Under what circumstances would you drive and fly?

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hooliganvet@reddit

I will drive unless I'm leaving the country. I've done it a lot, but I don't like flying.

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nerdycarguy18@reddit

For me it just feels like the obvious option no matter how far really. If you fly you still have to have transportation when you arrive no matter what.

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It depends on how fast you need to be there. It’s a several days trip from me to Tennessee (and really two weeks because I’d stop for all the good stuff in between). If that’s the plan, then absolutely I prefer driving. We recently traveled there for a week and only had the weekends to get there and back. So flying it was.

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nerdycarguy18@reddit

This is true, and if I were traveling to CA it would definitely be much more of a decision. For me I think if it’s 14 hours I’ll drive. But again, I only ever drive for leisure and just make sure I have the time so I rarely have a deadline arrival. I definitely look forward to flying somewhere though.

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grimm1111@reddit

Anything over 6 hours I'd fly.

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NoTelephone2114@reddit

I'm one of those people who can't stand long drives, so if it's a one time conference in another state I'll fly, but if it's like 3 hours then drive

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Casus125@reddit

Fly internationally; drive domestically.

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Zaidswith@reddit

Depends on my current car, if I need a car where I'm going, and how much time I have.

If a trip is 8 hours or less by car then it's going to be by car. I can do more, preferably by myself. Long road trips with other people are more annoying than solo trips. I can't stand unnecessary stops or eating full meals. I want to leave before the sun comes up to maximize my time on the road.

If I'm going to need a car anyway then it's a math problem: gas to get there, maintenance needed before leaving, parking fees, tolls, etc. vs the flight plus rental car price, but I wouldn't bother with that math until we're more than 8 hours out. If having a car would be a huge inconvenience at the destination I'd drive to a larger airport and fly from there. That's almost 3 hours for either airport I could pick.

I also don't think I'd take my current car across country so better to fly a really long distance like that.

If someone else is footing the bill? Sure, I'll take a connecting flight out of my small local airport.

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FivebyFive@reddit

I hate driving long distances. I will drive if it's up to 8-9 hours and IF I'm going for longer than a few days.

Otherwise, I fly, or don't go.

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EpicAura99@reddit

I like how you say that as if 8-9 hours is on the low side lmao

Anything longer than 6 hours and it’s silly to drive imo, but I’m no midwesterner.

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morganproctor_19@reddit

Yes, this is my limit. (as a Californian who lives in the most remote metro of California)

I really don't like long drives, despite living somewhere with stunning, federally-designated scenic drives. I also used to drive a lot back and forth from Sac to LA and I think that burned me out on long drives.

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EpicAura99@reddit

most remote metro

Do you mean Sacramento or something else? Was gonna guess Redding.

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FivebyFive@reddit

I HATE anything over 4. But I'll stand it if I have to.

Over 8-9 is a hell no.

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ChuushaHime@reddit

yea my mind is absolutely blown by some of the distances people are fine driving. even 4 needs a long stopoff point in the middle for me. i hit the stir-crazy burnout point at about 2.5 hours, and my limit is even shorter as a passenger since i get motion sick if im not the driver.

the most i ever did in one go was 7 (NC -> PA) to see my partner's family and i will absolutely never do it again, we do touristy stopoff nights in DC now when we make that trip

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Away-Ad-8053@reddit

Yeah me too and I was in my mid '50s I got so mad that they wanted an extra $100 for me and my dog I said the hell with it and I drove from Snowflake Arizona to outside of Lexington Kentucky. I stopped in the middle of Texas and the rest stop was closed so I said the hell with it. Plus my dog was 14 years old and he didn't need the stress so I drove straight through 25 hours. And yeah I'll never do that again thank God for Adderall and diet Coke. LOL

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jeckles@reddit

If I’m by myself, 6hrs is enough. Used to be able to do 12+ but not anymore.

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Reasonable-Leg-2002@reddit

Just did a 22, and never again

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TruckADuck42@reddit

It sucks, but realistically you aren't saving that much time taking a plane. For an example, it's a 9 hour drive from my house to Denver. If I were to fly, it's a 2 hour flight time, but you have to show up an hour and a half early. It's at least a half hour from my house to the airport, if i'm not carpooling and therefore going somewhere else first, which I usually am, so call it an hour if everyone moves quickly. Add another half hour for takeoff and landing, plus another 45 minutes navigating the other airport and getting a ride, round it to an hour for the time to get to wherever I'm staying. I'm looking at 5 and a half hours if everything goes smoothly with no delays, and I have to pay for both the air fair and transportation at my destination. Or I could drive, save some money, know exactly how long it will take, and have my own car once I'm there.

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EpicAura99@reddit

Well flight time accounts for takeoff and landing so your numbers are a bit off there. But I find those 4 hours to be so so worth it, especially for driving through the endless void that is Kansas. Plus you’ll have to do it again on the way back. And you only spend 2 hours of that cramped up which is the shitty part of travel, vs 9 hours cramped up in a car. No contest.

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geokra@reddit

I find 6 hours to generally be about the break-even point between driving and flying. Between ground transportation, waiting at airports, and flight time it’s often close at that point. But driving has the added benefits of leaving whenever you want to, doing whatever you want to en route, and not paying for multiple people who could all ride in a car together. Add all of that in and I’m happy to much longer drives if I have the timez

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InterPunct@reddit

Yep, 5 to 6 hours is my drive or fly rule depending on weather, where I'm driving, etc. Totally different if I'm traveling for work though, then it's a flight for sure.

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BreakfastBeerz@reddit

If it's one person and you don't need a car when you get there. A $250 flight becomes a $1000 for a family of 4.

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quasifun@reddit

Prime example for me is my yearly trip between Miami and Atlanta. It’s 700 miles which is on the long side to drive. But flying can be PITA also. Between getting to the airport, checking in 60 minutes early and flight time, it’s already 3-4 hours. And that’s if things go smoothly at ATL which it never does on holidays.

So flying saves 6-7 hours each way at most, maybe less, costs at least $1000 for my family, and I have to rent a car when I get there.

I have flown a few times, but most years, if I have time, I prefer to drive.

