Cost comparison of driving vs. flying

[trivial]

Family Snyders lives in London, ON and is made up of 2 adults and 3 children. Flying to Florida via a good deal on a budget airline out of Buffalo or Detroit would cost them approximately $1000 round-trip including gas by my estimation (my wife and I flew round-trip for $175/person total, so I figure that number is perhaps even a bit too high). I'm trying to figure out how much it would cost for them to drive.

Google Maps and Mapquest suggest a 20-hour drive, not including stops of course. Family Snyders is driving a minivan, which gets roughly 26 mpg on the highway. Cost of gas is currently running around $3/gallon, and the drive will be around 1300 miles. This works out to $300 for gas round-trip.

Family Snyders will do the drive over 2 days each way. We'll say they leave at 5:00 a.m. the first morning, have a 1-hour break for lunch, and stop driving around 6 p.m (and have dinner). On the second day, they're off again at 6:00 a.m., stop for lunch, and arrive at Disney World around 3:00 p.m. They gas up during their meal breaks.

While I haven't looked at any specific hotels, $100/night (x2 round-trip) sounds about right. Figure maybe $40-50 per lunch and dinner (nothing fancy), and assuming the hotel has complimentary breakfast, that's $270 for meals (2 lunches, 1 dinner). If they stick to cheap fast food, probably closer to $180. It's also possible that they'd pack their own meals; we'll assume they pack their first day's lunch only, so that's $150 for 5 fast food meals.

Our grand total comes to $650 to drive, assuming no speeding tickets or other expenses (including over 4000km worth of wear-and-tear on the vehicle). But then you're also looking at taking 2 extra days off work, and that could really add up for some people.

Does all that sound about right?

 

[ChisJo]

wow - good estimates! Don't forget to add general maintenance to the vehicle before you go (oil change and tune up!) - wouldn't want the van to have problems!

And your right about the two extra days. If we took 2 extra days off of work, we would be losing far more than the cost saved by driving....it's not worth it for us. We would rather not waste our time in a car, get on a plane, and get going!

 

[trivial]

For 2 people, it's really a no-brainer -- driving would actually be more expensive. The above scenario is for a family in our extended family, and I was curious to know if it would be more economical for them to drive. It would be, except the 2 extra days off work totally blow it (and with 3 kids, doing all 20 hours at once would not, errr, fly ).

 

[Debbie]

Family Snyders may think of the drive as part of the vacation. We did-many, many times. In fact, we sometimes took extra days so that we could do some side trips (suggestions from Along I-75 by Dave Hunter) such as the original KFC restaurant , Museum of Applalachia, Lost Sea, Mayfield Dairy, Cabbage Patch Hospital , Silver Springs etc.

Straight there and back? We always packed lunch and snacks so the first day was gas, hotel and 1-fast food when they were younger-meal. The second day, I always had leftover lunch, but we'd stop anyway. Stopping just outside of Atlanta worked well for us, as it is over the half way point on the way down. They will want to have the 'easier' day on the second day.

My girls miss the drive-and stops at Waffle House and Cracker Barrel for food and shopping. Cost of flights: You can usually get one way flights along the lines of: Jet Blue is $99 from Buffalo, Air Tran for $94-119, SW is $97 etc. Dings would make it cheaper.

Sounds like you've done your homework.

Oh, and we've done the drive with: 3, 4, 5 yo (1991), infant, 2½, 7, 8, 9 yo (1994) and older. Without DVD. And lived to tell the tale.

 

[trivial]

Debbie, that's very valuable input, thank you! I hadn't considered that the drive (and stops along the way) could be part of the vacation. We wouldn't personally be interested in doing that, but they may be. Thanks again!

 

[son3disfan]

Family of 5 here...

We have done both...driving and flying, a few times each....and economically, for us , the drive is much less expensive.
Even with a ding fare. The 5 of us flew down last year for $850 Can.
We rent a car because we do a week in Disney , and a week in Clearwater beach.

So with the price of a flight, rental car , parking at the airport, hotel ( if needed) the drive is cheaper. Longer, but cheaper. Plus , we have our own car there, which is great for off property dining, and park hopping.

We are driving again this year , and the kids are relly looking forward to it. We leave around 4:00pm , and they sleep through the the night, while my hubby and I take shifts driving ( we are night hawks).
In the morning , we stop for breakfast, let them run around, stop for lunch, and a rest stop in between that if needed, and we are there by 3:00pm.

