There's nothing quite as thrilling as a good getaway. In fact, research suggests that travel is the best mood-boosting activity out there. The only problem? The time and effort it takes to plan a trip.

But now there's one less barrier to going on vacation. TravelMath, a website that calculates the cost of travel, can figure out if you should drive or fly to cities around the world, according to Life Hacker. The website uses a "travel cost calculator" to consider factors like the expense of getting to the airport, flight costs, how much fuel you would need to drive, gas prices, rental car charges, and many other components.

After you provide your starting and ending cities, the site presents you with a breakdown explaining which option is cheaper, shorter, faster, and more time-efficient, giving you a final "score." For example, if you wanted to travel from Washington, D.C., to Boston, Massachusetts, the site says it's cheaper to drive, but it's shorter, faster, and more efficient to fly, thereby they recommend flying.

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TravelMath

The calculator can also clue you in on other travel questions you might have, like the best stopping points for a road trip, whether you should take a bus or train, the closest airport to your destination, and more. It's truly the jackpot for globetrotters and backpackers, or anyone that finds themselves visiting out-of-state family and friends often.

(h/t Life Hacker)

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Jessica Leigh Mattern
Web Editor
Jessica Leigh Mattern is a web editor and writer who covers home, holiday, DIY, crafts, travel, and more lifestyle topics. Prior to working for Country Living, she wrote for several lifestyle and women’s magazines including Woman’s Day, Cosmopolitan, and Redbook