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Chimney-Imp@reddit

Longest I've done in a day is 14 hours. I used to do 10+ hours in a day semi regularly when I'd head back home from college during break.

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jeckles@reddit

Yeah I went to college 12hrs away from home. Drove to school, back for Xmas, back to school, would usually drive somewhere equally as far for spring break, then back home for summer. Once I did it in 11hrs but only because we drove my friend’s hybrid vehicle and only had to stop for gas once.

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_S1syphus@reddit

If you live in Arizona by the Mexican Border it can take 6 hours just to reach the Grand Canyon. Arizona is so boring 90% of the time 6 hours is a bullet id gladly bite

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ThrowingTheRinger@reddit

I’m not a midwesterner either, but I’ll drive 8-11 if I’m bringing a MTB. If not, 5 is about where I draw the line…unless I’m already at the nearest location with a commercial airport.

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EpicAura99@reddit

What’s an MTB my guy

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sinkshitting@reddit

I think it means mountain bike.

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EpicAura99@reddit

Well that’s rather opaque

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sinkshitting@reddit

I’m guessing. Definitely not an abbreviation you’d expect people to know. Very obscure.

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TexanInExile@reddit

I'm in Texas and you can't get out of the state from most places in less than 6 hours.

TX to WI for me (at one point) seemed like a reasonable one day trip with two drivers.

I've even done it solo in 24 hours before, not recommended but doable.

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EpicAura99@reddit

Who said anything about leaving the state? People fly from the Bay to LA and SD all the time. Texas doesn’t have a monopoly on being big you know!

TX to WI seemed reasonable

Case in point, that’s silly lol

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Dr_Watson349@reddit

This x 1000. The first time I went to Key West we did the drive. Each way was around 7 hours. Holy Fuck. Never again.

Now we just take the flight. 30 min to the airport. 1 hour ish flight. 10 Min uber to the hotel/rental. I knew I made the right decision when we walked into the KW airport the first time. They have a tiny one person tiki bar (its more like a tiki stand) right next to where you get your bags. I had a margarita in my hands before my bags even got off the plane.

Perfection.

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stuck_behind_a_truck@reddit

6 hours gets me to Flagstaff. Hell yeah I’m doing it.

As a veteran road tripper, I do consider that on the low side.

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Myfourcats1@reddit

I think it depends on how close the airport is to where you want to go.

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No_Maintenance_6719@reddit

I like driving long distances. If I can do it in a day, I’ll usually drive instead of fly. Anything longer than about 9 hours and I’d rather fly.

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happyfatman021@reddit

If I can get there within one day driving, that's definitely the way I'm going. If it's more than that, I'd definitely consider flying, but it wouldn't be a guarantee.

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JessicaGriffin@reddit

Depends on how much of a hurry I am to get there. If I’m on vacation, I’ll drive anywhere that’s within two days’ drive (up to 10 hours of driving or up to about 600 miles per day) if I can stay in a decent hotel at the midpoint. If it’s an emergency, I’d fly. But I live 90 miles from the nearest major airport, so I have to drive to the city, go to the airport, get parking, go through all the check in and TSA and stuff just to get on the plane. That could take 3-4 hours depending on traffic and how busy the airport is. At that point, why not just drive and see stuff along the way?

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SevenSixOne@reddit

I'll only fly if the drive is more than ~8 hours. Between getting to the airport from home, arriving early enough to make the flight, the flight itself, waiting for luggage at the airport, getting a rental car (not really optional in most of the US), and getting from the airport to the destination, even a "short" flight still takes most of the day anyway.

...and if I drive, all my stuff stays with me the whole time and there aren't as many limitations on what and how much I can bring.

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Cootter77@reddit

If I have the time, I always prefer to drive. Even cross-country. We drive back "home" to Colorado 3-4x/year from North Carolina (1,600 miles or 2,580km). I can work from anywhere so we'll do the drive over a weekend. I mostly only fly when I'm doing it for work because I hate flying.

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StarSines@reddit

I always prefer driving. While I know logically that driving is less safe than flying, I’ve seen too many episodes of “Mayday: Air Disaster” to even consider flying as an option.

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iceph03nix@reddit

Depends. Less than 8 hours I'll typically drive. More than that it kinda depends on the flights available and the cost.

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TechnologyDragon6973@reddit

I will only fly if there’s no other reasonable option. As much as the airlines go out of their way to make flying an unenjoyable hassle, I will drive.

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sebzebb@reddit

I live in Texas. Within Texas: Drive. Flights are too expensive within state. Any state that is cold fly

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jmlbhs@reddit

Depends on length of trip and why! We often go to Michigan which is a maybe a 1.5 hour flight. But if we go for longer and want to bring our dog, will gladly drive the 10+ hours. Have driven down to VA and NC as well. If it’s a more than a 4 hour drive and I’m not bringing my pup, likely flying.

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AnonymousMeeblet@reddit

If I have time and I can get there within 3 to 5 days, I will drive, but if I have to be somewhere that I can’t drive to on the inside of a day in less than a day, I’ll fly.

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Otherwise-OhWell@reddit

On my own dime: 6 hrs is as long as I'm willing to drive.

If my employer is paying: 3 hrs.

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undreamedgore@reddit

6hrs isn't really that far. Especially if you're camping or something and need extra gear.

I cap out at 10 hours, if I can muster the time.

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NefariousnessSolid46@reddit

Not judging but why wouldn't you drive more if your employer paid

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kahrahtay@reddit

It's a toss up, do I what the airline miles/points or the mileage reimbursement?

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Positive-Avocado-881@reddit

Because it’s no longer about a cost savings and about what gets you there faster and easier.

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Otherwise-OhWell@reddit

Yes, exactly.

Thank you.

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NefariousnessSolid46@reddit

Fair point!

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steveofthejungle@reddit

Depends on prices and what I’m looking to do there too. Vegas is six hours from SLC, but you can get flights for dirt cheap, and if you’re staying in the strip you really won’t need a car once you get there

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GooseNYC@reddit

Generally speaking 6 hours is my cut-off. I figure 30-45 mins to get to airport (LGA or EWR), another 30-45 at least through security and to get to gate and you absolutely want to be there an hour early. Say 90 mins take-off and flight and another 30-45 mins at destination for luggage and car. It adds up time wise.

