Drive or Fly: Yakima, WA to Battle Ground, 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 YKM–PDX. At 196 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 57m

Distance

196 mi

Total Cost

$78

CO2

79 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$43

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 43m

13m in the air

Air Distance

112 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

29 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Yakima, WA → YKM 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 13m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PDX → Battle Ground, WA 20m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Yakima, WA YKM — Yakima Air Terminal McAllister Field 3 mi, ~10m drive

Battle Ground, WA PDX — Portland International Airport 14 mi, ~20m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between YKM and PDX. 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

7h 40m

6h 5m on road

Total Cost

$16

CO2

8 kg

Route

FlixBus 2120

Door-to-Door Timeline

Yakima, WA → Ellensburg (Central Washington University) (1CW) 42m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 365m

Arrival 10m

Portland Curbside Bus Stop (PUT6) → Battle Ground, WA 28m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $16) $16

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

Stations

From 1CW — Ellensburg (Central Washington University) 28 mi, ~42m drive

To PUT6 — Portland Curbside Bus Stop 19 mi, ~28m 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	3h 57m	2h 43m	7h 40m
Total cost (1 person)	$78	$124	$16
Carbon footprint	79 kg CO₂	29 kg CO₂	8 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 18, 2026.

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