Drive or Fly: Mesa, AZ to Canyon Day, 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–SOW. At 159 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 34m

Distance

159.7 mi

Total Cost

$70

CO2

65 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$35

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 19m

13m in the air

Air Distance

106 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

27 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Mesa, AZ → PHX 16m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 13m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SOW → Canyon Day, AZ 50m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

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

Canyon Day, AZ SOW — Show Low Regional Airport 33 mi, ~50m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PHX and SOW. 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

3h 43m

2h 5m on road

Total Cost

CO2

5 kg

Route

Greyhound US1030s

Door-to-Door Timeline

Mesa, AZ → Mesa Bus Stop (MES6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 125m

Arrival 10m

Peridot (Apache Burger Travel Ctr) (PIP6) → Canyon Day, AZ 63m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $9) $9

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

Stations

From MES6 — Mesa Bus Stop 3 mi, ~10m drive

To PIP6 — Peridot (Apache Burger Travel Ctr) 42 mi, ~63m 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 34m	3h 19m	3h 43m
Total cost (1 person)	$70	$124	$9
Carbon footprint	65 kg CO₂	27 kg CO₂	5 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.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Mesa, AZ to Canyon Day, AZ with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.