Drive or Fly: Cary, NC to Swansboro, 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–EWN. At 147 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 4m

Distance

147.1 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

3h 6m

15m in the air

Air Distance

121 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

31 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Cary, NC → RDU 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 15m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

EWN → Swansboro, NC 41m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

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

Swansboro, NC EWN — Coastal Carolina Regional Airport 27 mi, ~41m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between RDU and EWN. 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

5h 20m

4h 15m on road

Total Cost

$11

CO2

6 kg

Route

Greyhound US0652s

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 255m

Arrival 10m

Jacksonville Bus Stop (JVL6) → Swansboro, NC 26m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $11) $11

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

Stations

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

To JVL6 — Jacksonville Bus Stop 17 mi, ~26m 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	3h 4m	3h 6m	5h 20m
Total cost (1 person)	$67	$125	$11
Carbon footprint	59 kg CO₂	31 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: 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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

147.1 mi 3h 3m

via I 40, NC 111, NC 24

Alternative (+7 min)

151.3 mi 3h 11m

via I 42, US 70; NC 58, US 70

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