Drive or Fly: Concord, NC to Southern Pines, 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–FAY. At 79 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 59m

Distance

79.2 mi

Total Cost

$52

CO2

32 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$17

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 6m

8m in the air

Air Distance

69 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

18 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Concord, NC → USA 11m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 8m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

FAY → Southern Pines, NC 47m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

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

Southern Pines, NC FAY — Fayetteville Regional Airport - Grannis Field 32 mi, ~47m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between USA and FAY. 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 19m

2h 15m on road

Total Cost

CO2

5 kg

Route

Greyhound US0650s

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 135m

Arrival 10m

Southern Pines (BP Gas Station) (SHP6) → Southern Pines, NC 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $9) $9

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

Stations

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

To SHP6 — Southern Pines (BP Gas Station) 1 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	1h 59m	3h 6m	3h 19m
Total cost (1 person)	$52	$123	$9
Carbon footprint	32 kg CO₂	18 kg CO₂	5 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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

79.2 mi 1h 59m

via NC 73, NC 211, NC 24; NC 27; NC 73

Alternative (+14 min)

98.3 mi 2h 13m

via US 1, NC 742, US 74

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