Drive or Fly: Cary, NC to Chapel Hill, 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 RDU–AVL. At 278 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 43m

Distance

278.2 mi

Total Cost

$96

CO2

112 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$61

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 30m

26m in the air

Air Distance

220 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

56 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Cary, NC → RDU 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 26m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

AVL → Chapel Hill, NC 54m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Cary, NC RDU — Raleigh-Durham International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

Chapel Hill, NC AVL — Asheville Regional Airport 36 mi, ~54m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between RDU and AVL. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 2h 13m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

6h 33m

5h 15m on road

Total Cost

$24

CO2

13 kg

Route

Greyhound US0654s

Door-to-Door Timeline

Cary, NC → Raleigh Bus Station (RAL6) 14m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 315m

Arrival 10m

Asheville, NC (ASN6) → Chapel Hill, NC 39m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $24) $24

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

Stations

From RAL6 — Raleigh Bus Station 9 mi, ~14m drive

To ASN6 — Asheville, NC 26 mi, ~39m 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	5h 43m	3h 30m	6h 33m
Total cost (1 person)	$96	$184	$24
Carbon footprint	112 kg CO₂	56 kg CO₂	13 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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

278.2 mi 5h 43m

via I 40, US 25; US 70, I 40; US 220

Alternative (+44 min)

327.1 mi 6h 27m

via I 81; US 52, I 40, US 52

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