Drive or Fly: Aiken, SC to Bluffton, SC?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for AGS–HHH. At 122 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:
Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

3h 1m

Distance

122.9 mi

Total Cost

$62

CO2

50 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$27
Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0
Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35
+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines
+ Comfortable one-day drive
+ Stop anywhere along the route
+ Have your own car at the destination
+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying
Wear and tear on vehicle
Fuel price fluctuations
Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

2h 55m

12m in the air

Air Distance

104 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

27 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Aiken, SC → AGS 29m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 12m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
HHH → Bluffton, SC 14m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Aiken, SC AGS — Augusta Regional At Bush Field 19 mi, ~29m drive
Bluffton, SC HHH — Hilton Head Airport 10 mi, ~14m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between AGS and HHH. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue
+ Predictable arrival time
Airport security and check-in overhead
No scheduled commercial flights found for this route
Luggage fees and restrictions
Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

3h 51m

1h 46m on rail

Total Cost

$17

CO2

5 kg

Route

Floridian

Door-to-Door Timeline

Aiken, SC → Denmark Amtrak Station 55m
Boarding 30m
Train ride 106m
Arrival 10m
Savannah → Bluffton, SC 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $17) $17

Estimated based on distance. Check amtrak.com for current prices.

Stations

From Denmark Amtrak Station 37 mi, ~55m drive
To Savannah 20 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets
+ Walk around freely during the trip
+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route
+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying
Limited schedule — about 2 trips per week
Amtrak delays can be unpredictable
Need transportation to/from station
Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

Drive Fly Train
Door-to-door time 3h 1m 2h 55m 3h 51m
Total cost (1 person) $62 $124 $17
Carbon footprint 50 kg CO2 27 kg CO2 5 kg CO2
Flexibility High Low
Luggage Unlimited Restricted
Reliability Weather dependent Data unavailable
Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices
Flight data: Statistical estimate
Airports: OurAirports
Transit: Amtrak GTFS — fares estimated
Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 12, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Aiken, SC to Bluffton, SC with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.