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Judgy-Introvert@reddit

Depends on what you mean by long distance, but I’d go with flying because I can sit and watch a movie while getting to my destination faster.

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Wonderful_Tip_5577@reddit

I drive if I need/want to bring my dog.

I fly whenever else I can. I'd fly from San Diego to LA if I could. I hate driving distances.

If I have to drive 10 hours or so I'm staying in that place for a couple weeks, I grew up having to drive a lot and my dad likes driving so I absolutely hate it.

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Away-Ad-8053@reddit

I like driving. And I like taking my time, I did 25 hours once I'll never do that again but I was mad they wanted an extra $100 for my dog at the hotel and so we said the hell with it. But I used to drive from Phoenix Arizona to Los Angeles every few months and it was about 8 hours I always enjoyed it sometimes I would do a turnaround and it would take me about 16 hours but that was unusual. Now that I'm in my '60s I still enjoy doing 6/8 hours, But that would be a trip that would normally take somebody 3/4 hours because I like to stop at everything like the world's biggest ball of twine or the world's largest thermometer. LOL! And I don't mind flying at all. I recently flew from Kentucky to Oregon I would never ever try to drive that again That's really tedious.

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jgeoghegan89@reddit

I drive if it's a state away but otherwise I fly

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PlainTrain@reddit

This would be more useful if you mentioned what state you live in. Rhode Island? Texas?

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jgeoghegan89@reddit

Texas

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stuck_behind_a_truck@reddit

You can drive a full 12 hours in Texas and you will still be in Texas. I feel like Rhide Island would be 2 hours unless they suffer from bad traffic.

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G00dSh0tJans0n@reddit

I think I'm done with flying and I don't plan on doing it any more. I've driven from North Carolina to Maine, Florida, Montana, New Mexico and everywhere in between.

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lyrasorial@reddit

I'm the opposite now. I used to drive everywhere but now that I can afford to fly and rent a car I usually do. I would rather sit passively in the airport and on the plane doing some hobbies than have to drive the whole time and try to stay awake and focused. I think everything over a 6-hour drive is where I would pick flying if there's an airport that makes sense at the destination.

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Jhamin1@reddit

Same.

The experience of flying just gets worse and worse. You waste an hour and a half getting on the plane and another 45min getting off, the entire time in the Airport is hectic and stressful, the airplane itself is physically uncomfortable and depending on who is sitting next to you also stressful. If you are a frequent flyer you can get some perks to minimize some of the challenges but for us 1-2 times yearly folks there is no help.

My partner has taken her last couple of long haul trips via Train. According to her it takes a *lot* longer that an airline and Amtrack is far from a luxury experience but the seats aren't actively painful and the views are gorgeous.

Mostly we drive.

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Chemical-Mix-6206@reddit

Same. Last couple times I was on a plane the whole experience was so dispiriting plus I caught some horrible mystery crud from a fellow passenger. No thanks, let me start a book on Audible and just enjoy the highway and mentally say hello to various friends as I pass their exits (hello, Charlie in Mobile! Hi Wendy in Montgomery!)

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SuperSpeshBaby@reddit

If the drive is longer than 8 hours I'd consider flying. It depends on what I'm doing and who is going with me.

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PartyLikeaPirate@reddit

I’ll drive if I have a easy spot to park and it’s under 8 hours.

My best example (7 hour drive if done at right time) If I’m visiting my friend in Brooklyn NYC, I’ll take the plane and Uber. If I’m driving to my friends on Long Island (same ish drive) I won’t fly bc I have a easy parking spot

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myxtrafile@reddit

It depends on how far and how mobile I wanna be when I get there.

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1000thusername@reddit

I hate road trips and won’t tolerate anything more than maybe 4-5 hours in a car. Anything longer and I’d fly. I’d love to take a train instead, but they don’t exist.

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Lereas@reddit

Depends on cost, reason, and location.

I'd love to drive through some scenic area when I'm not in a rush and it's part of my planned vacation.

I don't want to drive through all of Georgia to go to a meeting.

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shnanogans@reddit

Drive unless flying’s shorter. A 6-7 hour drive (where I live about 400 miles) Would take about that long if not more to fly once you factor in getting to the airport, leaving enough time for security, boarding, picking up luggage, and getting from the airport to your destination. Once you hit the 10 hr+ drive range it’s quicker to fly.

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Efficient_Advice_380@reddit

If I can drive there in 6 hours or less, (including getting to the airport, going through TSA, flight, landing, and getting a rental car). I'm driving

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scottwax@reddit

I prefer to drive but we can't drive to Puerto Rico where my wife is from. And if I'm traveling on someone else's dime, I'm good with flying.

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Marie1989NY@reddit

Honestly it depends on several factors. I just took a vacation over Labor Day weekend from Thursday-Tuesday and it was 9 hours away and we drove. We drove because: 1. We needed a car once we got there, 2. We did some sightseeing on the way, 3. There were no direct flights between home and our destination.

We have another trip planned next month which is 10 hours away with no stops. The trip is only from Thursday-Sunday and we don’t particularly need a vehicle while there. Also, there are direct flights between home and the destination. Depending on cost, we will most likely fly.

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evil_burrito@reddit

Probably about 12 hours driving for me, but, it also depends on how long I'll be staying and what I'll be doing there.

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spunkypunk@reddit

I’ve only ever driven. We’re about to take a trip that is 20 hours away and we are driving. The cost to fly and get a rental was just unreal.

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NoFilterNoLimits@reddit

It depends on my goals. If the point is to enjoy the destination, I fly. But sometimes I have time to enjoy the journey and take a roadtrip.

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Salt_Carpenter_1927@reddit

I will drive any distance, if needed.

If I have the option of a cheap ticket, 8+ hours is when I want to fly

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nemo_sum@reddit

I rent a car and drive if I need to carry something too large or heavy to lug myself.

I fly if I'm travelling between major cities.

Mostly, I bike if alone or take the train if travelling with my children.

