Driving vs. flying (cost analysis here) Thoughts on it?

[summermac]

I'm trying to compare the difference b/t flying and driving. I just found a pretty good price on airfare but x 4 ppl and that adds up.

I'd like to try to compare (the best I can) the price of driving vs. flying.

I sorta mocked it up on paper.

Gas (26 MPG; 13 gallon tank) = 5 tanks and I figure avg. $2.59 per gallon. Yes I know it's lower right now but we all know how that changes when summer approaches. ($170)

Lodging for way home - I'll go $129 (? reasonable)

4 meals (?) - $60 (McD baby!)

Oil change upon getting home - $25

I'm coming up with $384. $400 then.

Does this sound reasonable? Do you think I'm missing something?

 

[BenA81]

time is money, so I always lean towards wanting to fly but end up driving anyways...
I would say 500 is a good estimate.

 

[ranthony]

I think you are smart to include an oil change but I never include the cost of food for a road trip. It's still a day in the life of my family and we would be eating regardless of if we were driving that day or flying.

Also, I know gas prices have been on the rise but I still think you're overshooting that a bit too.

Furthermore, if you priceline a hotel for the way home you should be able to get a 2 1/2 or 3 star hotel for around $50 that includes breakfast. (Think Fairfield by Mariott or something similar).

Would you rent a car in Florida if you flew? Would you save $ by being able to grab some grocery items near WDW?

Just a few more things to think about.

 

[BenA81]

would it be possible to take your baby as a lap baby if you flew?

 

[summermac]

It could be possible but I'd suppose that depends on the airline. She turns two April 9th and she's tiny. I considered it. I really did. I just don't know if I'm that risky. It would be AirTran.

Both flights would be non-stop which is why I felt it necessary to include food on the drive costs.

I know we'll have parking too. if we fly. I have to figure out how much that will be.

Oh and tolls for the drive.

We would likely not rent a car, although my parents might so someone could do a Wally run. LOL!

 

[summermac]

Whoa. Typo!

$170 in gas. Whoops!

 

[MnMomW3Boys]

I am trying to figure it out myself,I figured it would take us about $600 to drive and two days each way ( we are driving from Minnesota). If we can get airfare for $1k for 5 of us we are flying. I just don't know if I want to spend 4 days in the car. Did you check flights today, I got an email from airtran tickets dropped $65 for MSP to Orlando...you should check today for your cities.

Have a wonderful trip.

 

[summermac]

Yes, AirTran is the place I looked. $199 pp from Columbus, OH

 

[tzolkin]

When we went last year we spent $380 on gas (minivan) for the trip down and back (almost 1300mi each way). We drove straight through, so our only other expenses were food. Of course, the day we left was when our gas prices hit $4 a gallon. We're driving again, and I'm hoping we'll save some money on gas this time.

 

[lilrooster]

We drive this every year, sometimes twice. We are in Indianapolis IN, so you should be about the same distance as us. We leave at night, like anytime between 8pm and midnight. It makes the drive much nicer as the son is asleep and which ever of us is not driving can sleep easier. We bring a small soft sided cooler with drinks, a bag of various snacks and eat dinner before we leave. We usually stop for breakfast but that's it. Otherwise it's gas stops only. Gas and oil change should put us right about $225, with driving around Disney as well. We are heading down Feb 28...when are you heading down there?

 

[lilrooster]

Also, we are not stopping to stay anyplace this year, however we normally do stop when with my parents. We used to stop at the Best Western In Macon Ga. However me and my father can drive it straight so that's what we do now. My wife and I can as well so we just book the extra night at our timeshare. We did stay in SC once at Hilton Head Island at the Hilton for only $59 from Hotwire I think. We won't return there however. The place was really nice and the beach was great, however HHI has a NO MOTORCYCLE law!!! Yep NONE NADA ZIP! Not even on a trailer or you get fined! I may not bring my Harley, but I refuse to frequent any town, city or establishment that forbids my bike!

 

[all4fun]

would it be possible to take your baby as a lap baby if you flew?

It could be possible but I'd suppose that depends on the airline. She turns two April 9th and she's tiny. I considered it. I really did. I just don't know if I'm that risky. It would be AirTran.

Both flights would be non-stop which is why I felt it necessary to include food on the drive costs.

I know we'll have parking too. if we fly. I have to figure out how much that will be.

Oh and tolls for the drive.

