Drive or Fly: Fairmont, NC to Concord, 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 FAY–USA. At 128 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 46m

Distance

128.3 mi

Total Cost

$63

CO2

52 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$28

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 19m

13m in the air

Air Distance

104 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

27 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Fairmont, NC → FAY 55m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 13m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

USA → Concord, NC 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Fairmont, NC FAY — Fayetteville Regional Airport - Grannis Field 37 mi, ~55m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between FAY and USA. 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

5h 35m

4h 25m on road

Total Cost

$12

CO2

7 kg

Route

Greyhound US0660s

Door-to-Door Timeline

Fairmont, NC → Lumberton (LBB6) 16m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 265m

Arrival 10m

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

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $12) $12

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

Stations

From LBB6 — Lumberton 10 mi, ~16m drive

To CLT6 — Charlotte Bus Station 19 mi, ~29m 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	2h 46m	3h 19m	5h 35m
Total cost (1 person)	$63	$124	$12
Carbon footprint	52 kg CO₂	27 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

128.3 mi 2h 45m

via US 74, NC 742, I 74; US 74

Alternative (+8 min)

132.3 mi 2h 53m

via SC 9, NC 742, US 52; SC 9 Truck

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