Drive or Fly: Cary, NC to Mount Olive, 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–OAJ. At 72 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 29m

Distance

72 mi

Total Cost

$51

CO2

29 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$16

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 11m

7m in the air

Air Distance

58 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

15 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Cary, NC → RDU 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 7m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

OAJ → Mount Olive, NC 54m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

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

Mount Olive, NC OAJ — Albert J Ellis Airport 36 mi, ~54m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between RDU and OAJ. 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

2h 9m

1h 10m on road

Total Cost

CO2

3 kg

Route

Greyhound US0656S

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 70m

Arrival 10m

Goldsboro (Wayne Transportation) (AAI6) → Mount Olive, NC 20m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $5) $5

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

Stations

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

To AAI6 — Goldsboro (Wayne Transportation) 14 mi, ~20m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~14/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	Bus
Door-to-door time	1h 29m	3h 11m	2h 9m
Total cost (1 person)	$51	$122	$5
Carbon footprint	29 kg CO₂	15 kg CO₂	3 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 Cary, NC to Mount Olive, NC with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.