Drive or Fly: Fort Defiance, AZ to Saint Johns, 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 GUP–SOW. At 102 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 7m

Distance

102.7 mi

Total Cost

$58

CO2

41 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$23

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

10m in the air

Air Distance

87 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

22 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Fort Defiance, AZ → GUP 34m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 10m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SOW → Saint Johns, AZ 61m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

Fort Defiance, AZ GUP — Gallup Municipal Airport 23 mi, ~34m drive

Saint Johns, AZ SOW — Show Low Regional Airport 41 mi, ~61m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between GUP and SOW. 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

3h 42m

1h 25m on road

Total Cost

CO2

5 kg

Route

Greyhound US1210

Door-to-Door Timeline

Fort Defiance, AZ → Gallup (NKS Truck Stop) (GLL6) 32m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 85m

Arrival 10m

Holbrook (Circle K) (HBH6) → Saint Johns, AZ 80m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $9) $9

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

Stations

From GLL6 — Gallup (NKS Truck Stop) 21 mi, ~32m drive

To HBH6 — Holbrook (Circle K) 53 mi, ~80m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~15/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

− 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 7m	3h 45m	3h 42m
Total cost (1 person)	$58	$123	$9
Carbon footprint	41 kg CO₂	22 kg CO₂	5 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.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Fort Defiance, AZ to Saint Johns, AZ with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.