Drive or Fly: Burlington, NC to Winston-Salem, 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 GSO–GSO. At 49 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

54m

Distance

49 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 13m

5m in the air

Air Distance

45 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

11 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Burlington, NC → GSO 42m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 5m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

GSO → Winston-Salem, NC 26m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

Burlington, NC GSO — Piedmont Triad International Airport 28 mi, ~42m drive

Winston-Salem, NC GSO — Piedmont Triad International Airport 17 mi, ~26m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between GSO and GSO. 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

1h 57m

42m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Piedmont

Door-to-Door Timeline

Burlington, NC → Burlington Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 42m

Arrival 10m

High Point → Winston-Salem, NC 25m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $7) $7

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

Stations

From Burlington Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~10m drive

To High Point 17 mi, ~25m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/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 3 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

1h 42m

37m on road

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Greyhound US0670

Door-to-Door Timeline

Burlington, NC → Greensboro Bus Stop (GBO6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 37m

Arrival 10m

Winston Salem(Trans Center) (WNS6) → Winston-Salem, NC 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $3) $3

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

Stations

From GBO6 — Greensboro Bus Stop 20 mi, ~30m drive

To WNS6 — Winston Salem(Trans Center) 0 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~21/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

− 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	54m	3h 13m	1h 57m	1h 42m
Total cost (1 person)	$46	$122	$7	$3
Carbon footprint	20 kg CO₂	11 kg CO₂	2 kg CO₂	1 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 12, 2026.

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