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Eeyor-90@reddit

If the time that is required is equal, I will drive. Once I’ve factored in the recommended time to be at an airport before my flight, the flight time, layover, and getting a rental car, sometimes driving takes the same time or is only slightly longer. For me, driving is relaxing and I like being able to stop and walk around when I need a break.

If I don’t have someone with me to split the drive, my limit is 12-14 hours.

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SovereignAxe@reddit

If I can drive there and back in a day I'll do that, unless it's somewhere I'm going to spend the night, then I'll extend that to one day of driving for one-way. Otherwise I'm flying. I've done the multi-day road trip in the past and I have zero wish to ever do it again.

There is a third option you didn't mention, though: the train. If there is a reasonably priced train route to where I'm going I'll gladly do that over the other two, and I'll gladly take one of those on an all day ride. The seats are much more comfortable than a car or plane, and I can get up and walk around as much as I want, go to the dining car, observation car, etc.

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ManateeFlamingo@reddit

Anything over 12 hours I would prefer to fly. I think dealing with the airport and the possibility of delays and cancellations, having to be there at a certain time doesn't make it worth it for small trips.

When I drive, I'm in control of leaving and any stops.

Plus, if I need a vehicle anyway at my destination, getting a rental is an extra cost.

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j4321g4321@reddit

I actually love driving long distances. The only problem is that it makes a trip take longer, so I’ll usually opt to fly to get more time at my destination. If something is like a 3hr drive from me ofc I’ll drive as taking a plane would probably be more out of the way, but anything longer than that often requires flying. That said, if time permits in the future, driving cross country is a bucket list item of mine (this would take like 4 days from New York to give perspective).

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Antitenant@reddit

I don't enjoy airports, so I try to avoid them whenever possible. In general, if my time spent in the airport is longer than the flight itself, I might consider driving. For driving, I probably like to keep things in the 8-10 hours maximum range.

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DeNO19961996@reddit

Personally, I hate flying. The only circumstances I would fly is if I’m crossing an ocean. I love to drive and experience different things while traveling. It’s cool to see new towns and try food from all over the country.

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ConstantinopleFett@reddit

I prefer driving and I'll usually drive if I can do it within a day (up to 10 hours on the other road or so).

I like the simplicity of just getting in my car and going.

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AnybodySeeMyKeys@reddit

Let me put it to you this way.

Get to airport, park car, go through TSA, and sit down at departure gate -- 90 minutes

Touch down at destination, wait to deplane, walk through airport and find ground transportation -- 45 minutes

So right there, you have at least 2.5 hours involved with the process of getting onto and off of a plane. Bare minimum. And that doesn't include the likelihood that I'll have to connect through Atlanta or Charlotte. Add at least another hour to that. 3.5 hours

And that doesn't include flying time.

So, basically if it's six hours' of driving or less, I go by car. It's just easier.

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bluelf88@reddit

What I always tell people is that if you can drive to a bigger hub within a few hours, do that first instead of parking at your cute little regional airport where it’s “cheaper” and “easier.” ESPECIALLY if this is like your big family trip to Europe. The number of people that will start their trip in Milwaukee just to fly 15 minutes to O’Hare and THEN London or wherever is just insane. The bus gets you there almost as fast, and is much less likely to break down than the 30 year-old CRJs doing that route.

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tangledbysnow@reddit

This is basically how I decide whether to fly or drive somewhere - if the overall flight time plus rental car time is longer than the drive time that’s a no on flying. Almost nowhere has decent public transportation so the chances I have to rent a car are good almost anywhere (the exceptions are flying destinations for me anyhow). Plus I live somewhere in the middle so there is always always always a layover. And those both always add a lot of time never mind any expense.

That works out to just about 10 hours or less to get anywhere. I have and will drive about 13 hours to visit my mom - but that is an exception and I would prefer to fly. We just drive because there is always stuff to bring one direction or the other and I bring my dogs when visiting so driving is easier.

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baalroo@reddit

On top of all of this, once you get where you're going—unless your destination is one of the few places in the US with adequate public transport—you're gonna end up needing to rent a car. So add more time, cost, and hassle for that as well.

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shelwood46@reddit

Yeah, I have at least a 90 minute but probably closer to 2.5 hour drive to get to the airport (any of the "closest" airports). I'm in NEPA but used to be Central Jersey. Pretty much anything east of the Mississippi, I'm driving, although occasionally I've done flights to FL or LA if it's a long weekend. I don't mind driving. I used to be able to do 12-14 hours straight through alone. Now when I take a longer trip, I only do 5-6 hour chunks then stop, it's worth it. I drive to the Detroit area every summer, about 10 hours each way, stop midway near the PA/OH border for a quick overnight. Worth it to be able to not deal with airports plus bring unlimited stuff, including my favorite pillows.

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jurassicbond@reddit

I'll have to connect through Atlanta or Charlotte.

With as much as I fly for work, I'm really glad I live in Atlanta. I hate connecting flights, but typically I can get within at worst a 2-3 hour drive of my destination without connecting.

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AnybodySeeMyKeys@reddit

Yep. Direct flights are amazing things.

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binarycow@reddit

I recently had a flight - two layovers. Really shitty flight schedule - 12 hours, including layovers.

Arrived at the airport Saturday morning at 10:30. Landed at first layover at 1:30. Landed at next layover at 6:00. Supposed to leave at like 8pm. Delay, delay, delay... At 11pm, flight was cancelled. Next flight wasn't until Tuesday. So, I decided to drive the rest of the way... But after I've slept. Finally got to a hotel at 12:30 am, on Sunday.

Next day, the rental car I had booked was not available. So, booked with the next rental car place. After an hour of customer service calls, I'm told that the second rental car I booked also was not available - they never should have let me book it. So third rental car place. Even with a reservation, I had to wait 2.5 hours in line. It took four hours to get a rent car.

I didn't get home until about 8:30 pm the next day. So, it took about 34 hours for me to get home.

The kicker? It's a seven hour drive.

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AnybodySeeMyKeys@reddit

Dadgum. You win.

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binarycow@reddit

And that was just the return flight. My outgoing flight was also bad. But not as bad.

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NotTheATF1993@reddit

10 hours is the most I'd like to drive, depending on flights I might also just fly if it's 10+ hours.