Leaving at around 3:00 or 4:00 pm ( instead of early morning ) works great for us.
One year, we started the drive at 6:00 am , thinking that we would be fresh for the drive, well, by 11:00pm , the kids were still up, ( restless) and we were exsausted! We did make it Disney early the next morning, but the kids were cranky, from not enough sleep.( and so were we!) Twice now, we have left later in the day with great results.. Plus, you hit the major cities that would normally have a lot of traffic, in the middle of the night.
If you are stopping to make it a 2 or 3 day drive, I guess it doesn't matter what time you leave.

Just my 2 cents.

We enjoy the time together in the van, and for us, it's extra family time.

 

[dancin Disney style]

We did the drive in August 07'. Here's the scoop......

We are a family of 4, drive a Chev Venture and live in Oakville, ON. We made it to WDW in 22 and 1/2 hours. We left home at 3:40am and drove until about 10:15pm. We used the 77/79 route and stopped for the night about 1 hour north of Savannah, GA. Left the hotel at 8am and arrived at POFQ at 2pm.

We packed breakfast, lunch and snacks for day 1. We stopped for dinner at a restaurant. The hotel that we stopped at included breakfast and we had enough snacks and drinks left over for day 2.

The return trip was quite similar with meals being the exception. We purchased all our meals on the road.

The total cost of the drive round trip was $570. This covered gas, food and hotel. Also, you must add in the cost of car maintenance before and after the trip. The minimum being an oil change on both ends of the trip which would cost approx. $40 each. My DH works in the auto industry so, fortunately, we do not pay for maintenance on our cars but if we did the grand total would be $650.

Now.....I could have purchased flights on SW for $670 (which I would have preferred to do) but the family was up for the road trip. My DH was convinced that it was cheaper to drive than fly. I said that it was not and I proved my point. However, the drive was fun and I would do it again without complaint. I know a lot of people consider it part of the vacation. We are both able to take those extra vacation days so whether we use the days driving or sitting by the hotel pool we are still on vacation.

 

[A&CsMom]

We have driven with the kids 3 times (I have driven with my family before I was married many times as well, and we flew once). In 2008 we have decided to fly. You are right, it is about $300 in gas (there is a website that will estimate for you, and that is what they say from Buffalo to Orlando return). Also, two nights on the road, and the hotels we stay at generally cost a bit more than $100, more like $120-140. We were going to drive this year, but can only go for a week, so decided it was worth it to spend the money on flying. This is how our breakdown for flying goes (2 adults, 2 children):

Southwest flights Cleveland to MCO RT $523 (incl. tax)
Sleep, Park and Fly in Cleveland $108 (incl. tax)
Extra night in Florida (trying Pop Century) $92.00 (incl. tax)
Gas for driving to Cleveland return $50.00
Rental car in FL $136 (incl. tax)

Total cost of flying: $909 (7.5 days in Florida, plus a day at home at the end to get rested, organized, unpacked and do laundry)

Cost of Driving:

Gas round trip: $300
Hotels round trip: $260
Vehicle check and tune up: approx. $200 (as long as nothing serious found)

Total cost of driving: $760 (6 days in Florida)

We do enjoy the drive, but extra time was also important, so we compromised on driving 4.5 hours to Cleveland to get a fare we could live with ($110 pp RT). If we can match it in Buffalo, we will and will save ourselves that drive.

Sorry I rambled on, hope there's something here that might help. By the way, I believe there are some amazing fares out of Detroit.

 

[trivial]

By the way, I believe there are some amazing fares out of Detroit.

Wow, I'll say! I didn't realize that. I priced 5 people flying from Detroit vs. 5 people flying from Buffalo (mid-late January), and the price out of Detroit was amazing ($644 for 5 people, all-in, non-stop round-trip). Out of Buffalo was $1000. Even lower with Ding, I'm sure. Thanks for the tip!

 

[digskat]

we are a family of 4, that have driven the last 4 years. Flying versus driving equals convenience versus economics, driving is cheaper and flying is convenient. Tune ups and oil changes are done whether you drive down or not, so including them in your cost is ridiculous. Here is our calculations;
driving
Fuel $300
meals $180
hotel $200
-------------
total $680

flying
fuel $40
meals $45
park'n'fly $165
flights $835
rental car $56
-----------
total $ 1141

we leave at 4 am, and drive 14-15 hours day 1, meaning we arrive at WDW by 2pm on day 2. We pre-book our hotel, and have never paid more than $100 for a hotel room (including a suite at a Holiday Inn Express). We don't limit ourselves to fast food, but also don't go crazy.
We priced out flying last year, and had a 7 am departure time from Detroit. This meant driving down the night before, which was thanksgiving weekend (US) and additional traffic at the border. The time savings would have been 7 hours on the departure day, and 12 on return. We buy groceries (breakfasts) and gifts while there, so a rental vehicle, or a large taxi bill would be required.

