Is it better to drive or fly? Maybe you’re traveling solo and found a cheap airfare deal. But then you add up the costs of rideshares to and from the airport, plus checked bag fees, and it’s suddenly not so cheap.

The main difference between flying and driving to a vacation is time spent. Benefits and drawbacks vary for either; driving can make hard-to-reach areas accessible, but risks traffic and high gas prices. Flying, meanwhile, allows you to multitask, but you’re at the whim of airlines.

The literal costs of a road trip versus flying may shake out exactly the same, but there are intangible costs like time, energy and traffic at stake, too.

Here are the biggest factors you should consider when deciding whether to fly or drive.

Driving vs. flying costs

Driving costs

Gas for the road trip

Calculate not just the cost of gas to get to and from your destination, but also the cost of gas when you’re there. While gas prices can vary dramatically by region, AAA breaks down gas prices by county to provide a better idea of costs. Use AAA’s gas cost calculator, which also factors in the make and model of your car, for an even more accurate estimate.

Car wear and tear

The more you drive, the more you’ll need to replace tires or get an oil change. Those costs vary depending on what kind of tires you need or who's servicing your oil change, but again, AAA has an interactive tool that can help estimate.

Parking and tolls

Factor in potential toll roads, as well as parking fees, such as at hotels, on busy downtown streets or at popular attractions like zoos, theme parks or sporting events.

Additional time commitments when driving

If time is money, then driving can demand a lot of it. Tools like Google Maps can estimate the drive time. And while they can’t predict the future with 100% accuracy, they can estimate how long your trip will take based on your departure time.

Plan for the drive to take longer than the estimate, as these tools typically don’t account for stops for gas, food or stretching. You also may encounter traffic due to weather or an accident.

Costs of flying

Airfare and associated costs

The price of flying entails a lot more than airfare. You may be able to avoid checked bag fees or seat selection fees by holding certain credit cards or elite status. But if not, bake those hidden costs into your budget.

Most airlines charge extra if you’re flying with a pet, and that’s if they even let you bring pets on board, period.

A rental car

If you’re renting a car, factor in not just the base rate, but also extra costs including gas and parking. You might also encounter other fees, like an underage driver fee, second driver fee or rental car insurance.