Drive or Fly: Coolidge, AZ to Scottsdale, 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 51 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 11m

Distance

51.3 mi

Total Cost

$46

CO2

21 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$11

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

2h 53m

5m in the air

Air Distance

43 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

11 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Coolidge, AZ → AZA 36m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 5m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PHX → Scottsdale, AZ 12m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

Coolidge, AZ AZA — Mesa Gateway Airport 24 mi, ~36m drive

Scottsdale, AZ PHX — Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 8 mi, ~12m 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

2h 22m

45m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Amtrak Thruway Connecting Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Coolidge, AZ → Maricopa 47m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 45m

Arrival 10m

Tempe Amtrak Bus Stop → Scottsdale, AZ 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $5) $5

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

Stations

From Maricopa 31 mi, ~47m drive

To Tempe Amtrak Bus Stop 6 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 2 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	1h 11m	2h 53m	2h 22m
Total cost (1 person)	$46	$122	$5
Carbon footprint	21 kg CO₂	11 kg CO₂	2 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: Amtrak 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

51.3 mi 1h 11m

via AZ 87, AZ 101 Loop

Alternative (+1 min)

58.2 mi 1h 12m

via I 10, AZ 101 Loop, AZ 87

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