Drive or Fly: Bay Springs, MS to Meridian, MS?

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 PIB–MEI. At 49 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 12m

Distance

49.3 mi

Total Cost

$46

CO2

20 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$11

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 8m

5m in the air

Air Distance

43 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

11 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bay Springs, MS → PIB 53m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 5m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MEI → Meridian, MS 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

Bay Springs, MS PIB — Hattiesburg Laurel Regional Airport 36 mi, ~53m drive

Meridian, MS MEI — Key Field / Meridian Regional Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PIB and MEI. 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 40m

1h 17m on rail

Total Cost

$11

CO2

3 kg

Route

Crescent

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bay Springs, MS → Laurel Amtrak Station 33m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 77m

Arrival 10m

Meridian Union Station → Meridian, MS 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $11) $11

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

Stations

From Laurel Amtrak Station 22 mi, ~33m drive

To Meridian Union Station 0 mi, ~10m 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	1h 12m	3h 8m	2h 40m
Total cost (1 person)	$46	$122	$11
Carbon footprint	20 kg CO₂	11 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

49.3 mi 1h 12m

via MS 18, I 59, MS 513

Alternative (+0 min)

55.1 mi 1h 13m

via MS 15, I 20

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Bay Springs, MS to Meridian, MS with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.