Drive or Fly: Jefferson, NC to Winston-Salem, NC?

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 TRI–GSO. At 86 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

1h 37m

Distance

86.2 mi

Total Cost

$54

CO2

35 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$19

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 53m

9m in the air

Air Distance

72 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

18 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Jefferson, NC → TRI 78m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 9m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

GSO → Winston-Salem, NC 26m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

Jefferson, NC TRI — Tri-Cities Regional TN/VA Airport 52 mi, ~78m drive

Winston-Salem, NC GSO — Piedmont Triad International Airport 17 mi, ~26m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between TRI and GSO. 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 12m

1h 20m on road

Total Cost

CO2

4 kg

Route

Greyhound US0140

Door-to-Door Timeline

Jefferson, NC → Max Meadows (A81 Travel Plaza) (WYV6) 77m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 80m

Arrival 10m

Winston Salem(Trans Center) (WNS6) → Winston-Salem, NC 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $8) $8

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

Stations

From WYV6 — Max Meadows (A81 Travel Plaza) 51 mi, ~77m drive

To WNS6 — Winston Salem(Trans Center) 0 mi, ~10m 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	1h 37m	3h 53m	3h 12m
Total cost (1 person)	$54	$123	$8
Carbon footprint	35 kg CO₂	18 kg CO₂	4 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 12, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Jefferson, NC to Winston-Salem, NC with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.