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[quote user="dubch87"] I have a pretty good example. My wife is from northeast of Philadelphia (Bucks County), which is a little less than 450 miles from where we live in Raleigh. We use air, car, and rail to get there. Car: Oh, I-95, I hate you. Stop for gas and food in Virginia and a second stop for the restroom (I have to go more than she does, or she's a good liar). At least 7.5-8 hours at 65-75 mph with stops and likely traffic congestion. Add $40 if you get caught by a Maryland work zone speed camera. Pros: Origin to destination, no baggage restrictions, cheapest Cons: I-95, fatigue, traffic, tolls, I-95 Air: US Airways offers direct flights from RDU to PHL that take around 1.5 hour. We're about ten minutes from the airport, and we're usually through security in 20 minutes tops, but still get there about 1.5 hour early. She/we then take SEPTA from PHL to Bucks County, which is around 1 hr 20 min. Sometimes we'll miss the train by a few minutes and have to wait half an hour at the airport, and have to transfer downtown if it's an afternoon train. The SEPTA station is about ten minutes from her parents' house, and they pick us up. Altogether, 4.5-5 hours. Pros: Fastest Cons: Most Expensive, subject to delays Rail: We're around 15 minutes from either Cary or Raleigh stations with daylight service from both the Carolinian and Silver Star. With the northern segment of the former SAL line abandoned, Amtrak follows the NCRR southeast from Raleigh to Selma before turning northeast on the CSX A line, adding a lot of mileage and time. The trip is scheduled at 9 hours and 15 minutes. The in-laws are closer to Trenton than Philadelphia, so they cross the river and pick us up there for an additional 20 minutes of trip time. We have experienced delays before, but have made up time north and southbound and arrived within 30 minutes of schedule. Pros: Stretch, look out the window Cons: Longest trip, almost as expensive as air, subject to delays When we pick each method of transportation: Car: Both of us traveling during non-holiday times and not on the weekend. Air: When wife travels alone or tickets are cheap enough. Rail: Both of us are visiting around holidays when the highways and airports are overcrowded. If/when the Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor is completed and the SAL (S) Line is restored, rail travel time will be comparable or faster than car. [/quote] This is an excellent analysis of the options available to you and your partner. The best options depend on a variety of circumstances, i.e. location, number of  people traveling, distance, physical and mental health, temperament, transport at destination, etc.  One thing seems clear.  One size does not fit all.
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