Drive or Fly: Chandler, AZ to Safford, 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 153 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

3h 26m

Distance

153.5 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

4h 42m

15m in the air

Air Distance

128 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

33 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Chandler, AZ → AZA 16m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 15m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

TUS → Safford, AZ 131m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

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

Safford, AZ TUS — Tucson International Airport 87 mi, ~131m 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 55m

3h 10m on road

Total Cost

$14

CO2

7 kg

Route

Greyhound US1030s

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 190m

Arrival 10m

Thatcher (Speedway Gas Station) (SFF6) → Safford, AZ 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $14) $14

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

Stations

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

To SFF6 — Thatcher (Speedway Gas Station) 3 mi, ~10m 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 26m	4h 42m	3h 55m
Total cost (1 person)	$69	$125	$14
Carbon footprint	62 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 12, 2026.

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