Drive or Fly: Cary, NC to Sea Breeze, 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–ILM. At 146 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 50m

Distance

146.9 mi

Total Cost

$67

CO2

59 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$32

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 48m

16m in the air

Air Distance

130 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

33 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Cary, NC → RDU 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 16m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ILM → Sea Breeze, NC 22m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

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

Sea Breeze, NC ILM — Wilmington International Airport 15 mi, ~22m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between RDU and ILM. 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 9m

3h 10m on road

Total Cost

$13

CO2

7 kg

Route

Greyhound US0656S

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 190m

Arrival 10m

Wilmington Cape Fear Public Transit (WNC6) → Sea Breeze, NC 20m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $13) $13

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

Stations

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

To WNC6 — Wilmington Cape Fear Public Transit 13 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	2h 50m	2h 48m	4h 9m
Total cost (1 person)	$67	$125	$13
Carbon footprint	59 kg CO₂	33 kg CO₂	7 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 16, 2026.

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