Drive or Fly: Goodyear, AZ to Catalina Foothills, 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 PHX–TUS. At 128 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 27m

Distance

128.5 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 3m

14m in the air

Air Distance

115 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

29 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Goodyear, AZ → PHX 30m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 14m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

TUS → Catalina Foothills, AZ 19m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Goodyear, AZ PHX — Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 20 mi, ~30m drive

Catalina Foothills, AZ TUS — Tucson International Airport 13 mi, ~19m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PHX and TUS. 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

4h 19m

3h 25m on road

Total Cost

$13

CO2

7 kg

Route

FlixBus 2040

Door-to-Door Timeline

Goodyear, AZ → Phoenix Glendale (59th Ave / W. Hayward) (0GD) 19m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 205m

Arrival 10m

Tucson (6th Street Garage - University of Arizona, Tucson) (UOA) → Catalina Foothills, AZ 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $13) $13

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

Stations

From 0GD — Phoenix Glendale (59th Ave / W. Hayward) 13 mi, ~19m drive

To UOA — Tucson (6th Street Garage - University of Arizona, Tucson) 5 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~6/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 6 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 27m	3h 3m	4h 19m
Total cost (1 person)	$63	$125	$13
Carbon footprint	52 kg CO₂	29 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

128.5 mi 2h 27m

via I 10, AZ 202 Loop, US 80 Hist

Alternative (+0 min)

132.5 mi 2h 28m

via I 10, I 10; US 60, West River Road

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Goodyear, AZ to Catalina Foothills, AZ with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.