Drive or Fly: Atlanta, GA to Albany, 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 ATL–ABY. At 182 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

3h 29m

Distance

182 mi

Total Cost

$75

CO2

74 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$40

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 40m

18m in the air

Air Distance

151 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

38 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Atlanta, GA → ATL 12m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 18m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ABY → Albany, GA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Atlanta, GA ATL — Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport 8 mi, ~12m drive

Albany, GA ABY — Southwest Georgia Regional Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ATL and ABY. 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

4h 10m

3h 25m on road

Total Cost

$17

CO2

9 kg

Route

FlixBus 2452

Door-to-Door Timeline

Atlanta, GA → Atlanta Bus Station (ATD6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 205m

Arrival 10m

Albany (BP One Leaf) (ALY6) → Albany, GA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $17) $17

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

Stations

From ATD6 — Atlanta Bus Station 0 mi, ~10m drive

To ALY6 — Albany (BP One Leaf) 2 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~8/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 8 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 29m	2h 40m	4h 10m
Total cost (1 person)	$75	$126	$17
Carbon footprint	74 kg CO₂	38 kg CO₂	9 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 13, 2026.

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