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The_Real_Scrotus@reddit

I don't like long-distance driving but if I can do the drive in a day I'll usually drive over flying. Those kinds of distances you won't really save much time in a plane and plane tickets + rental car will be much more expensive.

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Lostsock1995@reddit

I get carsick really easily and driving long distances is hell so anything more than a few hours (max like 5, and I’d really, really try to avoid even that) would be a no go for me. I mean, I’ll still get sick from those few hours, but I’d feel silly flying for fewer than that.

It’s suffering to drive a long way though, I much prefer planes

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qualitygoatshit@reddit

I'll fly if there's an ocean in the way. That's about it.

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MattieShoes@reddit

It partly depends on whether I need transportation on the other end. Going to a national park? I probably want a car, and renting one can make flying over driving pretty expensive.

It also depends on how long the trip is in total. Two days of driving round trip in a 4 day vacation feels like you're wasting most of the time. But if it's a 14 day vacation, two days of driving isn't that big of a deal.

Denver is pretty far from other big cities and it's a hub for airlines, so usually flying comes out ahead unless it's going to the National parks in Colorado/Utah/Wyoming, or going to Santa Fe.

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Comprehensive-Ear283@reddit

It depends on where I am going within the United States. If I’m driving 6 to 15 hours away to save visit family for two weeks then I would prefer to have my vehicle and I enjoy driving.

If I’m going from one side of the USA to the other side, I prefer to fly. Usually a trip like that would be for a vacation. But in that case i get a rental so I can still drive around the area :P

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sebago1357@reddit

Flying sucks, but if you have a week and live on the east coast and want to visit your family on the west coast there is no other option.

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Akem0417@reddit

4 hours or less: always drive 5-10 hours: how much time do I have? How spontaneous is it? (Last minute plane tickets are expensive)

10 hours: always fly

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NewMexicoVaquero@reddit

For leisurely trips within the US and Canada I drive. The trip feels more like an adventure for me when I drive.

But if it’s time sensitive or over seas then I fly.

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_S1syphus@reddit

I would fly anything that would take longer than a day trip to drive (i imagine my max would be like 12 hours but ive never been in the car longer than 9 so idk) UNLESS I have an extended stay that would make a car necessary. This is all assuming optimal conditions, obviously weather, money, and car condition would change things

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Highway49@reddit

Generally, I prefer to fly to Hawaii rather than drive there. However, if the Pacific froze over, my Old Man would probably make me drive him there, for the experience.

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Stobley_meow@reddit

I drive unless the time to drive is 4+ hours longer than the time it takes for the whole flying experience. That being the time it takes to get to the airport, check in, wait 2 hours, actually flying, getting off the plane, renting a car and driving to my final destination.

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anima-vero-quaerenti@reddit

If all of us are going, we will drive up to ten-hours. We get off work/school and drive half the distance that night, then the other half the next morning. It works for us and saves so much money, even after the car rental.

If it’s just one of the adults, it’s three hours, but typically our companies are footing the bill.

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Individual_Hunt_4710@reddit

I would never drive and fly. They are mutually exclusive

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boulevardofdef@reddit

I strongly prefer to drive for a variety of reasons. I live in the Northeast. Flying is reserved for anything outside of what most people would consider the Northeast.

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pikay93@reddit

Given that CA is like an island as there is a lot of distance between the major cities here and elsewhere (not counting Vegas) flying is often the only option.

I don't like driving for long periods of time anyway so 3 hrs is my maximum barring other factors.

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Background-Passion50@reddit

I will only fly longer than an hour if I’m getting business or first class and I will not take an economy airline like Spirit. I’ve racked up thousands of frequent flier miles on planes and I will not sit in coach ever again.

That being said I don’t mind either if I have to drive for 10 hours then I have to drive for 10 hours it’s my car. If I have to fly for 10 hours that’s fine to but, it must be business class or better.

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LoudCrickets72@reddit

Personally, I prefer driving over flying. If it's within 12 hours of driving time and there aren't any direct flights, I'll most likely opt to drive. The flexibility is nice and I've found flying to be such a pain in the ass more recently. I especially like driving if the view will be nice on the way to wherever I'm going.

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Torchic336@reddit

I’m not interested in driving longer then 8-10 hours. We have two kids, 3 and 1 and are going to San Diego at the end of the month, 6 hour flight with a layover vs a 28 hour drive is a no brainer

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tcrhs@reddit

I prefer to fly for long distances. If it’s over a 6 hour drive, I’ll fly.

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Bear_necessities96@reddit

I would in necessary situation such as moving to another city or visiting very rural or cities with terrible public transportation. I usually say to myself I don’t drive more than 5 hours for a weekend trip preferably 3 hours.

I hate flying too lol but I mean there’s not other way to travel in a short period of time

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FemboyEngineer@reddit

Several hours, but also I'd drive if I'd need to rent a car where I'm going.

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AllSoulsNight@reddit

Depends on what I'm doing at my destination and if I'll need my car once I'm there. For example, DisneyWorld is 12+ hours. Off property and doing other Orlando activities--I drive. Staying on property--fly.

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nerdycarguy18@reddit

I have never flown, only driven, usually it was because it was family vacation, and regardless of the distance it would inevitably be cheaper than flying and renting a car upon arrival. But when I go on a trip I don’t even consider flying, partially because I have zero clue how to buy a ticket etc, but I could easily find out. Usually gas is cheaper than flying, especially if it’s just a little weekend trip. I’ll fly someday but it’ll be when it’s more practical than driving, which is rare. I’ll

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TheSheWhoSaidThats@reddit

Well i live on the west coast so there are a limited number of places in driving distance. Anything in Oregon or Washington, I’ll likely drive (unless someone else is paying for a quick flight to Seattle or northern Washington). There is a low but plausible chance i’d drive further under certain circumstances. Anywhere out of the country, across an ocean, or over the Rockies is gonna be a flight for me. The time difference is just outrageous.

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WoodyM654@reddit

My husbands hometown is 1,500 miles away, and he will always prefer to drive as he gets sick on planes. I’d rather fly if it’s more than 10 hours. Especially if we have limited time off.

