Drive or Fly: Phoenix, AZ to Chinle, 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–GUP. At 309 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

6h 35m

Distance

309.5 mi

Total Cost

$104

CO2

125 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$69

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 11m

28m in the air

Air Distance

235 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

60 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Phoenix, AZ → PHX 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 28m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

GUP → Chinle, AZ 93m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Chinle, AZ GUP — Gallup Municipal Airport 62 mi, ~93m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PHX and GUP. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 2h 24m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

8h 16m

6h 11m on road

Total Cost

$25

CO2

13 kg

Route

Greyhound US1210

Door-to-Door Timeline

Phoenix, AZ → Phoenix Bus Station (PHX6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 371m

Arrival 10m

Gallup (NKS Truck Stop) (GLL6) → Chinle, AZ 90m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $25) $25

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

Stations

From PHX6 — Phoenix Bus Station 2 mi, ~10m drive

To GLL6 — Gallup (NKS Truck Stop) 60 mi, ~90m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~15/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

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	6h 35m	4h 11m	8h 16m
Total cost (1 person)	$104	$184	$25
Carbon footprint	125 kg CO₂	60 kg CO₂	13 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 12, 2026.

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