Drive or Fly: New Caledonia, AR to Gurdon, 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–HOT. At 83 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 4m

Distance

83.7 mi

Total Cost

$53

CO2

34 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$18

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 27m

8m in the air

Air Distance

66 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

17 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

New Caledonia, AR → ELD 21m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 8m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

HOT → Gurdon, AR 58m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

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

Gurdon, AR HOT — Memorial Field Airport 39 mi, ~58m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ELD and HOT. 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

3h 30m

46m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

3 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

New Caledonia, AR → Hope Amtrak Station 102m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 46m

Arrival 10m

Arkadelphia Amtrak Station → Gurdon, AR 22m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $9) $9

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

Stations

From Hope Amtrak Station 68 mi, ~102m drive

To Arkadelphia Amtrak Station 15 mi, ~22m 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	2h 4m	3h 27m	3h 30m
Total cost (1 person)	$53	$123	$9
Carbon footprint	34 kg CO₂	17 kg CO₂	3 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 18, 2026.

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