Drive or Fly: Bent Creek, NC to Concord, 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 AVL–USA. At 137 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 54m

Distance

137.5 mi

Total Cost

$65

CO2

56 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$30

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 35m

14m in the air

Air Distance

114 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

29 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bent Creek, NC → AVL 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 14m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

USA → Concord, NC 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Bent Creek, NC AVL — Asheville Regional Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

Concord, NC USA — Concord-Padgett Regional Airport 7 mi, ~11m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between AVL and USA. 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 44m

2h 40m on road

Total Cost

$11

CO2

6 kg

Route

Greyhound US0650s

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bent Creek, NC → Asheville, NC (ASN6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 160m

Arrival 10m

Charlotte Bus Station (CLT6) → Concord, NC 29m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $11) $11

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

Stations

From ASN6 — Asheville, NC 6 mi, ~10m drive

To CLT6 — Charlotte Bus Station 19 mi, ~29m 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 54m	2h 35m	3h 44m
Total cost (1 person)	$65	$125	$11
Carbon footprint	56 kg CO₂	29 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: 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 15, 2026.

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