Well, gas prices aside, (this was true even 10 years ago!), Americans evidently don't blink twice at driving such a distance. I know I used to drive 100 miles a day at one point (going to work, then school, then home in a different county), and while it was annoying, it was what it was.

For instance, in two months I'm flying from MIA to DUB. I live in Gainesville, which is almost 6 hours drive from Miami. The airfare is $300+, and has NO flights in the right time frame, so I'm driving instead, there and back, before and after. Again, annoying, but the trains suck and the busses suck, there are no other real choices.

The gas I'll spend still isn't near $300, and I can leave my car at my best friend's parent's house while I'm on the trip. No parking costs

If I had to fly, I would have a 12 hour (yes 12 hour) layover in Tampa on the way back. Gainesville is a podunk town

I suppose part of it is because the US is a very large, spread out country, like Australia or China, and because our public transportation system just never got up to par. We love our cars, and use them constantly. Unless you live in a major metro area known for public transport (NY, SF) then you have a car, period. I lived in Miami 20 years, and could NEVER have dealt with work, school, etc. using public transport.