Drive or Fly: Portland, TN to Memphis, TN?

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 BNA–MEM. At 249 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 37m

Distance

249.4 mi

Total Cost

$90

CO2

101 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$55

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 29m

27m in the air

Air Distance

221 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

56 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Portland, TN → BNA 49m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 27m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MEM → Memphis, TN 13m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Portland, TN BNA — Nashville International Airport 33 mi, ~49m drive

Memphis, TN MEM — Memphis International Airport 8 mi, ~13m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BNA and MEM. 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

5h 12m

3h 48m on road

Total Cost

$22

CO2

11 kg

Route

Greyhound US0600

Door-to-Door Timeline

Portland, TN → Nashville Bus Station (NAS6) 49m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 228m

Arrival 10m

Memphis Bus Station (MEM6) → Memphis, TN 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $22) $22

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

Stations

From NAS6 — Nashville Bus Station 33 mi, ~49m drive

To MEM6 — Memphis Bus Station 7 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~14/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	4h 37m	3h 29m	5h 12m
Total cost (1 person)	$90	$184	$22
Carbon footprint	101 kg CO₂	56 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: 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 15, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Portland, TN to Memphis, TN with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.