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Individual situations vary, but about 400 miles for me. I will drive to D.C. or Chicago from Columbus to see friends and family, but I'd rather fly somewhere as far as New York, Boston, Houston, etc. If I'm heading to an unfamiliar city, I'd certainly rather fly.
Nearest airport is about an hour away. Allow two hours for checking, an hour flight, ground transport = five hours. Depending on traffic, 250-300 miles. Of course, YMMV.
I know a guy who drove from Northern IL to Houston. Driving a hybrid it only cost $80 in gas -but he had an accident on the way that cost several hundred. No thanks!
Driving time and whether we are taking the dog with us. It is 778 miles, door-to-door, to our son's house and we do it in one 12-13 hour driving day. We are taking the dog and often a lot of tools to help him work on his house, so flying is not really an option.
Otherwise about one 6-8 hour driving day is my limit. Hate staying in cheap hotels and it annoys me to pay $250+ a night for an expensive hotel that is really just a cheap hotel with slightly better paint and landscaping.
2-3 days of 5-6 hour driving is my limit for towing the trailer to go camping, which limits us, pretty much to the northwest and adjacent mountain states.
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I used to travel a lot for work. My tipping point was if the destination was more than about 4 1/2 hour car drive. I hated traveling, in case that adds any extra dimension to it.
It is an easy decision for me because I do not fly anymore.
I used to fly a lot, but my last flight was in the year 2000. I am sticking with the promise I made to myself about no more flying. I just grew tired of all the bullshyt involved; that's it in a nutshell. Since I do not have any desire or reason to ever leave North America again, it has worked out well.
I have no reason to be in a hurry to get somewhere. My closest loved ones live near enough to drive
to. Also, I love road trips and like experiencing the USA and Canada while driving, stopping and seeing the sights, trying a different restaurant, or spending a night or two somewhere new.
I realize that flying is necessary for many people, and it used to be for me, but since it is no longer necessary I choose not to fly.
Business travel has different variables, so let’s assume just personal.
To me, it’s a combination of cost, time and whether we need a car at destination. E.g. to NYC we’d likely fly if we can find affordable tickets. Traffic is horrible and car is not needed. FL is about 8 hour drive from us, so if air tickets and car rental are not too expensive then we fly. Otherwise we drive.
One year Hertz had a promo to rent a car at an airport and then drive it down to FL to return at an airport there. It cost about $10 per day. So we rented a car one way and then flew back home via cheapo Frontier. Financially, it was the best trip.
We live pretty close to the airport that is not very busy, so usually don’t spend more than 1.5 hrs each way of extra travel time. Unless there is a major delay, flying is simple as you can just watch a movie or read. Driving can be tiresome, although we take turns as needed.
To some families, baggage can be a factor too. E.g. when our kid was little and needed a car seat and extra stuff flying was a major hassle.
Unless the whole point of the trip is to see the countryside, I'll fly, thank you -- provided, that is, I can get reasonable fares. I do enjoy road trips, but if the point of the trip is to get somewhere, I want to get there in as little time as possible.
We were planning a trip to visit our daughter who lives 800 miles away. No real schedule or time constraints, just a get together. By car it's a 12 hour drive, doable (if unpleasant) in one day, but an easy trip over two days. Flying there takes 2 hours in the air and another 4-6 hours of miscellaneous stuff at the airports for a total of 6-8 hours travel time door-door. We decided to drive instead of fly because the time saved isn't worth the hassles.
What is your tipping point in distance and time for domestic travel?
Need and desire. I wouldn't mind a trip to Vegas, but that's a 24 hour trip by car. 2.5 by air. So by air I'd go UNLESS I had my camper. Then it's an easy 3 day trip down.
If I was going to Seattle, then it's a drive as it's only 3 hours.
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