Drive or Fly: Albemarle, NC to Concord, NC?

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 USA–USA. At 23 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

37m

Distance

23.3 mi

Total Cost

$40

CO2

9 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$5

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 57m

3m in the air

Air Distance

22 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

6 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Albemarle, NC → USA 43m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 3m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

USA → Concord, NC 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Albemarle, NC USA — Concord-Padgett Regional Airport 29 mi, ~43m drive

Concord, NC USA — Concord-Padgett Regional Airport 7 mi, ~11m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between USA and USA. 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

2h 4m

1h on road

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Greyhound US0650s

Door-to-Door Timeline

Albemarle, NC → Albemarle (Vac & Dash) (ALR6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 60m

Arrival 10m

Charlotte Bus Station (CLT6) → Concord, NC 29m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $4) $4

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

Stations

From ALR6 — Albemarle (Vac & Dash) 0 mi, ~10m drive

To CLT6 — Charlotte Bus Station 19 mi, ~29m 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	37m	2h 57m	2h 4m
Total cost (1 person)	$40	$121	$4
Carbon footprint	9 kg CO₂	6 kg CO₂	2 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 12, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Albemarle, NC to Concord, NC with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.