Drive or Fly: West Scarborough, ME to Buxton, 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 8 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

19m

Distance

8.4 mi

Total Cost

$37

CO2

3 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$2

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

2h 27m

1m in the air

Air Distance

8 mi

Total Cost

$120

CO2

2 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

West Scarborough, ME → PWM 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 1m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PWM → Buxton, ME 16m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $120) $120

Airports

West Scarborough, ME PWM — Portland International Jetport 7 mi, ~10m drive

Buxton, ME PWM — Portland International Jetport 11 mi, ~16m 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

1h 13m

7m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

0 kg

Route

Downeaster

Door-to-Door Timeline

West Scarborough, ME → Old Orchard Beach Amtrak 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 7m

Arrival 10m

Saco Amtrak Station → Buxton, ME 16m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $1) $1

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

Stations

From Old Orchard Beach Amtrak 4 mi, ~10m drive

To Saco Amtrak Station 10 mi, ~16m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~8/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 8 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	19m	2h 27m	1h 13m
Total cost (1 person)	$37	$120	$1
Carbon footprint	3 kg CO₂	2 kg CO₂	0 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: Amtrak 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 West Scarborough, ME to Buxton, ME with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.