Drive or Fly: Yakima, WA to Montesano, 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–OLM. At 194 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 8m

Distance

194.2 mi

Total Cost

$78

CO2

78 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

3h 18m

18m in the air

Air Distance

149 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

38 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Yakima, WA → YKM 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 18m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

OLM → Montesano, WA 50m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

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

Montesano, WA OLM — Olympia Regional Airport 33 mi, ~50m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between YKM and OLM. 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

6h 2m

4h 5m on road

Total Cost

$12

CO2

6 kg

Route

FlixBus 2120

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 245m

Arrival 10m

Olympia (Intercity Transit Center) (1OL) → Montesano, WA 50m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $12) $12

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

Stations

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

To 1OL — Olympia (Intercity Transit Center) 33 mi, ~50m 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	4h 8m	3h 18m	6h 2m
Total cost (1 person)	$78	$126	$12
Carbon footprint	78 kg CO₂	38 kg CO₂	6 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 Montesano, WA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.