Now for convenience.....having your own vehicle while at WDW is priceless. WDW buses are a wonderful idea, but we have used them 8x, and never had a seat. We have stood in a que, and waited while 2 buses filled up, without us getting on. Your own vehicle means freedom, come and go when and where you want. For us, the drive is part of the vacation since we are together, away from external distractions. We book hotels with indoor pools on the way down, and make sure to take the kids for a dip before bed.

 

[cslittle999]

My calculations are similar to digskat's. Our meal costs when driving are lower because we bring a 12 volt/120 volt fridge with us so we don't pay for lunches on the drive down. We always pick hotels that include a good breakfast. Even on the drive back a quick stop at a grocery store can save a lot on food.

The length of the trip is really the major decision making factor for us. The cost of the flights is constant but the rental car cost goes up. If you're going down for a few days fly. If you're going down for a week or more then drive.

I'm curious how the extra vacation days driving takes factor in for people. Since I'm paid for vacation time I don't consider extra days a cost. Are you self-employed so you really are losing money or is it just complicated to get larger blocks of time off? I have lots of vacation time and my DW stays home so I've never really thought about it.

 

[trivial]

Now for convenience.....having your own vehicle while at WDW is priceless. WDW buses are a wonderful idea, but we have used them 8x, and never had a seat. We have stood in a que, and waited while 2 buses filled up, without us getting on. Your own vehicle means freedom, come and go when and where you want.

On our last trip, we relied on Disney's transportation, and actually had really good experiences. The one minor exception was having to wait in a long line for our resort bus on evening (we couldn't get on the first bus), but we were in no hurry. Are you going during really busy times of the year? We'd get a rental car if we really had to, but the plan at the moment is to rely on Disney's transportation.

For us, a family of 4, it looks like we'll be flying out of Detroit ($515.20 all-in as an example); it would be about the same cost for us to drive, and I'd just rather not drive or "waste" time. (My pricing worked out to be several hundred less than your example.) I know some people enjoy the drive, but I did it as a kid and don't want to repeat it unless it's significantly less expensive.

 

[digskat]

no, we have gone in October/November and have still yet to have a positive experience. Last November, at POFQ, we stood all 4 times we used the bus, and waited for a 4rd bus, to return from MK. This past November, at POP, we waited for a 3rd bus, and still had to stand. On return from MK, we stood on the second bus (after waiting 20 minutes for it). We also tend to do a bit of shopping, buying breakfast foods and beverages, as well as gifts and souveners.

Our flight costs were elevated, due to the weekend we were departing, but we have yet to get a deal under $500 round trip. Factor in pre-flight time, border waits, and travel to Detroit, and we still require a park'n'fly (2.5-3 hour drive, plus waits). This year, we were gone over the 14 days, so there was an additional cost coming for the parking. My wife is a severe planner, so she priced and priced, and we still found we could save $500 by driving. We pre-booked our hotels, and got a room at a Baymount Inn (recommended in Along I75) for $70. It included a hot breakfast, and was next door to a newer Cracker Barrel, where we ate supper ($27). It had an indoor/outdoor pool, and we relaxed for awhile in the spa.
We pack breakfast and lunch for day 1, as well as drinks and snacks. We buy supper that night, and lunch the next. On the route home, we buy 2 meals day 1, and lunch day 2.

We looked at $35-40 for supper in Detroit, gas both ways, and park'n'fly, as well as at least 1 meal on the way home, all above and beyond the expenses of the drive (since our flight equaled our drive expenses). The luxury of our vehicle while there, made it a non-decision for us. Maybe if we had better experiences with WDW buses, and bought breakfast at the resort, we would reconsider. The kids also use the time in vehicle, to do their homework.

 

[AndyMcV]

....Our grand total comes to $650 to drive, assuming no speeding tickets or other expenses (including over 4000km worth of wear-and-tear on the vehicle). But then you're also looking at taking 2 extra days off work, and that could really add up for some people....

