Idaho residents are willing to drive nearly twice as long as Californians before booking a flight — 12 hours and 55 minutes on average, compared to just 6 hours and 24 minutes.
A recent study released by Upgraded Points surveyed over 2,400 people across 48 states in July 2026 to find out when travelers reach their limit and opt to fly instead of drive. In addition to the average time travelers in each surveyed state are willing to spend on the road, the study offers insights into Americans’ general feelings about road tripping and what counts as a “long drive.”
Californians are the least willing to drive long distances, with their threshold at 6 hours and 24 minutes before flying becomes the better option. On the ranked list, travelers in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Texas, and Illinois all trailed California as the least willing to drive long distances.
Meanwhile, surveyed travelers in Idaho are, on average, the most willing to drive long distances, with their threshold up to 12 hours and 55 minutes on the road. Those who embrace long drives in “The Gem State” were followed by travelers based in Montana, Kentucky, Missouri, and Maine as the Americans most willing to drive long distances.
For context, the average time that Americans across the country are willing to spend on the road is nine hours and 39 minutes. Also, 36% of surveyed travelers said they’re now more willing to drive long distances than they were two years ago. The study additionally found that for the average American, the distance on the road becomes a “long drive” after you hit five hours and 24 minutes.
Driving Vs. Flying
According to the survey, “The answer often depends on more than distance, with airfare, gas prices, traffic, delays, and personal preferences all shaping the final plan.”
“Every long trip begins with the same basic choice: spend hours on the road or head to the airport,” noted Upgraded Points’ Editor-in-Chief, Keri Stooksbury, in a press release. “Some travelers will white-knuckle a 12-hour car journey to avoid the airport altogether, while others are looking at flights as soon as they realize how many hours they’d have to spend on the highway. We wanted to map out exactly where that breaking point falls, state by state.”
