Drive or Fly: Chandler, AZ to Rio Rico, 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 AZA–TUS. At 152 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 53m

Distance

152.8 mi

Total Cost

$69

CO2

62 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$34

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 39m

16m in the air

Air Distance

136 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

35 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Chandler, AZ → AZA 16m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 16m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

TUS → Rio Rico, AZ 67m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Chandler, AZ AZA — Mesa Gateway Airport 11 mi, ~16m drive

Rio Rico, AZ TUS — Tucson International Airport 45 mi, ~67m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between AZA and TUS. 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

3h 38m

1h 45m on road

Total Cost

$11

CO2

6 kg

Route

Greyhound US1001

Door-to-Door Timeline

Chandler, AZ → Mesa Bus Stop (MES6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 105m

Arrival 10m

Tucson Bus Station (TUC6) → Rio Rico, AZ 78m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $11) $11

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

Stations

From MES6 — Mesa Bus Stop 6 mi, ~10m drive

To TUC6 — Tucson Bus Station 52 mi, ~78m 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	2h 53m	3h 39m	3h 38m
Total cost (1 person)	$69	$125	$11
Carbon footprint	62 kg CO₂	35 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 17, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Chandler, AZ to Rio Rico, AZ with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.