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Traveling alone, cross-country, in a car that gets twenty five miles per gallon is comparable, in terms of pollution-generation, to flying cross country. If you add a couple buddies to the mix or trade your car in for a fuel-efficient hybrid, the trip becomes significantly greener. The bus is the second greenest form of transportation, followed by the train. The plane comes in second to last right before driving alone.
But which method of travel is cheapest?
Knowing which travel option is cheapest may be of the highest priority to most people. Times are tough, and the majority of folks are looking to save money.
Driving
According to Drivepricing.com traveling roundtrip from LA to New York in a car that gets 35 mg costs $476.82.
Green up your trip by adding a buddy to your car and the price drops to 238.41.
Add another friend and you'll be spending a mere $158.67.
The car is much faster than the bus and the train, but it pales in comparison to the plane. You will also have to pay for lodging and food on the journey. Pack a tent and stay in campsites and you can lodge for under twenty bucks a night.
The Bus
Non-refundable, round-trip Greyhound tickets cost $297.60 for a ticket from LA to NY and back. There are further discounts for military personnel, students and seniors. Bus travel is the slowest form of cross-country travel. You do not travel in a straight line. It is the least comfortable form of travel. However, the buses I’ve ridden have been able to keep to their schedules. You do not have to pay for lodging, but you must sleep on the bus. You must also bring food or buy it as you go.
The Train
Taking the train costs a mighty $758.00 dollars for a round-trip. Discounts are available to various subsets within our society. The train is quicker than the bus, but the train is often delayed by 6 to 12 hours. It’s terrible trip for the punctual-minded. Food is not provided. Lodging—aka the chair you are sitting in--is free and relatively comfortable. If the train is crowded, it is not so comfortable. It is also bumpy.
The Plane
The plane is the fastest way to travel. There is no need for lodging or food. However, planes are infamous polluters. Round-trip plane tickets from LA to NY cost only $303.00 dollars. I found this particular deal on Orbitz.com.
The Method of Travel
The cheapest way to travel is also the greenest way to travel. Three or four pals packed into a hybrid is by far the least expensive way to travel.
We could quibble on food and lodging expenses, but I look at it this way. If you are traveling the speed limit from LA to New York. It will only take you a few days. ( I made it from Omaha to Los Angeles in 28 hours.) Add sixty to eighty dollars for camping costs, and the car still wins. You have to eat every day. Food should not be counted against if you purchase it from markets. Theoretically, that’s the same food you’d be eating at home.
And if you are traveling slowly, then the trip is most likely part of your vacation and should be counted as such. Therefore, I will let all the figures stand.
More on Eco-Friendly Travel
Quickly Calculate The Carbon of Your Flights
Top 10 Things You Need to Make Your Cross-Country Bus Trip Comfortable
Track Buses by Phone, Internet, Bus Stop
Quiz: What's Your Transport Footprint?
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