How far away is too far away?

Tarhunt
Sun, 09 Jul 2006 12:51:26 +0000

Flying isn’t an option? Well, I guess it depends on how you look at it.

I recognize that I’m unusual in this sense, but I consider a one-day drive to be around 1,000 miles (I can get up at 2:00 and be at my destination by 6:00). If a car averages 25-miles/gallon of gas, the cost of a 2,000 mile round trip is around $240. Additional wear and tear on the car/depreciation is around $.25 per mile which adds an additional $500 (conservatively). There are meals along the way and a hotel stay of at least one night. Add another $200 (conservatively).

We’re close to $1,000 here for a 1000-mile trip. I can buy a round trip ticket to almost anywhere in the US (with a little planning) for 1/4 to 1/3 of that amount. With a credit card giving me miles, most of those flights are free (if I pay off the bill every month).