Drive or Fly: Fayetteville, AR to West Memphis, AR?

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 XNA–MEM. At 309 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 20m

Distance

309.3 mi

Total Cost

$103

CO2

125 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$68

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

28m in the air

Air Distance

232 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

59 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Fayetteville, AR → XNA 26m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 28m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MEM → West Memphis, AR 21m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Fayetteville, AR XNA — Northwest Arkansas National Airport 17 mi, ~26m drive

West Memphis, AR MEM — Memphis International Airport 14 mi, ~21m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between XNA and MEM. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 2h 5m compared to driving

+ 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

7h 41m

5h 50m on road

Total Cost

$27

CO2

14 kg

Route

Greyhound US1148S

Door-to-Door Timeline

Fayetteville, AR → Van Buren/ Ft Smith Bus Depot (FSM6) 68m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 350m

Arrival 10m

Memphis Bus Station (MEM6) → West Memphis, AR 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $27) $27

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

Stations

From FSM6 — Van Buren/ Ft Smith Bus Depot 45 mi, ~68m drive

To MEM6 — Memphis Bus Station 12 mi, ~18m 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	5h 20m	3h 15m	7h 41m
Total cost (1 person)	$103	$184	$27
Carbon footprint	125 kg CO₂	59 kg CO₂	14 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

309.3 mi 5h 19m

via I 40; US 71, I 40, I 49

Alternative (+63 min)

311.3 mi 6h 23m

via US 62; US 412, US 63; AR 228, US 62; US 63; US 412

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Fayetteville, AR to West Memphis, AR with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.