Drive or Fly: Alabaster, AL to Fairfield, AL?

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 BHM–VPS. At 160 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 15m

Distance

160.2 mi

Total Cost

$70

CO2

65 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$35

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

4h 11m

17m in the air

Air Distance

138 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

35 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Alabaster, AL → BHM 33m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 17m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

VPS → Fairfield, AL 81m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Alabaster, AL BHM — Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport 22 mi, ~33m drive

Fairfield, AL VPS — Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport 54 mi, ~81m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BHM and VPS. 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

8h 52m

6h 40m on road

Total Cost

$19

CO2

10 kg

Route

Greyhound US0624S

Door-to-Door Timeline

Alabaster, AL → Birmingham (Express Carriers) (BHM6) 28m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 400m

Arrival 10m

Atmore (ATR6) → Fairfield, AL 79m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $19) $19

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

Stations

From BHM6 — Birmingham (Express Carriers) 19 mi, ~28m drive

To ATR6 — Atmore 52 mi, ~79m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	3h 15m	4h 11m	8h 52m
Total cost (1 person)	$70	$126	$19
Carbon footprint	65 kg CO₂	35 kg CO₂	10 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: FlixBus 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 17, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Alabaster, AL to Fairfield, AL with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.