Hmmm... based on your calculations (and I think the gas cost might be higher) basically it'll be $350 extra to get you there in 2 hours versus an extra 4 days in the minivan. Personally I'd be opting for the flights. That's of course my opinion and you might be looking forward to the extra days with your family in the van.

 

[trivial]

no, we have gone in October/November and have still yet to have a positive experience. Last November, at POFQ, we stood all 4 times we used the bus, and waited for a 4rd bus, to return from MK. This past November, at POP, we waited for a 3rd bus, and still had to stand. On return from MK, we stood on the second bus (after waiting 20 minutes for it). We also tend to do a bit of shopping, buying breakfast foods and beverages, as well as gifts and souveners.

Wow, that's really terrible! I wonder if that's par for the course for Moderates, but either way, I can certainly see why you'd want a vehicle rather than go through that. I'm surprised Disney would be content with that level of performance. Maybe we were just lucky, or maybe our resort (BoardWalk Villas) has better bus service, I dunno.

 

[A&CsMom]

Tune ups and oil changes are done whether you drive down or not, so including them in your cost is ridiculous.

When we are going to drive to Orlando, we get our mechanic to thoroughly look over our vehicle and make sure everything looks good, so this is an expense for us. It is a long trip and anyone who has had a breakdown on a long road trip knows what a pain it can be, never mind losing precious vacation time! This is maintenance we would not normally do if we were flying, or even going on a half day road trip, so I do count it in the cost of the trip. We also don't normally get two oil changes in the same month, so that is an extra expense.

As far as the value of vacation time, it is very precious to me because I only get 3 weeks per year. This year we have decided to do two weeks of cottaging in the summer, so that leaves one week for Florida. My DH is a firefighter and has a lot of time off, so I often feel like I'm holding my family back from vacations because of my relatively small amount of vacation time, another good reason to fly.

 

[son3disfan]

Ok,
so after my big long post on DRIVING,
I wake up this morning and found an INCREDIBLE deal out of Detroit for the days we need.
5 of us,
Detroit to MCO- $541.50 ( all fees and taxes included!) ROUNDTRIP!

Oh, and they are non- stop flights as well!
I couldn't pass it up. That's even better then last year with a ding fare !

Spirit airlines with a Mastercard coupon.( MC10)expires today, I beleive.
Our dates are Feb. 28th to March 13th ,

Hope that might help some one out.

 

[OntFamily]

Like many others, we have both flown and drove.

From a cost point of view, the costs are similar for a family of 3 or 4 (there may be a $100 difference either way, but this $100 is a small % of your total vacation cost).

If you feel a need to have your own private vehicle in Orlando, this will tip the scales to saving money by driving.

I find the drive to Florida very easy. Driving home is always difficult.

 

[digskat]

Hmmm... based on your calculations (and I think the gas cost might be higher) basically it'll be $350 extra to get you there in 2 hours versus an extra 4 days in the minivan. Personally I'd be opting for the flights. That's of course my opinion and you might be looking forward to the extra days with your family in the van.

the OP is driving from London (basicly the same distance I have), and in 4 trips, $300 is generous. We drive to the parks each day, into Orlando and Kissimmee shopping, and around the area for some meals, and have never spent more than $320 for fuel (in an SUV). 4 days to drive compared to a 2 hour flight? Maybe if you limit yourself to 5 hours driving each day, it will take 4 days. A 2 hour flight, PLUS a 2 hour drive to Detroit, plus an hour to sit prior to the flight...
My opinion....I enjoy the time with my family, in a vehicle or sitting in an airport.

 

[Ham Ham]

Driving with 5 people is generally more economical than driving. Especially if you plan on renting a vehicle in WDW.

I enjoy the drive as part of the holiday, DVD player, iPod Satellite radio we're good to go.

Here's one of my favorite driving travel tools.

http://www.fuelcostcalculator.com/

No matter how you spin it flying is one day down and one day back.

Sure the flight is only a little under 3 hours, arriving at the airport at least 2 hours prior to flight, pay for long term parking at the airprot or if not the night before, hotel room with parking included, shuttle to the Airport. Unless you're using ME at Orlando you need to wait for the bags, pick up the rental car etc.

The 3 hour flight when you add it all up is between 6 & 8 hours of your time.

Driving 20 hours will probably be around 23-25 hours of driving time with stops included.

We're fans of driving straight through. Leave one afternoon and arrive at Disney the next afternoon.

The longer you stay in Florida the more sense driving makes.

The worse thing about driving is the drive back! Best thing about the drive back is we stop in Grove City at the outlets for some bargains.