We would likely not rent a car, although my parents might so someone could do a Wally run. LOL!

Actually, that is an FAA rule, so it won't depend on the airline. The airline has to follow FAA rules. If she turns two before the trip, she needs a seat both directions. If she turns two during the trip, she'll need a seat on the way home. They may ask you for proof of age (birth cert.) and if it shows she's not under two any more, then you'll have to buy her a ticket on the spot ($$$$). Just FYI.


We had this same dilemma for our next trip to Disneyland. We live on the west coast and were going to drive, but dh found good airfare so now we are flying. As a pp said, time is money. Also, I don't want to hear "are we there yet" for 1600 miles, LOL.

GL with your decision. I know for us, we are spending a bit more to fly, but we figure we'll get more enjoyment out of our trip this way, too, so it's worth it.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Last year's drive (1100 miles each way) cost my family of 4 less than $300, including meals. We drove straight through, with my wife and I switching out every 2 hours. We did it in the Taurus instead of the mini-van to save money. It was tight in the back seat, but the boys had fun with it. I had to take the extra 2 days off for the drive, but it was worth it.

It saved us over $600 in airfare costs (they now charge for EVERY bag)...

 

[dzorn]

Actually, that is an FAA rule, so it won't depend on the airline. The airline has to follow FAA rules. If she turns two before the trip, she needs a seat both directions. If she turns two during the trip, she'll need a seat on the way home. They may ask you for proof of age (birth cert.) and if it shows she's not under two any more, then you'll have to buy her a ticket on the spot ($$$$). Just FYI.

And if your flight is sold out then you have serious issues.

Denise in MI

 

[summersalt]

You should consider the wear and tear on your vehicle also. the govt allows 55 cents per mile for gas and wear and tear. Multiple .55 times the number of miles from your home to WDW. Then add in extra food and lodging. This will be a pretty accurate total for driving.

 

[Momto3Girls&Max]

We just made the drive to WDW last month from Chicago (about 2400 miles RT). We got really lucky becuase the price of gas came down so much the week before Christmas so the total we spent on gas was only $149!!!!!!! We Pricelined a hotel on the way down and back for $121 total so our trip only cost $270. DH changed the oil in our van before we left and had a coupon for a free oil change when we returned. All in all, it was a great trip and we wouldn't hesitate to do it again. And it was the only way to get there for our family of 6 because airfare and car rental during Christmas week are INSANE!

 

[ranthony]

I can't believe I've come across someone else from Blairstown!

Last year's drive (1100 miles each way) cost my family of 4 less than $300, including meals. We drove straight through, with my wife and I switching out every 2 hours.

Your trip sounds very silimilar to ours. I'm looking forward to paying half of what we paid for gas in Dec. 07 this coming March.

As a pp said we find it much easier on the grown-ups and the kids to drive through the night. DH and I take turns driving/sleeping and the 3 boys usually sleep through the night.

Many people have said that time is $ and it's worth it for the convenience but in our case it didn't take us any longer to drive.

Here's my thinking:

1st flight out on a Sat. morning would get us into WDW and at our resort by 11am. When we drove we left Friday at 3:30 PM and arrived at WDW 10:30AM.

If we flew, we'd have to leave our house at 4 am to make that first flight out. So that would mean I'd be up at 3 or 3:30 am anyways getting all 5 of us up and out the door.

Now, we could have flown Friday night but then we're arriving at the reosrt around 11pm so there's the expense of a room for the night.

If it were just DH and I we'd probably fly but with 3 kids and 2 strollers and all the gear they require it's so much easier (and cheaper) to drive.

 

[albertamommyof4]

we are also thinking abouat driving as we are a family of 6 but it would be to disneyland and it would take around 31 hours lol. I think it would still be a lot cheaper on us then flight . We would have to rent a vehicle when we get down there anyway . I keep crunching the numbers and still come up $1500 to $2000 cheaper to drive then fly. And then this way the kids could see more then just california
good luck with what you decide

 

[summermac]

We are heading down Feb 28...when are you heading down there?

We're going in June - June 13-20

 

[lilrooster]

You do need to figure in the cost of things like stroller rental vs your own stroller, and baggage fees! We are buying a stroller this year. We found a great deal on a jeep liberty limited jogger for 129, it was going to cost us 78 to rent one for the week. We figured since we go at least once a year it was a good investment. Most airlines are charging at least $15 for the first bag per person and $20 for the second