Drive or Fly from Texas

[carj]

Let me start off by saying that I never really considered making this kind of a drive. 20 hours!! However, the cost of the flights combined with rental cars just makes me feel slightly woozy.
The usual argument of our time being worth something doesn't apply well in our situation. I am off all summer because I am a teacher and my husband has 30 days of vacation which he must use or lose by August. He will end up losing some of them no matter what because he is too busy at work to take of six weeks in the next 5 months.

This trip will be my husband, my DS8, DD5 almost 6, and I. We have a minivan with a DVD, all the usual electronic devices, DS, MP3, and we are all avid readers.

The longest road trip that we have ever taken was 5 hours! This trip is not even in the same category.

Our plan currently is to break the drive up into 3 days each way. 6 hours, 9 hours, 6 hours.

Here are the numbers:
I am not including food because we will eat somewhere either way.
Drive
Gas:600
Hotels on the road:$300 (nothing fancy)
Oil changes $50
I know that I should also take into account wear and tear on the van but I drive about 1000 miles month for work so the trip has a negligible impact on that compared to what I drive for work.
Total budget $950-1000
Total trip time 12 days
If we fly
Airline tickets $1200
rental car $400 for an economy for 9 days.
Gas for rental car $100 for local driving to San Diego and Carlsbad and around Anaheim for 9 days.
Total Budget $1700
Total trip time 9 days
Pro for driving is that we will visit a couple of places on the way and back. Possibly spending one night near the Grand Canyon. We can also be somewhat flexible with our plans
Con for driving is that it is a really, really, really long drive. I have visions of us somewhere in the desert, delirious and vowing to never drive anywhere again.

Pro for flying is that it is faster
Con for flying is that the cheapest flights for us require a plane change or stop in Phoenix. Also, we are going to essentially lose our last day at the parks.

Here is what is also making me crazy. I finally convinced my husband that we should definitely drive and I am now the one who thinks that we should fly! I am slowly losing my mind!

 

[NicksMommy]

I say fly! when you get there you can get a really good deal on a rental using the entertainment card or priceline.com

 

[Boston Tea Party]

We fly from Houston every year because our time is limited. If I had time, I would love to drive.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

BTW - the Grand Canyon would take you way out of your way.

 

[NostalgicDad]

Well, I've made that drive a couple of times via different routes. Once was by myself and once was with the family. Personally, I really enjoy driving to places and taking routes I've never seen before. If I had unlimited time to take a trip to the east or west coast, I would most likely drive it. But, we have to coordinate our time off as we both work and the kids being in school and activities, so the past few trips out west, we have flown.

Let me say again that I love to drive. But, the last time all five of us did it together, it was almost worth spending any amount extra to fly! We were cranky and it took us forever to get back in the groove after getting back home. My neck hurt from sitting behind the wheel for so long, etc. If you can stomach the cost of airfare these days, I say hop a plane and get there quick. I love flying west to gain 2 hours of time. Our flight in July departs DFW at 6am. When we arrive at LAX, it will be 7:15am. I can eat 2 breakfasts!

Not sure if any of this helps, but I definitely know where you're coming from in this decision. Just make it fun either way you do it!

 

[DoleWhip81]

If you are going to take full advantage of all the sights and plan on just taking your time, then I would say driving might be a good idea. However, you could fly and take a shuttle to the parks, which my wife and I have found to be very relaxing (just have to plan activities for the kids). The flight is about three hours. The shuttle that my wife and I have taken in the past costs $60 for two people round trip, they are very nice and will drop you off at your hotel and pick you up at your hotel for your return.

 

[teatime]

drive!! see the sites and really see the country. Have fun along the way !! spending time with the family is awesome and you can really have a great time along the way as in educational to!

 

[momto2nenas]

FLY! Try airfarewatchdog.com and sign up for their daily updates. We are flying out of San Antonio in May and it was less than $200 per person roundtrip on Southwest. We are getting a rental car for around $130-150 for the week. Its definately cheaper than driving and 6 DAYS OF TRAVEL! You will be exhausted before you even get to the parks (IMO).

We drove FROM Disneyland in 2007 and the drive on 1-10 is long and boring. Nothing to see in Texas, nothing in New Mexico, and some cactus and cool rocks in AZ -that's it.

 

[zeitzeuge]

I'm in Texas also. Flights can be expensive from Dallas, despite AA and Southwest being based here. Go figure.

I've signed up for alerts on yahoo, that tell me when flights to favaorite cities I have set up, drop below a certain price point that I also set. I have them set to send me an alert when they go below $250. I'm getting email alerts at least twice a week for flights to SNA averaging around 200-215 a person. Usually the flights are available to be booke for travle between now through the next 4 months. We're needing flights for September trip, so in May I should be able to book our flights.

Not sure if this would help for this trip, but it might in future trips you plan to Disneyland.

