Drive or Fly: Raleigh, NC to Rocky Point, 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–ILM. At 111 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 3m

Distance

111.6 mi

Total Cost

$60

CO2

45 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$25

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

2h 46m

12m in the air

Air Distance

102 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

26 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Raleigh, NC → RDU 17m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 12m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ILM → Rocky Point, NC 17m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

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

Rocky Point, NC ILM — Wilmington International Airport 11 mi, ~17m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between RDU and ILM. 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 4m

3h 10m on road

Total Cost

$13

CO2

7 kg

Route

Greyhound US0656S

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 190m

Arrival 10m

Wilmington Cape Fear Public Transit (WNC6) → Rocky Point, NC 19m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $13) $13

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

Stations

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

To WNC6 — Wilmington Cape Fear Public Transit 13 mi, ~19m 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	2h 3m	2h 46m	4h 4m
Total cost (1 person)	$60	$124	$13
Carbon footprint	45 kg CO₂	26 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 15, 2026.

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