT6) → Brightwater, ME 35m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $3) $3

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

Stations

From BTS6 — Lewiston (Bates Coll) 17 mi, ~25m drive

To PVT6 — City of Portland 23 mi, ~35m 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	40m	3h 17m	2h 20m
Total cost (1 person)	$39	$120	$3
Carbon footprint	7 kg CO₂	3 kg CO₂	2 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 Topsham, ME to Brightwater, ME with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.