Drive or Fly: Yakima, WA to Gig Harbor, 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–TIW. At 166 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 17m

Distance

166.3 mi

Total Cost

$72

CO2

67 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$37

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 33m

13m in the air

Air Distance

110 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

28 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Yakima, WA → YKM 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 13m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

TIW → Gig Harbor, WA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

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

Gig Harbor, WA TIW — Tacoma Narrows Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between YKM and TIW. 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

4h 45m

3h 20m on road

Total Cost

$10

CO2

10 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Yakima, WA → Ellensburg (Central Washington University) (1CW) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 200m

Arrival 10m

Tacoma (G St & Puyallup Ave) (1TA) → Gig Harbor, WA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $10) $10

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

Stations

From 1CW — Ellensburg (Central Washington University) 0 mi, ~30m drive

To 1TA — Tacoma (G St & Puyallup Ave) 0 mi, ~30m 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 17m	2h 33m	4h 45m
Total cost (1 person)	$72	$124	$10
Carbon footprint	67 kg CO₂	28 kg CO₂	10 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 17, 2026.

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