Drive or Fly: Paradise Valley, AZ to Ahwatukee Foothills, 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 PHX–PHX. At 16 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

28m

Distance

16.7 mi

Total Cost

$39

CO2

7 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$4

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 23m

2m in the air

Air Distance

13 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

3 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Paradise Valley, AZ → PHX 11m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 2m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PHX → Ahwatukee Foothills, AZ 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Paradise Valley, AZ PHX — Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 8 mi, ~11m drive

Ahwatukee Foothills, AZ PHX — Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 7 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PHX 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

15m on road

Total Cost

CO2

0 kg

Route

FlixBus 2042

Door-to-Door Timeline

Paradise Valley, AZ → Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport/44th Street Station (UPX6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 15m

Arrival 10m

Tempe (University Dr/Rural Rd) (UTP) → Ahwatukee Foothills, AZ 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $0) $0

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

Stations

From UPX6 — Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport/44th Street Station 6 mi, ~10m drive

To UTP — Tempe (University Dr/Rural Rd) 6 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~12/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

− Limited schedule — about 12 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	28m	2h 23m	1h
Total cost (1 person)	$39	$121	$0
Carbon footprint	7 kg CO₂	3 kg CO₂	0 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 13, 2026.

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