Drive or Fly: Madison, MS to Pontotoc, MS?

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 JAN–TUP. At 178 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

3h 24m

Distance

178.8 mi

Total Cost

$75

CO2

72 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$40

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

2h 53m

17m in the air

Air Distance

139 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

36 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Madison, MS → JAN 16m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 17m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

TUP → Pontotoc, MS 20m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Madison, MS JAN — Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport 11 mi, ~16m drive

Pontotoc, MS TUP — Tupelo Regional Airport 13 mi, ~20m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between JAN and TUP. 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

5h 40m

2h 53m on rail

Total Cost

$27

CO2

8 kg

Route

City of New Orleans

Door-to-Door Timeline

Madison, MS → Jackson 18m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 173m

Arrival 10m

Marks Amtrak → Pontotoc, MS 109m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $27) $27

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

Stations

From Jackson 12 mi, ~18m drive

To Marks Amtrak 73 mi, ~109m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~4/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 4 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	3h 24m	2h 53m	5h 40m
Total cost (1 person)	$75	$126	$27
Carbon footprint	72 kg CO₂	36 kg CO₂	8 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: Amtrak 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 13, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Madison, MS to Pontotoc, MS with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.