Drive or Fly: Auburn, AL to Birmingham, 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 CSG–BHM. At 109 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 19m

Distance

109.2 mi

Total Cost

$59

CO2

44 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$24

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 10m

12m in the air

Air Distance

99 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

25 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Auburn, AL → CSG 48m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 12m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BHM → Birmingham, AL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Auburn, AL CSG — Columbus Airport 32 mi, ~48m drive

Birmingham, AL BHM — Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between CSG and BHM. 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

4h 57m

2h 15m on rail

Total Cost

$11

CO2

3 kg

Route

Crescent

Door-to-Door Timeline

Auburn, AL → Anniston Amtrak Station 112m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 135m

Arrival 10m

Birmingham → Birmingham, AL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $11) $11

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

Stations

From Anniston Amtrak Station 75 mi, ~112m drive

To Birmingham 1 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/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 7 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

3h 45m

3h on road

Total Cost

$11

CO2

6 kg

Route

Greyhound US0624S

Door-to-Door Timeline

Auburn, AL → Auburn Bus Stop (AUB6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 180m

Arrival 10m

Birmingham (Express Carriers) (BHM6) → Birmingham, AL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $11) $11

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

Stations

From AUB6 — Auburn Bus Stop 5 mi, ~10m drive

To BHM6 — Birmingham (Express Carriers) 1 mi, ~10m 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	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	2h 19m	3h 10m	4h 57m	3h 45m
Total cost (1 person)	$59	$124	$11	$11
Carbon footprint	44 kg CO₂	25 kg CO₂	3 kg CO₂	6 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, 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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

109.2 mi 2h 19m

via US 231; US 280, US 280; AL 22, US 280; AL 147

Alternative (+25 min)

145.2 mi 2h 44m

via I 65; US 82, I 85, North College Street

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