Drive or Fly: Alpharetta, GA to Auburn, GA?

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 PDK–PDK. At 31 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

52m

Distance

31.5 mi

Total Cost

$42

CO2

13 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$7

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

3h 7m

3m in the air

Air Distance

27 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

7 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Alpharetta, GA → PDK 21m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 3m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PDK → Auburn, GA 43m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Alpharetta, GA PDK — DeKalb Peachtree Airport 14 mi, ~21m drive

Auburn, GA PDK — DeKalb Peachtree Airport 29 mi, ~43m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PDK and PDK. 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

2h 31m

52m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

3 kg

Route

Crescent

Door-to-Door Timeline

Alpharetta, GA → Atlanta 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 52m

Arrival 10m

Gainesville Amtrak Station → Auburn, GA 29m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $9) $9

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

Stations

From Atlanta 20 mi, ~30m drive

To Gainesville Amtrak Station 19 mi, ~29m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~11/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 11 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	52m	3h 7m	2h 31m
Total cost (1 person)	$42	$121	$9
Carbon footprint	13 kg CO₂	7 kg CO₂	3 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

31.5 mi 52m

via GA 120, GA 316; US 29; GA 8, US 29 Business; GA 8

Alternative (+1 min)

31.7 mi 53m

via GA 324, McGinnis Ferry Road, I 85

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Alpharetta, GA to Auburn, GA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.