Drive or Fly: New Caledonia, AR to Bay, AR?

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 ELD–JBR. At 266 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 7m

Distance

266.8 mi

Total Cost

$94

CO2

108 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$59

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

27m in the air

Air Distance

221 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

56 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

New Caledonia, AR → ELD 21m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 27m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

JBR → Bay, AR 12m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

New Caledonia, AR ELD — South Arkansas Regional Airport at Goodwin Field 14 mi, ~21m drive

Bay, AR JBR — Jonesboro Municipal Airport 8 mi, ~12m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ELD and JBR. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 2h 7m 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

7h 39m

4h 30m on rail

Total Cost

$45

CO2

13 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

New Caledonia, AR → Hope Amtrak Station 102m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 270m

Arrival 10m

Walnut Ridge Amtrak Station → Bay, AR 47m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $45) $45

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

Stations

From Hope Amtrak Station 68 mi, ~102m drive

To Walnut Ridge Amtrak Station 32 mi, ~47m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~8/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 8 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	5h 7m	3h	7h 39m
Total cost (1 person)	$94	$184	$45
Carbon footprint	108 kg CO₂	56 kg CO₂	13 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 16, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from New Caledonia, AR to Bay, AR with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.