Drive or Fly: Madison, NC to Sunset Hills, 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 GSO–GSO. At 15 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

27m

Distance

15.2 mi

Total Cost

$38

CO2

6 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$3

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 14m

1m in the air

Air Distance

11 mi

Total Cost

$120

CO2

3 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Madison, NC → GSO 30m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 1m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

GSO → Sunset Hills, NC 43m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $120) $120

Airports

Madison, NC GSO — Piedmont Triad International Airport 20 mi, ~30m drive

Sunset Hills, NC GSO — Piedmont Triad International Airport 28 mi, ~43m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between GSO 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

2h 50m

57m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Crescent

Door-to-Door Timeline

Madison, NC → Greensboro 36m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 57m

Arrival 10m

Danville Amtrak Station → Sunset Hills, NC 37m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $8) $8

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

Stations

From Greensboro 24 mi, ~36m drive

To Danville Amtrak Station 24 mi, ~37m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~11/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 11 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	27m	3h 14m	2h 50m
Total cost (1 person)	$38	$120	$8
Carbon footprint	6 kg CO₂	3 kg CO₂	2 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

15.2 mi 27m

via NC 135

Shortest (+0 min)

14.7 mi 27m

via US 220 Business, NC 770

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