Drive or Fly: Pinehurst, NC to Burlington, NC?

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 CLT–GSO. At 136 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 54m

Distance

136 mi

Total Cost

$65

CO2

55 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$30

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 24m

15m in the air

Air Distance

122 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

31 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Pinehurst, NC → CLT 87m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 15m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

GSO → Burlington, NC 42m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Pinehurst, NC CLT — Charlotte Douglas International Airport 58 mi, ~87m drive

Burlington, NC GSO — Piedmont Triad International Airport 28 mi, ~42m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between CLT and GSO. 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

3h 28m

2h on road

Total Cost

$10

CO2

5 kg

Route

Greyhound US0654s

Door-to-Door Timeline

Pinehurst, NC → Newton (Citgo) (HKN6) 33m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 120m

Arrival 10m

Greensboro Bus Stop (GBO6) → Burlington, NC 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $10) $10

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

Stations

From HKN6 — Newton (Citgo) 22 mi, ~33m drive

To GBO6 — Greensboro Bus Stop 20 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 54m	4h 24m	3h 28m
Total cost (1 person)	$65	$125	$10
Carbon footprint	55 kg CO₂	31 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: 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

136 mi 2h 54m

via I 40, US 421, NC 18

Alternative (+0 min)

140.6 mi 2h 54m

via I 40, US 321, Southwest Boulevard

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Pinehurst, NC to Burlington, NC with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.