Drive or Fly: Parsons, TN to New South Memphis, TN?

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 MKL–MEM. At 129 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

2h 29m

Distance

129.1 mi

Total Cost

$64

CO2

52 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$29

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 31m

14m in the air

Air Distance

115 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

29 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Parsons, TN → MKL 67m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 14m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MEM → New South Memphis, TN 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Parsons, TN MKL — McKellar-Sipes Regional Airport 44 mi, ~67m drive

New South Memphis, TN MEM — Memphis International Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MKL and MEM. 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 42m

2h 5m on rail

Total Cost

$16

CO2

5 kg

Route

City of New Orleans

Door-to-Door Timeline

Parsons, TN → Newbern-Dyersburg Amtrak Station 107m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 125m

Arrival 10m

Memphis → New South Memphis, TN 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $16) $16

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

Stations

From Newbern-Dyersburg Amtrak Station 71 mi, ~107m drive

To Memphis 3 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~4/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 4 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

1h 30m on road

Total Cost

CO2

5 kg

Route

Greyhound US0601

Door-to-Door Timeline

Parsons, TN → Jackson (Mega Mart) (JXT6) 55m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 90m

Arrival 10m

Memphis Bus Station (MEM6) → New South Memphis, TN 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $9) $9

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

Stations

From JXT6 — Jackson (Mega Mart) 36 mi, ~55m drive

To MEM6 — Memphis Bus Station 4 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/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 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	2h 29m	3h 31m	4h 42m	3h
Total cost (1 person)	$64	$125	$16	$9
Carbon footprint	52 kg CO₂	29 kg CO₂	5 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, 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 Parsons, TN to New South Memphis, TN with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.