Drive or Fly: Avondale, AZ to Florence, AZ?

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 PHX–AZA. At 77 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 37m

Distance

77.2 mi

Total Cost

$52

CO2

31 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$17

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 14m

7m in the air

Air Distance

62 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

16 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Avondale, AZ → PHX 30m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 7m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

AZA → Florence, AZ 37m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

Avondale, AZ PHX — Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 20 mi, ~30m drive

Florence, AZ AZA — Mesa Gateway Airport 25 mi, ~37m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PHX and AZA. 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

3h 36m

1h 30m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Amtrak Thruway Connecting Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Avondale, AZ → North Phoenix Metro Center Transit Station 29m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 90m

Arrival 10m

Maricopa → Florence, AZ 57m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $8) $8

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

Stations

From North Phoenix Metro Center Transit Station 19 mi, ~29m drive

To Maricopa 38 mi, ~57m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/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 2 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	1h 37m	3h 14m	3h 36m
Total cost (1 person)	$52	$122	$8
Carbon footprint	31 kg CO₂	16 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: 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

77.2 mi 1h 36m

via I 10, AZ 202 Loop, US 80 Hist

Alternative (+1 min)

81.2 mi 1h 37m

via I 10, I 10; US 60, AZ 287

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Avondale, AZ to Florence, AZ with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.