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Educational_Crazy_37@reddit

Fly if where I’m going is more than about a 5hr drive away and reasonably close to an airport with commercial airline service.

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Tommy_Wisseau_burner@reddit

Anything over 10 hours driving is worth flying

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dumbandconcerned@reddit

In an ideal world (one with trains), I wouldn’t drive more than 3 hours. However, since planes are so expensive, I don’t really fly if it’s less than 10 hours. My partner and I regularly drive 9.5 hours to stay with his sister’s family for holidays. There is no train or bus from here to there. There used to be an overnight bus, but they canceled it a few years ago.

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IWantALargeFarva@reddit

10 hours is where I start thinking about flying. But it depends on the circumstances. I've driven 17 hours to Florida before because we were staying for 2 weeks, we're traveling with kids, had Christmas presents and a tree.

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Myfourcats1@reddit

If I’m solo. I don’t really want to drive more than five hours but I could probably go up to eight. With at least one other person to trade off I’d go up to 16.

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Primary_Excuse_7183@reddit

Under 6 hrs, drive. Over 6 hours, fly.

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Rebresker@reddit

I drive if it’s 8 hours or less

I’m about 8 hours from the DC metro and leaving at the same time I typically get there and get home before my coworkers do who fly anyway

It seems like flights are constantly delayed or sitting on the runway for whatever reasons

I genuinely hate flying though, I used to travel for work more frequently and just can’t stand it anymore.

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AziMeeshka@reddit

I really just depends on whether or not I want to make a roadtrip out of it and whether I will need a car when I get there. A very short flight might be worth it if I don't need to rent a car, but taking the time to drive and save money on a car rental might be worth it. If it is longer distance, that is when I will start to think about time and whether or not there are places I would like to visit on the way there and back.

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yozaner1324@reddit

If I can't drive it in a day, I'll fly. Otherwise, if flying will save me >50%, I will consider flying.

So, being based in Portland, I'd definitely drive to Seattle (or actually I'd probably take the train), definitely fly to New York, and possibly fly to San Francisco, but not necessarily.

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Eastern-Plankton1035@reddit

Unless the route involves crossing an ocean, I'll just drive. I've flown once, in a Cessna 172; an enjoyable experience but I have no desire to go through the trials of security checks and all that nonsense for commercial flights. Driving adds the advantages of being able to stop when and where I please, freeing me from the restrictions of being tied to other people's demands.

Besides, ain't nowhere I need to be that requires me to be more than an hours drive from home. I can't justify flying such short distances.

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GOTaSMALL1@reddit

My drive/fly window is about 10 hours.

I hate everything about flying although I do it a lot... Necessary evil.

But one thing is for sure... I've never missed a trip somewhere cause my truck got delayed,, canceled or missed it's connection.

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Silt-Sifter@reddit

I'm most likely going to drive, no matter what.

I drove a 16 hour drive recently. It was pretty bad. I don't think I'd ever do that again. I moved a bit closer to that family member, so now it's a 12 hour drive.

I have kids and a dog. I will not leave my dog behind to visit family, nor will I subject my dog to a flight.

I don't want to pay for all these tickets for my kids either, and for the price of gas, it's cheaper for me to drive.

It's also a long drive to the airport, and I'd have to pay to store my vehicle there for a few days. And once I arrive at the next airport, I'd have to arrange for someone to pick me up.

Or I can spend some hours driving and sightseeing.

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Lugbor@reddit

Unless I'm going coast to coast, I'm more inclined to drive, purely because I'm too tall to fit comfortably in a plane seat. It also has the advantage that I don't have to pay for long term parking and a rental when I get where I'm going.

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talk_to_the_sea@reddit

I live an eight hour drive from my mom and sister so I’m gonna be visiting them for a week I don’t mind driving so I can have my own car. I like driving and the drive is beautiful. No further than that though.

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jurassicbond@reddit

By myself, I'm fine with 10. With my family, about 6 because my daughter is only 4 and longer than that is pushing it with her.

Work varies a bit. They pay me the GSA rate for mileage if it's less than the plane ticket, so I'll do up to 6 for them if I can get the full mileage paid. Otherwise, I'll fly.

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CupBeEmpty@reddit

It entirely depends on plane prices, kids in the car, gas prices, importance of the trip, length of trip, 6-14 hours is maybe my limit. Buying plane tickets for a couple kids and yourself stacks pretty quick and while more convenient may take about the same time.

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That_Weird_Mom81@reddit

Can I do the drive in under 12 hours.

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ViewtifulGene@reddit

If it's more than a 4-hour drive, I fly.

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Red_Beard_Rising@reddit

Anything within 5-6 hours I'm driving for sure. Longer than that, it's a toss-up.

I've flown from Chicago to Massachusetts and Florida a few times. I've also driven to Massachusetts straight through with three people rotating driving shifts. My mother drives to Florida every winter, but that's mostly because of the dogs. Mostly just depends on if there is enough time to drive there and back.

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PomeloPepper@reddit

Depends on how far it is and what I'll be doing. Business trip 4 hours away means I'm flying.

Going hiking 6 hours away means I'm driving, because I'll need to get to the trailhead and there won't be a shuttle from the airport. Plus, I can take my dog.

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Ok_Perception1131@reddit

I’m in my 50’s and tired of driving long distances. Anything over 4 hours and I’m flying.

In my 20’s I thought nothing of driving 15 hours each way for vacation. Not anymore! Back pain, joint stiffness, etc… Can’t do it anymore in a car.

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whitecollarpizzaman@reddit

There’s a number of factors I consider. I drive for a living, it’s different in my personal car, but that doesn’t man I just want to go drive half my weekend away for a trip. If I’m taking a week or more off, and I’m taking a lot of luggage, driving approximately half a day is worth it for me. However, in a situation where either A) I’m staying only a few days, or B) I have no need for a car on arrival (such as a major city) then I will fly. Also depends on if pets are coming, etc. For example, I’ll be traveling to Louisville KY, about 8 hours drive from my home, over thanksgiving with our dog, that’s fine for a 5 day trip. If we go mid year for a long weekend, flying is absolutely going to be the choice.

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MaggieMae68@reddit

If time isn't an issue, I'll drive. Even if it's a multi day drive.

