Drive or Fly: Raleigh, NC to Mount Gilead, 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 RDU–TRI. At 207 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 30m

Distance

207.4 mi

Total Cost

$81

CO2

84 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$46

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

22m in the air

Air Distance

186 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

47 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Raleigh, NC → RDU 17m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 22m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

TRI → Mount Gilead, NC 47m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Raleigh, NC RDU — Raleigh-Durham International Airport 11 mi, ~17m drive

Mount Gilead, NC TRI — Tri-Cities Regional TN/VA Airport 31 mi, ~47m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between RDU and TRI. 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 45m

3h 50m on road

Total Cost

$16

CO2

9 kg

Route

Greyhound US0654s

Door-to-Door Timeline

Raleigh, NC → Raleigh Bus Station (RAL6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 230m

Arrival 10m

Newton (Citgo) (HKN6) → Mount Gilead, NC 80m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $16) $16

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

Stations

From RAL6 — Raleigh Bus Station 3 mi, ~10m drive

To HKN6 — Newton (Citgo) 53 mi, ~80m 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	4h 30m	3h 26m	5h 45m
Total cost (1 person)	$81	$182	$16
Carbon footprint	84 kg CO₂	47 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

207.4 mi 4h 29m

via I 40, US 421, I 40; US 220

Alternative (+9 min)

209.6 mi 4h 39m

via US 421, US 64, I 40

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