Drive or Fly: Marion, AR to Springdale, AR?

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 MEM–XNA. At 322 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

5h 35m

Distance

322.1 mi

Total Cost

$107

CO2

130 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$72

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 12m

28m in the air

Air Distance

231 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

59 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Marion, AR → MEM 26m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 28m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

XNA → Springdale, AR 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Marion, AR MEM — Memphis International Airport 17 mi, ~26m drive

Springdale, AR XNA — Northwest Arkansas National Airport 12 mi, ~18m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MEM and XNA. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 2h 23m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

7h 49m

5h 40m on road

Total Cost

$27

CO2

14 kg

Route

Greyhound US1148S

Door-to-Door Timeline

Marion, AR → Memphis Bus Station (MEM6) 23m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 340m

Arrival 10m

Van Buren/ Ft Smith Bus Depot (FSM6) → Springdale, AR 81m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $27) $27

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

Stations

From MEM6 — Memphis Bus Station 16 mi, ~23m drive

To FSM6 — Van Buren/ Ft Smith Bus Depot 54 mi, ~81m 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	5h 35m	3h 12m	7h 49m
Total cost (1 person)	$107	$184	$27
Carbon footprint	130 kg CO₂	59 kg CO₂	14 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 13, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Marion, AR to Springdale, AR with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.