Would you drive 5 hours for a flight?

[Marionnette]

Saving $600 would not be worth the long drive home on the same day. However, I live about 17 hours away by car, so I could drive the whole distance if I absolutely had to.

 

[ilovemk76]

So I can save $200 for each flight for myself and my 2 DD ($600 total savings) if I drive 5 hours to fly out of a bigger airport. My parents live where we would fly out so we have a free place to stay the night before the flight. Would you do it knowing you will have to drive 5 hours home after an 8 day Disney trip with a 9 and 6 year old to save $600?? My DD do travel very well in a car as we visit my parents several times a year. Thanks for your thoughts!!

5 hours one way is about 300 miles, assume mostly an interstate. If you get 25 miles per gallon and a gallon costs $3.75, it will cost you $90. As a result, your savings is $500. You might pay for stuff to eat on the road too, especially on the way home.

Do you work? Will you take off extra time to drive? How early will you start the drive there? How late will you start the drive home? How much difference in your time at your vacation spot?

 

[oliviaik]

We will be driving 7 hours to catch a plane. Our closest airport is 1 hour away but is tiny and would cost about $2500 for our flights. The next is 3 hours and would still cost about $1500. Then comes 5 hours which would cost $700. Finally, 7 hours which will cost $400. Since Disney World is 22 hours away, this option would be about half the travel time and still cost about the same as driving after figuring in gas to and from the airport.

 

[cleverclovers]

Spend a day with the parents. Can they drive you to/from the airport and leave your car at their place? Spend an extra day or two at the parents after you get back and let the kids share their WDW experiences with the grandparents while the memories are still fresh.

 

[wishesuponastar]

Spend a day with the parents. Can they drive you to/from the airport and leave your car at their place? Spend an extra day or two at the parents after you get back and let the kids share their WDW experiences with the grandparents while the memories are still fresh.

best idea. I love the idea to share their WDW experience with the grandparents.

OP has posted that her parents will drive her to the airport.

 

[BSOGfam]

I would drive. Our regional airport is very limited and high priced, so we are often in the exact same situation. If we're going to save $100 or more by driving, we do it. We look at what we can do with that savings, which usually ends up being quite a bit of souveneir money. It's been nice when we fly locally, but it is rarely worth the money to do so. And we love the added bonus of some family visiting time before and after a long flight. Have a great trip!

 

[supergoofy]

Have to dive 2 hours to fly out and that's enough.


I did 2 one way flights so we could fly into the airport in town because I didn't want to drive the 2 hours home after our trip. I got lucky as it was near the same price and flight time.


When I factor out a 10 hour drive and price out a rental car(to avoid parking fees), gas, food and my time it doesn't make sense.

 

[Pumbaa_]

Rent a car, drive to parents. Then return flight to your home airport

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Not in a million years.

 

[disny_luvr]

No, I wouldn't even consider it.

 

[cmjaffe]

how far are you from your "home" airport? And are you adding or subtracting actual travel time (ie is this flight the same travel). Need to factor everything in to get a clear picture. Are the travel times "better" at one airport vs. the other.
Good luck with your decision

 

[NewRVLady]

I have done 2 hours and that is my limit
When you return you are TIRED

 

[Karlzmom]

So, a 10 hour round trip will save you $600 [less the price of gas to drive the 10 hour roundtrip, meals eaten on the road,etc.]

Best case scenario [using no deductions] works out to $60 per hour. Is your time worth $60 an hour? What if you back out the costs that are associated with the road trip....what price do you put on your time?

Playing devil's advocate here, we have had more than one trip to the World where someone felt less than optimal on the return trip. 5 hours in a car would be a looooong trip if someone felt under the weather.

 

[maswanson11]

So much to consider, thank you all for your advice and opinions. My home airport is only 20 miles away and it's fantastic to be that close when flying home. I am not entirely sure what to do yet. My vacation budget would allow the extra $ for the flights, but I definitely have the vacation time flexibility at work to do the drive. I should add my mom is coming with me on the trip since I am a single parent, so it's also appealing for me to drive up there in order to be on the same flight with her rather than just meeting her in Orlando. Glad I have some time to think it through.

 

[Darcy03231]

So much to consider, thank you all for your advice and opinions. My home airport is only 20 miles away and it's fantastic to be that close when flying home. I am not entirely sure what to do yet. My vacation budget would allow the extra $ for the flights, but I definitely have the vacation time flexibility at work to do the drive. I should add my mom is coming with me on the trip since I am a single parent, so it's also appealing for me to drive up there in order to be on the same flight with her rather than just meeting her in Orlando. Glad I have some time to think it through.

I'd do the drive down the day before the flight. For the drive back, since you have the time, why don't you take the day after the flight off. That way when you get back you can make the decision as to whether or not you want to drive back that day or stay over and start fresh the next day. Even if you drive back on the day you arrive it's always nice to have a day off after coming home from a trip to get laundry and grocery shopping done.

 

[BuzzLiteyear]

I look at airports up to 7 hours away. As long as there is significant savings (gas, parking, meals, etc.), I'd do it in a heartbeat.

 

[JanaDee]

Two hours away is my max. No way would I drive 5 hours for a flight.

 

[lauradis]

Yes, but only because I would also get to see my parents.

but then I love road trips.

 

[Eastern]

My max would be a 2 hour drive and I don't even like to do that.