Drive or Fly: Phoenix, AZ to Benson, 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–TUS. At 159 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 52m

Distance

159.9 mi

Total Cost

$70

CO2

65 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$35

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 26m

17m in the air

Air Distance

145 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

37 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Phoenix, AZ → PHX 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 17m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

TUS → Benson, AZ 59m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Phoenix, AZ PHX — Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

Benson, AZ TUS — Tucson International Airport 39 mi, ~59m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PHX and TUS. 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

4h 55m

3h 30m on road

Total Cost

$16

CO2

9 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Phoenix, AZ → Phoenix Bus Station (PHX6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 210m

Arrival 10m

Benson Visitors Center (BSN6) → Benson, AZ 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $16) $16

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

Stations

From PHX6 — Phoenix Bus Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To BSN6 — Benson Visitors Center 0 mi, ~30m 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	Bus
Door-to-door time	2h 52m	3h 26m	4h 55m
Total cost (1 person)	$70	$126	$16
Carbon footprint	65 kg CO₂	37 kg CO₂	9 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 17, 2026.

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