Drive or Fly: Montgomery, AL to Mobile, AL?

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 MGM–MOB. At 168 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:
Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

3h 4m

Distance

168.2 mi

Total Cost

$72

CO2

68 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$37
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

2h 48m

19m in the air

Air Distance

155 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

39 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Montgomery, AL → MGM 11m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 19m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
MOB → Mobile, AL 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Montgomery, AL MGM — Montgomery Regional (Dannelly Field) Airport 7 mi, ~11m drive
Mobile, AL MOB — Mobile Regional Airport 12 mi, ~18m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MGM and MOB. 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 39m

2h 54m on road

Total Cost

$17

CO2

9 kg

Route

Greyhound US0602

Door-to-Door Timeline

Montgomery, AL → Montgomery Intermodal Center (MRY6) 10m
Boarding 15m
Bus ride 174m
Arrival 10m
Mobile Bus Station (MOB6) → Mobile, AL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $17) $17

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

Stations

From MRY6 — Montgomery Intermodal Center 1 mi, ~10m drive
To MOB6 — Mobile Bus Station 4 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~28/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
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 4m 2h 48m 3h 39m
Total cost (1 person) $72 $126 $17
Carbon footprint 68 kg CO2 39 kg CO2 9 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 12, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Montgomery, AL to Mobile, AL with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.