Drive or Fly: Florence, AL to Oxford, AL?

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 MSL–BHM. At 177 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 29m

Distance

177.4 mi

Total Cost

$74

CO2

72 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$39

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 45m

16m in the air

Air Distance

133 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

34 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Florence, AL → MSL 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 16m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BHM → Oxford, AL 79m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Florence, AL MSL — Northwest Alabama Regional Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

Oxford, AL BHM — Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport 53 mi, ~79m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MSL and BHM. 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

6h 45m

5h 20m on road

Total Cost

$15

CO2

10 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Florence, AL → Florence (Wavaho Gas Station) (FLA6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 320m

Arrival 10m

Anniston (Amtrak Train Station) (ANS6) → Oxford, AL 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $15) $15

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

Stations

From FLA6 — Florence (Wavaho Gas Station) 0 mi, ~30m drive

To ANS6 — Anniston (Amtrak Train Station) 0 mi, ~30m 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	3h 29m	3h 45m	6h 45m
Total cost (1 person)	$74	$125	$15
Carbon footprint	72 kg CO₂	34 kg CO₂	10 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 15, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Florence, AL to Oxford, AL with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.