Drive or Fly: Matthews, NC to Chapel Hill, 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 CLT–AVL. At 171 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 49m

Distance

171.7 mi

Total Cost

$73

CO2

69 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$38

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 30m

15m in the air

Air Distance

125 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

32 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Matthews, NC → CLT 21m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 15m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

AVL → Chapel Hill, NC 54m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Matthews, NC CLT — Charlotte Douglas International Airport 14 mi, ~21m drive

Chapel Hill, NC AVL — Asheville Regional Airport 36 mi, ~54m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between CLT and AVL. 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

2h 40m on road

Total Cost

$11

CO2

6 kg

Route

Greyhound US0650s

Door-to-Door Timeline

Matthews, NC → Charlotte Bus Station (CLT6) 16m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 160m

Arrival 10m

Asheville, NC (ASN6) → Chapel Hill, NC 39m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $11) $11

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

Stations

From CLT6 — Charlotte Bus Station 11 mi, ~16m drive

To ASN6 — Asheville, NC 26 mi, ~39m 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	3h 49m	3h 30m	4h
Total cost (1 person)	$73	$125	$11
Carbon footprint	69 kg CO₂	32 kg CO₂	6 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

171.7 mi 3h 48m

via US 74, I 26; US 74, I 85

Alternative (+5 min)

173.8 mi 3h 54m

via I 40, NC 16, US 25; US 70

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Matthews, NC to Chapel Hill, NC with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.