Drive or Fly: Maryvale, AZ to Superior, 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–AZA. At 74 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

1h 31m

Distance

74 mi

Total Cost

$51

CO2

30 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$16

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

8m in the air

Air Distance

64 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

16 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Maryvale, AZ → PHX 16m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 8m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

AZA → Superior, AZ 48m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

Maryvale, AZ PHX — Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 11 mi, ~16m drive

Superior, AZ AZA — Mesa Gateway Airport 32 mi, ~48m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PHX and AZA. 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 55m

45m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Amtrak Thruway Connecting Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Maryvale, AZ → North Phoenix Metro Center Transit Station 15m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 45m

Arrival 10m

Tempe Amtrak Bus Stop → Superior, AZ 75m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $4) $4

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

Stations

From North Phoenix Metro Center Transit Station 10 mi, ~15m drive

To Tempe Amtrak Bus Stop 50 mi, ~75m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/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 2 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	1h 31m	3h 12m	2h 55m
Total cost (1 person)	$51	$123	$4
Carbon footprint	30 kg CO₂	16 kg CO₂	1 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 Maryvale, AZ to Superior, AZ with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.