Over on another thread about cross-country trips there was some discussion about how much time gets taken up by driving. For shorter trips, what are your deciding factors in flying vs driving? When is a little more "windshield time" worth it?
I'll give you my own example. I live in the metropolitan Los Angeles area, and I'll be taking a trip soon to do 2 days of guided fishing with a friend on the San Juan. As is often the case, this great fishery is somewhat remote from major regional airports. Yes, I can fly into Durango at a cost of $600 RT per person; but for that price I can fly to London or Barcelona, or fish the salt in Costa Rica.
The closest reasonably priced airport is Albuquerque, and on Southwest it's around $300 RT per person, plus rental car and LAX parking fees. Here's the travel time via air: 2 hours to pick up fishing buddy, get to airport and long-term park, check in bags, go through security; 4 hours flight time (incl transfer/layover); 1 hour bags, car rental + food stop; 3 hours drive time to Navajo Dam. Total 10 hours.
Via my own car = 800 miles, and with fast food breaks or eating in car, total 11-12 hours. Cost of gas is about $150, or $75 per person. (Depreciation on my car, maybe another $150.)
With only a 2 hour time difference, I'm choosing car every time, especially if someone else helps with driving duties. As opposed to a rental car, my own car is rigged for fishing exactly as I want, and I can bring as much gear as I want without the baggage and airport security hassles. We can bring a bunch of food and drinks. And if we add just 10 minutes, we can take the northern route through beautiful Monument Valley. We can fish on the last morning, and leave when we want without rushing back to make a flight. I don't have to promise a rental car company that I will stay on paved roads.
For these kind of distances, when does it make sense to fly instead?
- When the fishing destination is within an hour of the airport (example, Provo River near Salt Lake City), leaving just enough time to wet lines on the afternoon of arrival.
- When going solo, on a great airfare sale (my last airfare to SLC was $111 RT, cheaper than gas, and a nonstop flight)
- When your road trip start time would put you in traffic hell on the freeways leading out of town.
- When your destination does not require you to bring a lot of gear, such as summertime wet-wading, so you can cut down on the airport check-in / check out.
What do you think?
I'll give you my own example. I live in the metropolitan Los Angeles area, and I'll be taking a trip soon to do 2 days of guided fishing with a friend on the San Juan. As is often the case, this great fishery is somewhat remote from major regional airports. Yes, I can fly into Durango at a cost of $600 RT per person; but for that price I can fly to London or Barcelona, or fish the salt in Costa Rica.
The closest reasonably priced airport is Albuquerque, and on Southwest it's around $300 RT per person, plus rental car and LAX parking fees. Here's the travel time via air: 2 hours to pick up fishing buddy, get to airport and long-term park, check in bags, go through security; 4 hours flight time (incl transfer/layover); 1 hour bags, car rental + food stop; 3 hours drive time to Navajo Dam. Total 10 hours.
Via my own car = 800 miles, and with fast food breaks or eating in car, total 11-12 hours. Cost of gas is about $150, or $75 per person. (Depreciation on my car, maybe another $150.)
With only a 2 hour time difference, I'm choosing car every time, especially if someone else helps with driving duties. As opposed to a rental car, my own car is rigged for fishing exactly as I want, and I can bring as much gear as I want without the baggage and airport security hassles. We can bring a bunch of food and drinks. And if we add just 10 minutes, we can take the northern route through beautiful Monument Valley. We can fish on the last morning, and leave when we want without rushing back to make a flight. I don't have to promise a rental car company that I will stay on paved roads.
For these kind of distances, when does it make sense to fly instead?
- When the fishing destination is within an hour of the airport (example, Provo River near Salt Lake City), leaving just enough time to wet lines on the afternoon of arrival.
- When going solo, on a great airfare sale (my last airfare to SLC was $111 RT, cheaper than gas, and a nonstop flight)
- When your road trip start time would put you in traffic hell on the freeways leading out of town.
- When your destination does not require you to bring a lot of gear, such as summertime wet-wading, so you can cut down on the airport check-in / check out.
What do you think?
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