Drive or Fly: Chandler, AZ to Rio Verde, 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–PHX. At 36 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 5m

Distance

36.5 mi

Total Cost

$43

CO2

15 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$8

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 1m

4m in the air

Air Distance

30 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

8 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Chandler, AZ → AZA 16m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 4m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PHX → Rio Verde, AZ 41m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

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

Rio Verde, AZ PHX — Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 28 mi, ~41m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between AZA 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

1h 32m

20m on road

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Greyhound US1030s

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 20m

Arrival 10m

Apache Junction (Chevron) (ACJ6) → Rio Verde, AZ 37m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $2) $2

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

Stations

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

To ACJ6 — Apache Junction (Chevron) 25 mi, ~37m 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	1h 5m	3h 1m	1h 32m
Total cost (1 person)	$43	$121	$2
Carbon footprint	15 kg CO₂	8 kg CO₂	1 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 Chandler, AZ to Rio Verde, AZ with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.