Drive or Fly: Burton, SC to Columbia, SC?

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 HHH–CAE. At 135 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 12m

Distance

135.9 mi

Total Cost

$65

CO2

55 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 45m

13m in the air

Air Distance

110 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

28 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Burton, SC → HHH 22m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 13m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

CAE → Columbia, SC 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Burton, SC HHH — Hilton Head Airport 15 mi, ~22m drive

Columbia, SC CAE — Columbia Metropolitan Airport 7 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between HHH and CAE. 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

4h 45m

3h 10m on road

Total Cost

$15

CO2

8 kg

Route

FlixBus 2433

Door-to-Door Timeline

Burton, SC → Savannah Bus Station (SAV6) 49m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 190m

Arrival 10m

Elgin Bus Stop (ELN6) → Columbia, SC 21m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $15) $15

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

Stations

From SAV6 — Savannah Bus Station 33 mi, ~49m drive

To ELN6 — Elgin Bus Stop 14 mi, ~21m 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 12m	2h 45m	4h 45m
Total cost (1 person)	$65	$124	$15
Carbon footprint	55 kg CO₂	28 kg CO₂	8 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 Burton, SC to Columbia, SC with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.