Drive or Fly: First Mesa, AZ to Chandler, 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 FLG–AZA. At 293 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 20m

Distance

293.3 mi

Total Cost

$100

CO2

118 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$65

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

4h 50m

23m in the air

Air Distance

194 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

49 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

First Mesa, AZ → FLG 131m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 23m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

AZA → Chandler, AZ 16m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

First Mesa, AZ FLG — Flagstaff Pulliam Airport 87 mi, ~131m drive

Chandler, AZ AZA — Mesa Gateway Airport 11 mi, ~16m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between FLG and AZA. 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	5h 20m	4h 50m
Total cost (1 person)	$100	$183
Carbon footprint	118 kg CO₂	49 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

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.

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