Drive or Fly: Vivian, LA to Lafayette, LA?

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 SHV–LFT. At 243 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 22m

Distance

243.9 mi

Total Cost

$89

CO2

99 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$54

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 22m

26m in the air

Air Distance

217 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

55 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Vivian, LA → SHV 46m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 26m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LFT → Lafayette, LA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Vivian, LA SHV — Shreveport Regional Airport 31 mi, ~46m drive

Lafayette, LA LFT — Lafayette Regional Airport 2 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SHV and LFT. 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

6h 18m

5h on road

Total Cost

$21

CO2

11 kg

Route

Greyhound US1170s

Door-to-Door Timeline

Vivian, LA → Shreveport Bus Station (SHR6) 43m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 300m

Arrival 10m

Lafayette Transit System (LAF6) → Lafayette, LA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $21) $21

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

Stations

From SHR6 — Shreveport Bus Station 29 mi, ~43m drive

To LAF6 — Lafayette Transit System 0 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~14/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

− 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 22m	3h 22m	6h 18m
Total cost (1 person)	$89	$184	$21
Carbon footprint	99 kg CO₂	55 kg CO₂	11 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 Vivian, LA to Lafayette, LA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.