 

[mechurchlady]

I say fly. I flew via Dallas last year and the trip was not too bad and it is a nice airport. 40+ hours with kids in the hot desert is not fun to me. I have done the LA to Phoenix trip before and the LA to Vegas and LA to NEwberry Springs routes, hot hot hot.

 

[charmama4]

I'm in Texas also. Flights can be expensive from Dallas, despite AA and Southwest being based here. Go figure.

I've signed up for alerts on yahoo, that tell me when flights to favaorite cities I have set up, drop below a certain price point that I also set. I have them set to send me an alert when they go below $250. I'm getting email alerts at least twice a week for flights to SNA averaging around 200-215 a person. Usually the flights are available to be booke for travle between now through the next 4 months. We're needing flights for September trip, so in May I should be able to book our flights.

Not sure if this would help for this trip, but it might in future trips you plan to Disneyland.

you're kidding? That's ridiculous!!

carj~ Is this trip more to just get to DL or is it to see some of the country on your WAY to DL? If you put it in this perspective it may help to make your decsion....
So, if it's to just get to DL, fly.The extra cost may save your sanity in the long run. And if it's to see some of the country on your way to DL, drive. Go to AAA (if you're a member and if not become one) and have them make you a triptix with some stops to check out on the way.

 

[blackjackdelta]

We do a 18 hour drive just about every year. I just winds up less expensive for the total trip and I like to drive to see the countryside. There are 6 of us and we can bring what we want not limited to baggage restriction and then we have a vehicle to go and do what we want.


Just my 10 cents(adjusted for inflation)

Jack

 

[darose1234]

I don't know where you live in Texas but my family and I are flying out of Austin in May and flying into LAX (direct flights) and we paid $179 round trip each and I think they are even cheaper than that right now?

I would fly.

 

[beckanoah]

I am also in TX and if I go this summer (still debating) dd and I will drive. We can get there for 150 in gas and a 50 dollar hotel stay.

 

[carj]

Well we are still debating.

I think that part of our problem with expensive flights and rental cars is that we are planning to be in California June 25- July 3, right before the 4th! I can get a fairly good price on the flight to California and then the return flight is the one that boosts the price up.

I think that I will keep checking for flights. I wonder why it is so much easier to find a cheap flight to Orlando? Last year we spent $1465 for 7 nights at All Star Sports and 4 RT tickets. Our rental SUV was less than $170 for the 8 days. I think that when I compare the cost of the two trips, it just makes it worse.

If we drive, we are planning to take the slightly longer route through Amarillo, Albuquerque and Flagstaff rather than going through El Paso and Phoenix. I know that it is probably paranoid, but the current border violence is making me want to avoid El Paso.

I appreciate all of your input. Thank you so much! I am going to keep playing with the dates and numbers. There are a couple of dates we are commited to, but we could be flexible by a few days.

 

[NicksMommy]

Don't worry about the El Paso/Mexico border thing I have family that lives there, it's more in Juarez Mexico than in El Paso esp. not in the area you will drive through...

 

[ballarinamom]

We live in San Antonio. We fly for all of our trips and love gaining the additional 2 hours when we land. We also take the latest flights out. This past trip, we got a 7:00pm and had the car pick us up at 5:00 for LGB.

If you could hit Route 66, that would be truly cool but more time. However, my DH doesn't like to drive more than 5 hours. He hates the stress of being behind the wheel. I just wonder how relaxing or relaxed your husband will be when he gets to DL?

 

[carj]

We live in San Antonio. We fly for all of our trips and love gaining the additional 2 hours when we land. We also take the latest flights out. This past trip, we got a 7:00pm and had the car pick us up at 5:00 for LGB.

If you could hit Route 66, that would be truly cool but more time. However, my DH doesn't like to drive more than 5 hours. He hates the stress of being behind the wheel. I just wonder how relaxing or relaxed your husband will be when he gets to DL?

Yeah, he will be plenty relaxed! It will be me that is having the nervous breakdown!

 

[Kittyskyfish]

I would normally fly since DH and I live in Dallas, but your particular circumstances make driving a good choice.

One, you are looking relatively last-minute at flights around July 4, so what's left is going to be more expensive. Also, you plan on car-touring parts of California which will require a car - and adding a rental car just makes it more expensive, again.

Once you get past the Texas Permian Basin, there are some gorgeous sights to experience along the way. And you mentioned Carlsbad - that's a MUST see! Maybe on the way back tho...

But most importantly, you need to have at least one bona-fide Griswold experience in your life! Pack National Lampoon's Vacation, sing along to Holiday Road and see how close your trip mimics the movie.

 

[NStramler]

My vote is drive. Three summers ago we took our boys aged 14 and 13 and drove to Disney World (spent 12 days at the parks) from California. That trip was filled with memories that will last a life time. We took our time, saw the country and visited places we had only read about. Would I do it agan? Yes...... In a heartbeat!!!!

Susie