If you think ditching flights in favor of road trips will save you money on your summer travel plans, think again. According to USA Today, a recent poll shows that due to rising gas prices this summer, travelers are more concerned about the price at the pump than the cost of an airline ticket.
In the last month, gas prices have risen 37 percent but airfares have dropped to some of the lowest prices in years.
Before you shun the idea of flying, consider how much extra work (and time) you’re spending for a minimal difference in cost. We drummed up two potential weekend trips that are far enough to fly to, and near enough to drive – the results were a savings in coin and time.
Our research is based on a round-trip journey for two passengers from Friday-Sunday, driving a mid-sized car (with a 16 gallon tank) based on the average gas price (as of May 27th) of $2.39.
Check out the facts before you step on the gas:
Trip #1: Boston to Chesapeake Bay
Airports: Flights to/from Boston (BOS) and Washington DC (BWI)
Total Miles: 856
Total Travel Time (Driving): 15 hours
Total Travel Time (Flying): 4 hours
Gas Costs: $100
Flight Costs: Thanks to AirTran’s $39 flight sale, the total cost to fly from Boston-Baltimore totaled $198 RT for two people, including taxes and fees.
Hotel Costs: We found a rate at the Park Hotel from $99/night
The result: Ditch the car and you’ll pay only $56 more ($28 each/per person) and save 11 hours of travel time when you book Boston flights to Maryland.
Trip #2: New York City to Niagara Falls
Airports: Flights to/from New York’s JFK and New York’s Buffalo Airport (BUF)
Total Miles: 822
Total Travel Time (Driving): 14 hours
Total Travel Time (Flying): 4 hours
Gas Costs: $100
Flight Costs: JetBlue offers daily flights to/from JFK-BUF. The total price for this trip came to $216 round-trip for two people, including taxes and fees.
Hotel Costs: Niagara Falls Hilton has promotional rates starting at $119/night.
The result: You’ll pay $116 more ($58 each/per person) and you save 10 hours of travel time if you book a New York flight to Buffalo instead of driving to Niagara Falls.
Factor in rest stops, meals on the road, and parking your car at the hotel (average about $30/ night) and driving could end up costing you more than flying. What’s more, you can cut your travel time by almost 75 percent if you fly, allowing you more time at your destination.
Lesson learned: Before you pack up the car and map out your route, consider the time and costs involved in driving for your next weekend getaway. Thanks to an abundance of cheap flights and hotels, you can save time and money by heading to the airport.
© Cheapflights Ltd Andrea Mooney
