Drive or Fly: Mulberry, NC to Durham, 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 USA–RDU. At 139 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 51m

Distance

139.4 mi

Total Cost

$66

CO2

56 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$31

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

4h 7m

15m in the air

Air Distance

128 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

33 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Mulberry, NC → USA 97m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 15m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

RDU → Durham, NC 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Mulberry, NC USA — Concord-Padgett Regional Airport 65 mi, ~97m drive

Durham, NC RDU — Raleigh-Durham International Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between USA and RDU. 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

4h 9m

1h 55m on rail

Total Cost

$18

CO2

5 kg

Route

Piedmont

Door-to-Door Timeline

Mulberry, NC → Salisbury 84m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 115m

Arrival 10m

Durham Amtrak Station → Durham, NC 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $18) $18

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

Stations

From Salisbury 56 mi, ~84m drive

To Durham Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/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 3 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	2h 51m	4h 7m	4h 9m
Total cost (1 person)	$66	$125	$18
Carbon footprint	56 kg CO₂	33 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: 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 15, 2026.

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