Drive or Fly: Pelham, AL to Auburn, AL?

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 MEI–CSG. At 197 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

4h 7m

Distance

197.2 mi

Total Cost

$79

CO2

80 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$44

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 3m

19m in the air

Air Distance

156 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

40 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Pelham, AL → MEI 56m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 19m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

CSG → Auburn, AL 48m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Pelham, AL MEI — Key Field / Meridian Regional Airport 37 mi, ~56m drive

Auburn, AL CSG — Columbus Airport 32 mi, ~48m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MEI and CSG. 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

8h 48m

5h 25m on rail

Total Cost

$38

CO2

11 kg

Route

Crescent

Door-to-Door Timeline

Pelham, AL → Meridian Union Station 51m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 325m

Arrival 10m

Anniston Amtrak Station → Auburn, AL 112m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $38) $38

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

Stations

From Meridian Union Station 34 mi, ~51m drive

To Anniston Amtrak Station 75 mi, ~112m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~11/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 11 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	4h 7m	4h 3m	8h 48m
Total cost (1 person)	$79	$126	$38
Carbon footprint	80 kg CO₂	40 kg CO₂	11 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 13, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Pelham, AL to Auburn, AL with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.