Drive or Fly: Clifton, AZ to Phoenix, 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 SVC–PHX. At 207 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 33m

Distance

207.9 mi

Total Cost

$81

CO2

84 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$46

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 18m

20m in the air

Air Distance

163 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

42 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Clifton, AZ → SVC 108m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 20m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PHX → Phoenix, AZ 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Clifton, AZ SVC — Grant County Airport 72 mi, ~108m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SVC 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

5h 58m

4h 45m on road

Total Cost

$19

CO2

10 kg

Route

Greyhound US1030s

Door-to-Door Timeline

Clifton, AZ → Duncan (Hotel Duncan) (DCC6) 38m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 285m

Arrival 10m

Phoenix Bus Station (PHX6) → Phoenix, AZ 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $19) $19

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

Stations

From DCC6 — Duncan (Hotel Duncan) 25 mi, ~38m drive

To PHX6 — Phoenix Bus Station 2 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	4h 33m	4h 18m	5h 58m
Total cost (1 person)	$81	$182	$19
Carbon footprint	84 kg CO₂	42 kg CO₂	10 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 Clifton, AZ to Phoenix, AZ with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.