Drive or Fly: Picture Rocks, AZ to Deer Valley, 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 TUS–PHX. At 125 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 5m

Distance

125.8 mi

Total Cost

$63

CO2

51 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$28

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 17m

13m in the air

Air Distance

106 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

27 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Picture Rocks, AZ → TUS 36m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 13m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PHX → Deer Valley, AZ 28m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Picture Rocks, AZ TUS — Tucson International Airport 24 mi, ~36m drive

Deer Valley, AZ PHX — Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 19 mi, ~28m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between TUS 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

4h 22m

3h 15m on road

Total Cost

$13

CO2

7 kg

Route

FlixBus 2040

Door-to-Door Timeline

Picture Rocks, AZ → Tucson Downtown (0TU) 27m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 195m

Arrival 10m

Phoenix Glendale (59th Ave / W. Hayward) (0GD) → Deer Valley, AZ 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $13) $13

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

Stations

From 0TU — Tucson Downtown 18 mi, ~27m drive

To 0GD — Phoenix Glendale (59th Ave / W. Hayward) 10 mi, ~15m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~6/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 6 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 5m	3h 17m	4h 22m
Total cost (1 person)	$63	$124	$13
Carbon footprint	51 kg CO₂	27 kg CO₂	7 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 16, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Picture Rocks, AZ to Deer Valley, AZ with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.