Is it more environmentally sound to drive or fly across the country?

Question

As far as lbs of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere, is it better to drive coast to coast or to fly on a commercial jet?

Answer 1

fly

Answer 2

It depends. In a commercial jet, the gas per mile per passenger is 85 to 90 miles per gallon. If four people rode in a car that got 20 miles per gallon, the equivalent miles per gallon per passenger is 80 miles per gallon, or less than a loaded jet. The flying time is 6 hours. Auto travel time is five days or more. A jet puts out more pollutants, but in an extremely short time, relative to a car, and the pollutants per mile per passenger is way less than a car under these circumstances.
A better analysis would be cost per mile. You can fly from coast to coast for $500, and get it done in six hours. The IRS allows 46 cents per mile for business use of a car. If .46 is the average operating expense, it would cost a driver $1400 for gas and wear and tear on the car. Add to that five nights in a motel or $400. Add to that three meals per day for five days or $175. That totals $1,975. You lose five days and will probably need a few days to recover.
Sometimes it is better to drive. From Pittsburgh to Cleveland it takes 2.5 hours to drive the 125 miles. Expenses would be $57.50 for the car plus $5 for tolls. No meals and no lodging needed.
On a short trip, a jet uses about 90% of it's fuel for take off and landing. In this case, the pollutants per passenger mile would be much greater in the jet. Take off, landing, boarding and deplaning might be more than one hour. But you have to get to the airport two hours before your flight takes off.

Answer 3

Best way is to take the train - for least CO2 emission (per passenger).