This last week the kiddos and I drove down to Long Island to visit with family (Hi Mom!). It’s about a 4 hour drive (plus a stop at the McD’s with playland to eat and stretch our legs at the halfway point), and includes several tolls etc.
While driving down the road, the kiddos happily content watching a DVD from our collection while I listened to a JD Robb book on tape in the front-a bag of home packed snacks and bottle of water/soda on the seat beside me-I started to think.
With rising gas costs, plus tolls, is driving really the cheapest method of travel? Let’s look, shall we?
It takes about 2 tanks of gas for the round trip, or about $100 total at the current gas prices ($3.19). Tolls on the way there are $12, but only $7.50 on the way back (the Tappan Zee bridge is only a toll going West to East). That brings the total to $119.50.
photo by casual.tourist via flickr.comAccording to the Greyhound website, round trip tickets leaving on Fri and returning on Tues from Binghamton to Hempstead (which is about 30 min away from our final destination) are $79 for one adult, and $47.40 for each kiddo plus a $4 will call fee. That brings the total to $178.80.
Photo by SteveVance via flickr.comOur closest Amtrak station is 1 hour away in Syracuse. We could take a train to Penn Station, which is in NYC and would necessitate taking the Long Island Railroad out to my The fare from Syracuse to Penn Station for the three of us would be $304 ($134 for a single adult), plus $8 per person, each way, for the Long Island Railroad portion of the trip for $48. That brings the total for going by rail to $152-and that doesn’t include the gas and parking fees or time to drive to Syracuse.
Photo by davipt via flickr.comThe cheapest direct flight from Binghamton to Islip (the closest airport out on LI to where we were going) runs $573 for all of us.
The final analysis? Without any kind of discounts on the fares (there are senior, student, AAA, military and veteran discounts*) Driving is still the cheapest method of travel for us on this particular trip, as long as there are more than one adult. If a single adult were traveling, then the bus is actually cheaper by about $40 dollars.
There are also other considerations as the prices get closer to each other. Do you need to be mobile once you get to your destination? If so driving your own car may be better. Do you hate to drive, or need room to move around (such as energetic children do) then a train may be the better choice.
If gas prices continue to rise, it is worth continuing to compare the price of transportation. It is conceivable that the price of operating a single vehicle, even for a family, could become more expensive than public transportation.
*Note: I probably qualify for a veteran’s discount on both the rail and bus tickets, but I don’t officially have my Veteran’s Advantage Pass-I need to look into that. It costs $59 a year, but there are lots of other benefits to it-discounts on rail, bus, airline tickets-10% off purchases at Target, etc etc.
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
What a great analysis! I’ve been thinking about the different modes of transportation lately as I consider a trip to NYC. (I really, really need some good Ethiopian food.) As a single adult, the bus sounds like a perfect fit.
My brother and his wife actually found a Birnie Bus Tour to NYC in December at only $40 per person (it was marketed as a holiday shopping trip, but it got them to NY) and that is what I call a bargain! However they were on a single-day schedule, which suited them perfectly.
Now THAT’s what I’ll be on the lookout for… and from your post I know what ceiling I have.
I took a bus to Florida and back many years ago, and it was a nightmare. I’ve also taken my fair share of bus rides to Philadelphia, Binghamton, etc. I think even as a single adult traveling, I’d prefer the relative luxury of car travel over a bus. But the estimates you gave are a very great way to compare! I just think we travelers factor in quality as well as quantity. Quality is priceless sometimes.
Great post, and nice photos. Thanks!
Other regions also have light rail such as the San Francisco Bay Area that may be cheaper. Gas is crazy there. They have BART BAY AREA RAPID TRANSPORT. They also have trollies and light rail buses. All areas could benefit from this and it is green too. Good post!!!
I’m glad you posted this – my husband and I have been wondering whether Amtrak up to WA (for me and two children) to drop my daughter for her visitations to the ex would be more cost-effective. So far Southwest has had the best flights – driving is out of the question. (I’m shocked, gas here – on post, even!- went from 3.08 to 3.18 to 3.24 in 72 hours this week. EEEEEK!
So far I’ma thinking airline is still the way to go…
Anywho, I’m glad you mentioned Veteran’s Advantage. It was recommended to me this week by a retired Army fellow who owns a local store. He said to have hubby check it out, but I was wondering how much it cost. You’ve filled in a blank for me.
Mrs W-Yes, those “tours” are frequently cheaper than the regular tickets. On the other hand you might be surrounded by drunk housewives. . . Also, you should double check the prices of tickets in your area-I’m fairly sure you are more “central” in central new york than I am. . . It might make a difference.
Mrs. M-My favorite mode of travel is actually train; but then again I got spoiled when I lived in Germany. I wish our rail system was as good as theirs. Sigh. I’ve also taken bus trips that were fine, and ones that weren’t so great (including being in a greyhound bus accident in a tunnel in Boston). I agree-quality is a consideration, and must be balanced against the individuals budgetary needs etc.
anon-I’m jealous of the light rail available in your area!
Melonie-If you are active duty military you don’t need the Veteran’s Advantage-Amtrak had a military and military child rate (as well as AAA and others) so double check it before you spend the $50. Also check which airlines you are considering take the Veteran’s Advantage. When I was active duty I frequently found that the deals I got on Orbitz etc were cheaper than the military rates.
another thought: Amtrak does get cheaper if you plan way ahead. I recently bought a train tiket from Albany to NYC for $39. I’m not traveling until August. the normal rate is $80, so planning ahead really makes sense.
I agree about taking the train in Germany. I got really spoiled!:)
Evelyn
I love rail, too, and wish we had a better system here. The good thing is that many American cities are starting or expanding their light-rail and commuter rail services. It costs more money up-front but is worth it in the long run.
I think that no matter what your political bent, you can call your representatives and ask them to make rail a priority.
Ted
We take the train back and forth to Chicago and it works out cheaper for us then it would be to drive. $10 each way per persona and then the kids ride free at certain times. One day trip to Chicago does cost us $40, but it would cost us that and the headaches of navigating a city that we aren’t familiar with. We joke and say that the train saves our marriage
We do a lot of fighting when we don’t know where we are going.
Great post! I just love comparing the cheapest ways to travel and love your cost analysis!
Oh About that Military Discount card is there a catch too it?? Do they charge more than the $4.95 start up fee? Have a great week!!
Ted-I too wish we had a better rail system.
Evelyn-Good point, I’ll have to see what the prices are like if I were to buy them ahead.
Amy-You are lucky to have rail service. Personally, I would rather read on a train than drive. Yankee Bill on the other hand loves to drive.
Anon-It’s almost $50 a year, but I’m not sure about the rest of the fees. I’d do some stringent research before I purchased anything like it.