How to Travel: Driving vs Flying

Note: I may earn money or products from the companies, products, or links mentioned in this post.

If you are a military spouse then you probably know all about traveling. Or maybe you aren’t a military spouse, but love to travel around and see new places. No matter who you are, it can be hard to make a decision on whether flying or driving is best. It may depend on your situation, your family, or where you are traveling to.

Here are a few tips to help you decide whether or not you should travel by air or by car.

Driving vs Flying:

Prep:

• Driving: Do a quick check-up on the car. If you are driving far or even traveling several hours in your own state, it’s good to look over the car and make sure it’s ready for travel. Check things such as: tire pressure, oil levels, engine, and be sure to fill it up with gas! A great car for this is the Jeep Cherokee, as it is great for “…keeping you on the road and out of the mechanic’s garage.”

• Flying: Scour the internet for the best prices and seating. Sure, you can do this from the comfort of your own home, but finding the best prices is not always easy. Checking multiple sites is a must and remember that luggage fees apply!

Luggage:

• Driving: You are able to bring more luggage. You can bring things that you wouldn’t be able to bring on a plane and if you are a good packer, your car will probably fit a lot more than you think! A spacious car to try is the Dodge Grand Caravan. It seats 7 comfortably and has space enough to fit all the things you need to travel with.
• Flying: There is a luggage limit AND a weight limit. Usually the restriction is one suitcase per adult and one carry-on per adult. The weight limit I believe varies by airline, but is usually around 50 lbs. I don’t know about you, but I almost always have a hard time staying under the weight limit. I mean, what’s a girl to do when she has so many shoes?

Expenses:

• Driving: You must pay for gas and food. Usually in the long run, it is cheaper to pay the gas for a family to travel by car than it is to pay for a plane ticket for each person in the family. A great car for gas mileage is the Jeep Compass. It gets 28 miles to the gallon on the highway, which is absolutely great for an SUV! Food is another expense while traveling, but in a car you can bring your own food to save money, especially if you have a cooler. Sure, you might still have to make some stops for food, but you can bring your own snacks and drinks, and save money that way too!
• Flying: You must pay for plane tickets and luggage fees. Keep in mind that most airlines charge for kids over age two, so that means paying for even more tickets after that age.

Time:

• Driving: Driving may take longer, but  in the long run, it is nice because you are able to see the country. You can stop at special places, tour, see the scenery and more!
• Flying: Flying may be a shorter way to travel, but it can definitely be more stressful. Running to catch your flights, flight delays, lost baggage and getting through security can make traveling by air a very stressful time.

As you can see, although I do love flying, traveling by car is a much  more efficient way to travel. My husband and I have decided it’s one of the better ways for us to travel as a family, and being a military family it’s a hard decision to make – especially when extended families can be so far away.

Looking for a car that is great for traveling? Try Palmer Dodge GA. They have the cars I mentioned above and tons more that are ready for traveling and good times with your family. You can find out what specials are going on right on their website, so be sure to check it out today!

This post was created in partnership with Palmer Dodge GA. All opinions are my own.

What do YOU think? What is the best way to travel, car or plane? Which do you prefer?