Drive or Fly: Burlington, NC to Rocky Mount, 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–PGV. At 116 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

1h 53m

Distance

116 mi

Total Cost

$61

CO2

47 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$26

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 39m

11m in the air

Air Distance

93 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

24 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Burlington, NC → GSO 42m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 11m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PGV → Rocky Mount, NC 46m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

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

Rocky Mount, NC PGV — Pitt-Greenville Airport 31 mi, ~46m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between GSO and PGV. 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 49m

2h 49m on rail

Total Cost

$18

CO2

5 kg

Route

Carolinian

Door-to-Door Timeline

Burlington, NC → Burlington Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 169m

Arrival 10m

Rocky Mount → Rocky Mount, NC 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $18) $18

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

Stations

From Burlington Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~10m drive

To Rocky Mount 0 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~6/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 6 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

3h 55m on road

Total Cost

$12

CO2

6 kg

Route

Greyhound US0654s

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 235m

Arrival 10m

Rocky Mount Bus Stop (ROM6) → Rocky Mount, NC 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $12) $12

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

Stations

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

To ROM6 — Rocky Mount Bus Stop 0 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	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	1h 53m	3h 39m	3h 49m	5h
Total cost (1 person)	$61	$124	$18	$12
Carbon footprint	47 kg CO₂	24 kg CO₂	5 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: 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 Rocky Mount, NC with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.