This is not exactly off topic - actually. Someone has asked a similar question in a another forum.

I might get to run in the NYC Marathon this November (lottery selection because "only" 30,000 can run). I've come up with three options of getting there:

• Fly from Dallas (I think the round trip would be $250-300)
• Drive in my Insight the shortest route thru Tennessee, to I95 in Washington up to NYC
• Drive an additional 100 miles driving: Dallas, Oklahoma City, Indianapolis, Ohio, Pennsylvania, NYC

My Insight could do 60mpg or so at 70mph on the freeways. Drive time would be two full days. I'm not supposed to run a couple of days before the race - no problem.

 

There should be no question here for an environmentally conscious Insight driver. Drive. Think of your carbon footprint if you were to fly! :o)

 

When I flew to Ft. Worth to pickup my Prius, I asked the flight crew for a 'head count' and 'fuel burn'. I used my drive-back miles and converted it into passenger-miles-per-gallon and plotted it on my graph. It came out about 62 MPG at a block-to-block speed of 233 MPH.


Now if you can get someone in the other seat, you'll get double the passenger-miles-per-gallon. Perhaps you have a dog? Better still, find a college student or service man who needs a 'cheap seat' to New York. Two guys can swap driving and you'll be there about as quickly as possible. Even if you have to average a two-seat out and one-seat back, you should still beat the airline. (I've tried to teach my dog to drive but she can't pass the written.)


Bob Wilson

 

speaking as someone who has done the ~DC to ~NYC drive MANY times, I'd recommend taking the extra 100 miles

 

My gut feeling was I95 is to be avoided.

 

I would fly.

 

I'd fly.

http://www.theoildrum.com/story/2005/10/1/181114/667

 

I support the whole idea of ridesharing, which will really increase your per person mileage, and make the insight no doubt the more efficient choice. For flying, it is much harder to determine the actual efficiency. In the year 2000, the average airline efficiency was 38 passenger miles per gallon (PMPG), including takeoffs and landings. I Have not found the figure for 2005, but aircraft are newer and jet engines more modern, and occupancy levels higher - all of these affect PMPG. For example, the B757 - an old design, consumes on average about 50% more fuel than the A320. Both the new Boeing Dreamliner and teh A380 will provide another leap in efficiency in their respective size classes. While airborn, some airliners now reach 80 PMPG. However, another consideration is the number of takeoffs and landings, since takeoffs consume vast amounts of fuel. If you get a direct, non-stop flight from TX to NYC on a full jet of modern design, my guestimate is you might reach about 60 PMPG, about what you would get in your insight.
You could easily double that efficiency by sharing the ride.
Of course, either a commercial long-distance bus, or train, are much more efficient than either plane or Insight. Greyhound claims an average of 162 PMPG for their fleet as occupied and used.
Either way, sounds like a fun event in NYC!

 

I figured this would be a fun exercise.

Wondered if driving on I95 once might be somewhat enjoyable (probably famous last words.... )

This is really an off-topic part of the exercise, but figuring a place to stay and commuting at NYC is really what's on my mind. Mass transit is even a better idea for a tourist, so that makes flying a little more attractive

My mind is far from made up.

 

I95 is a lot more fun between 11:00 PM and 5:30 AM. Otherwise, avoid it.

Considering the distance and after effects of a marathon, flying makes a lot of sense. The drive out would be OK but then the return trip . . . could be quite a chore. Besides, if you plan the flight schedule, you might get a 'bounce' ticket.

Bob Wilson