Drive or Fly: Beaufort, NC to Wilmington, NC?

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 EWN–ILM. At 105 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 34m

Distance

105.9 mi

Total Cost

$58

CO2

43 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$23

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 9m

10m in the air

Air Distance

81 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

21 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Beaufort, NC → EWN 49m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 10m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ILM → Wilmington, NC 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

Beaufort, NC EWN — Coastal Carolina Regional Airport 33 mi, ~49m drive

Wilmington, NC ILM — Wilmington International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between EWN and ILM. 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

3h 34m

2h 5m on road

Total Cost

CO2

4 kg

Route

Greyhound US0658s

Door-to-Door Timeline

Beaufort, NC → New Bern (U Pick) (NBW6) 54m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 125m

Arrival 10m

Wilmington Cape Fear Public Transit (WNC6) → Wilmington, NC 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $8) $8

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

Stations

From NBW6 — New Bern (U Pick) 36 mi, ~54m drive

To WNC6 — Wilmington Cape Fear Public Transit 4 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	Bus
Door-to-door time	2h 34m	3h 9m	3h 34m
Total cost (1 person)	$58	$123	$8
Carbon footprint	43 kg CO₂	21 kg CO₂	4 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 17, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Beaufort, NC to Wilmington, NC with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.