I'd much rather than 3-4 days and drive cross-country. But unfortunately we have limited vacation time, so if it's more than 6 hours, we fly.

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SpillinThaTea@reddit

6 hours driving. Any more and I fly

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GhostNappa101@reddit

About 12 hours is my limit. If I need to rent a motel room on the way it's too far.

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Squirrel179@reddit

I like road trips.

I will almost always choose to drive anywhere less than 1000 miles. That's as far as I can reasonably drive in a day. If the trip is more than 1000 miles, then I have to start making judgements about the relative cost of staying overnight in a hotel v flying, and also taking into consideration the total amount of time I have available for the trip. Flying usually wins if I'm traveling solo or with a partner. Driving frequently wins if there are 3 or more of us.

There's also the consideration of if I'm going to want/need a car at my destination. If I'm going to need a car anyway, I'll usually just bring my own.

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Vachic09@reddit

8-10 hours: drive, especially if I need a car at my destination

More than that- probably fly

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Majestic_Electric@reddit

The most I’m willing to drive is if it takes me 3 hours or less to get somewhere.

If it’s 4+ hours long, I’m flying.

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binarycow@reddit

If flying is faster than driving, then I fly.

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omg_its_drh@reddit

Most people I know would rather fly to LA from the Bay than drive. It’s a 6 hour drive vs a 1 hr flight.

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glocksafari@reddit

Is 6+ hours a long time to you? Genuinely just curious. Being from the coast it makes sense in my mind (for you), but being from the Midwest 6 is average. I’ll gladly hop in the car for 12+ hours (of course there is nuance and some things are trip dependent, I additionally just enjoy driving and road trips).

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omg_its_drh@reddit

Everyone I know has done the 6 miles drive to LA. It isn’t the biggest deal in the world, but I don’t really know too many people who have done further road trips. I’ve done a road trip to Portland (12 hour drive) and I’m probably one of the very, very few people I’ve known.

Las Vegas is a popular destination for people from California. From the Bay Area it’s an 8ish hour drive vs a little over an hour flight. It is significantly more popular to fly to there than to drive there and I honestly don’t know people who choose to drive to Vegas.

I will also say that having 3 major airports in my metro makes flying convenient.

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IShouldBeHikingNow@reddit

The thing about flying from SoCal to NorCal or the reverse is that there's multiple flights per day from multiple airports. So LAX can be a bear to deal with, but you could fly to Oakland or San Jose from Long Beach or Burbank. And there's 5-10 flights per day from each airport, so unless you're staying for several days and need a car, the flight is super easy. And if you plan ahead, <$200.

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Vesper2000@reddit

It depends: cost, time to get there, how long I plan to be there, and what I need when I get there.

I can drive to Los Angeles in 6 hours, or fly in an hour and a half. If I fly, I need to rent a car. Usually I drive if I’m going for a long weekend, I fly if I’m going for a conference or business meeting.

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mustang6172@reddit

I'd prefer not to travel.

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kippersforbreakfast@reddit

I prefer to take trips of ~500 miles by car if solo, ~1000 miles with another driver. I've done 3200 miles solo, but that kind of broke something inside me. So, flights for >500 miles, depending on who's driving.

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Writes4Living@reddit

Depends on where I am going and how long it'll take to get there. Driving by myself, 8-9 hours is my limit. Everywhere else I fly.

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mkshane@reddit

There are a number of factors that can change it, but very generally speaking, up to 5 or 6 hours I prefer to drive, above that I prefer to fly.

Factors that can alter that up or down:

Am I going somewhere that it’ll be to my advantage to be able to drive around at my destination? Then I might be more willing to drive, cause I hate renting cars (and I love my own car)

Do I need flexibility in my return time/date? More willing to drive, so I can start my return trip at my own leisure with no time constraint (and not have to pay flight change fees)

Is there a nonstop flight available? More willing to fly

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notyogrannysgrandkid@reddit

I live about 4 1/2 hours north east of Dallas, so if I can get a really good deal on tickets from Dallas, I will drive and fly.

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sluttypidge@reddit

Uhhhh depends. I just drove all through Texas the last 2 weeks. I made multiple spots in multiple locations. Probably over 12 hours of driving we normally look at flying. We still have 1-4 hours of driving to reach an airport all the same.

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HowLittleIKnow@reddit

You know what annoys me? Living in downeast Maine, I really don't have a choice. For some reasons, you can get flights between places like Philadelphia and Washington National, or Kansas City and St. Louis, or Chicago and Detroit, none of which are more than a few hours apart. But try to fly anywhere within New England (on a proper plane) and you're screwed. There's no Bangor-Worcester route or Portland-Hartford. At best, you have to connect in New York or Atlanta.

Thankfully, I do prefer driving. You can bring more stuff, you can stop at interesting places on the way, and you don't have to rent a car. There's no concern about flight delays and getting stuck somewhere unpleasant. I particularly prefer driving home if it's a work trip. After a tough week, I would so much rather get on the road with a good soundtrack or audio book than deal with the hassle of an airport.

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Ct-5736-Bladez@reddit

6hr drive is max. Anything more and I will look at a flight tickets. While more efficient and I’m not adding miles and wear and tear on my car It is more expensive due to rental car and flight prices.

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Fred42096@reddit

Hard cap of 12 hours for driving. I can and have done more, but at this stage of my life it doesn’t really make any better economic sense to drive beyond that.

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YeetThatLemon@reddit

The only time I will fly over driving is when I’m on limited vacation time and my goal is to enjoy the destination rather than just being off of work.

I love road tripping, 95% of my vacations have been road trips with only three being flying and staying at a resort or hotel. That type of vacation is personally just not my cup of tea, I enjoy the idea of sleeping in my little make shift bed in my car while driving across the country, I enjoy the freedom of being able to explore more places in between destinations rather than being restricted to one area and needing a rental if flying to a destination.

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03zx3@reddit

If I can drive there and time isn't an issue, I'm going to drive.

If it's on another continent, I'll fly.

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JuliusTweezer@reddit

If I have the time I’d drive. Grew up going on road trips and haven’t stopped. Don’t get me wrong, flying is great too.

