Drive or Fly: Memphis, TN to Athens, TN?

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–TYS. At 394 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 20m

Distance

394.3 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

159 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$87

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 53m

37m in the air

Air Distance

308 mi

Total Cost

$187

CO2

79 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Memphis, TN → MEM 13m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 37m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

TYS → Athens, TN 63m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $132) $132

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Memphis, TN MEM — Memphis International Airport 8 mi, ~13m drive

Athens, TN TYS — McGhee Tyson Airport 42 mi, ~63m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 3h 27m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	7h 20m	3h 53m
Total cost (1 person)	$122	$187
Carbon footprint	159 kg CO₂	79 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

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 15, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Memphis, TN to Athens, TN with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.