Drive or Fly: Oro Valley, AZ to Rowood, 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 TUS–PHX. At 143 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 2m

Distance

143.4 mi

Total Cost

$67

CO2

58 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$32

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 55m

13m in the air

Air Distance

110 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

28 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Oro Valley, AZ → TUS 29m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 13m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PHX → Rowood, AZ 133m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Oro Valley, AZ TUS — Tucson International Airport 19 mi, ~29m drive

Rowood, AZ PHX — Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 88 mi, ~133m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between TUS and PHX. 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 54m

1h 17m on rail

Total Cost

$17

CO2

5 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Oro Valley, AZ → Tucson Amtrak Station 17m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 77m

Arrival 10m

Maricopa → Rowood, AZ 100m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $17) $17

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

Stations

From Tucson Amtrak Station 12 mi, ~17m drive

To Maricopa 66 mi, ~100m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~5/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 5 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	3h 2m	4h 55m	3h 54m
Total cost (1 person)	$67	$124	$17
Carbon footprint	58 kg CO₂	28 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 16, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Oro Valley, AZ to Rowood, AZ with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.