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saginator5000@reddit

I've done road trips up to 11 hours away because I had the time and didn't want to pay for a rental car, but that was in my college days. Now my upper limit is 6-7 hours before I fly. Driving further than that feels like I'm wasting valuable time on my trip.

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ssplam@reddit

It takes me 14 hours to drive to my best friend or 10 to fly including an hour drive on either end, sitting in the airport pre flight and at least a 2 hour layover. I will drive to her to skip the stress of flying, plane changes, check in, etc.

It takes me 6-8 hours to get to Los Angeles (it all depends on the traffic) and total airline time including that front drive, about 2.5 hours. It's worth it to me to fly there and rent a car.

If I'm lucky enough that somewhere I want to go is a 14 hour drive or less and I can get there in a direct flight, I may choose flight. Something further is likely a flight too. It really depends on how long I want to be there, is it worth it to or do I need to rent a car, do I want the luxury of getting there in my own time, etc?

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OlderNerd@reddit

I drive when the distance is less than a 8 hour or so Drive, and I want to be able to use a vehicle when I get there. So for example, when my family went on vacation to new orleans, it was an 8 hour drive. And we could use our vehicle at the hotel to get around the city.

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_Smedette_@reddit

If the drive is over ten hours, I will fly, but even then it depends on what the trip is for and how long I’m staying (eg: if I’m bringing a lot of camping gear, or if I’m needing to make a bunch of stops to visit people, I will drive).

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libertarianlove@reddit

If it’s over 4-5 hours I’ll fly.

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MuppetManiac@reddit

If I can drive in one day, I drive. Otherwise I fly.

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JimBones31@reddit

If I need the car when I get there, I'll drive most likely.

I fly all the time though and don't own a car. My wife has the car. We take her car when we go into town.

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Crazyboutdogs@reddit

Alone? I’ve done a 14 hour road trip. It was to pick up a puppy, so didn’t want to fly. If I have friends along? 16-18 hours. Alone,aside from that one time, 5-6 hours is really my tops.

Other than that, I fly.

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anneofgraygardens@reddit

ideally: six hours is my limit.

reality: end up driving to Orange County (8 hours) once a year or so.

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scaredofmyownshadow@reddit

There are several factors that I consider. If it’s going to be a 3 day trip to a location that I want to enjoy and will be spending time with family / friends, I’ll fly instead of drive so that I can maximize my time there with them.

If it’s a 2 week vacation, I’ll drive because time isn’t a big issue, I can enjoy a road trip and will also have the convenience of a car at my destination.

I factor in the overall time of flying. Driving to the airport for both departure and arrivals, waiting at the airport, the flight itself, etc. I live one hour from my local airport but if my final destination is a 3 drive from the arrival airport, I’m going to figure out the math if it will be faster for me to just drive directly.

I also factor in the cost. If I’ll be spending a lot of money on gas / mileage / motel to drive to and from the destination and a plane ticket is significantly cheaper, I’ll probably fly instead. That assumes that I won’t need to be driving a lot at the destination and can get by with a few Ubers or a rental car. When I’m traveling with friends and we’ll need a vehicle, we often just rent a car together and split the cost.

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TheBimpo@reddit

Depends on where I’m going, how long I’m staying, and how far away it is.

Is it a place where I’m going to need a car? Is it less than a 12 Hour drive? Am I staying more than three days? Would it make more sense to fly and rent a car?

It just depends.

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OceanPoet87@reddit

I generally like flying. If it's about 5 hours or more, I will fly. It also depends on the destination and time of year. I am about 5 hrs and 15-30 mins to Boise. If I needed to go to Boise, I would rather drive 1 hour to the airport because both routes to Boise are tretcherous in the winter.

I'm originally from Oakland/Berkeley, CA and my grandparents lived about 25 mins from the Burbank airport. When visiting them 9/10 would be the quick 1 hour southwest flight and we always chose that for Thanksgving to save time.

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Salty_Dog2917@reddit

Anything over 8 hours I fly. Unless it’s Vegas then sometimes I fly.

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AnotherPint@reddit

500 miles is the over-under for me. If the trip is > 500 miles flying starts to make sense.

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NorwegianSteam@reddit

A lot of the times that I am traveling 6-12 hours I have guns and ammo with me, so drive. If I'm don't, and it's a get there Friday and leave Sunday situation, I'll definitely look at flights.

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Positive-Avocado-881@reddit

I just drove 6 hours today to visit my family. I prefer to take the train and flying is a last resort for this trip. 6 hours is my driving limit though.

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VitruvianDude@reddit

Every summer I visit my son and his family, who live on the opposite side of the country. I have mixed flying and driving every other year. I enjoy long-distance driving, but it definitely is more expensive, especially for a solo trip.

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Subvet98@reddit

Longer than 6 and I am flying

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istickpiccs@reddit

I just don’t trust airlines to get me where I need to be when I need to be there anymore. So anything over an 8 hour drive is about my limit, if my kid isn’t with me, 12 hours.

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manicpixidreamgirl04@reddit

In my family, we'll drive a full day to our initial destination. Sometimes on longer road trips we'll spend the night in a random hotel somewhere between two stops.

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wherearethestarsss@reddit

in texas and the closest airport to me is 3 hours away, so unless im going out of state (which is never), i drive.

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Adept_Thanks_6993@reddit

Eight hours and above

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squidwardsdicksucker@reddit

Anything over 5 hours I start to look for flights unless I specifically am wanting to do a road trip as part of the vacation experience.

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MrGollyWobbles@reddit

Depends on the cost/time tradeoff. 10 hour drive is about my limit for most things but if the plane ticket is too much and I have the time, why not take a road trip. If you book plane tickets right, it's often cheaper and more efficient than a 3 day road trip.

Much younger me would just drive any distance. Now I value my time more. But my dad does not like to fly... kinda. He will drive half way across the country to one family members house then fly yo mine and back to drive home.

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LAUNCHB0XX@reddit

if it takes longer than 10 hours im flying

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Crayshack@reddit

If it's longer than about an 8 hour drive, I go for flying instead. Exceptions are made for times when there's heavier equipment that I can't easily fly with but I really want to take with me.