Drive or Fly: Concord, NC to Oak Island, NC?

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 USA–ILM. At 205 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 19m

Distance

205.3 mi

Total Cost

$80

CO2

83 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$45

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 15m

21m in the air

Air Distance

172 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

44 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Concord, NC → USA 11m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 21m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ILM → Oak Island, NC 43m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Concord, NC USA — Concord-Padgett Regional Airport 7 mi, ~11m drive

Oak Island, NC ILM — Wilmington International Airport 29 mi, ~43m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between USA and ILM. 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

8h 17m

6h 40m on road

Total Cost

$20

CO2

11 kg

Route

Greyhound US0660s

Door-to-Door Timeline

Concord, NC → Charlotte Bus Station (CLT6) 29m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 400m

Arrival 10m

Wilmington Cape Fear Public Transit (WNC6) → Oak Island, NC 43m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $20) $20

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

Stations

From CLT6 — Charlotte Bus Station 19 mi, ~29m drive

To WNC6 — Wilmington Cape Fear Public Transit 28 mi, ~43m 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 19m	3h 15m	8h 17m
Total cost (1 person)	$80	$182	$20
Carbon footprint	83 kg CO₂	44 kg CO₂	11 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

205.3 mi 4h 19m

via US 74, NC 211, US 74; NC 130

Alternative (+4 min)

207.9 mi 4h 24m

via US 74, NC 211, US 74; NC 130

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Concord, NC to Oak Island, NC with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.