Drive or Fly: Catalina Foothills, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ?

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 TUS–PHX. At 108 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 48m

Distance

108.1 mi

Total Cost

$59

CO2

44 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$24

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 41m

12m in the air

Air Distance

97 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

25 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Catalina Foothills, AZ → TUS 19m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 12m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PHX → Tempe Junction, AZ 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Catalina Foothills, AZ TUS — Tucson International Airport 13 mi, ~19m drive

Tempe Junction, AZ PHX — Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between TUS and PHX. 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 48m

2h 3m on road

Total Cost

$11

CO2

6 kg

Route

FlixBus 2042

Door-to-Door Timeline

Catalina Foothills, AZ → Tucson (6th Street Garage - University of Arizona, Tucson) (UOA) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 123m

Arrival 10m

Tempe (University Dr/Rural Rd) (UTP) → Tempe Junction, AZ 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $11) $11

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

Stations

From UOA — Tucson (6th Street Garage - University of Arizona, Tucson) 5 mi, ~10m drive

To UTP — Tempe (University Dr/Rural Rd) 1 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~12/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 12 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	1h 48m	2h 41m	2h 48m
Total cost (1 person)	$59	$124	$11
Carbon footprint	44 kg CO₂	25 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.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Catalina Foothills, AZ to Tempe Junction, AZ with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.