Drive or Fly: Rio Rico, AZ to Phoenix, 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 169 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 8m

Distance

169.5 mi

Total Cost

$72

CO2

68 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$37

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 35m

18m in the air

Air Distance

151 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

38 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Rio Rico, AZ → TUS 67m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 18m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PHX → Phoenix, AZ 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Rio Rico, AZ TUS — Tucson International Airport 45 mi, ~67m drive

Phoenix, AZ PHX — Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 4 mi, ~10m 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

3h 43m

1h 50m on road

Total Cost

$12

CO2

6 kg

Route

Greyhound US1001

Door-to-Door Timeline

Rio Rico, AZ → Tucson Bus Station (TUC6) 78m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 110m

Arrival 10m

Phoenix Bus Station (PHX6) → Phoenix, AZ 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $12) $12

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

Stations

From TUC6 — Tucson Bus Station 52 mi, ~78m drive

To PHX6 — Phoenix Bus Station 2 mi, ~10m 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	3h 8m	3h 35m	3h 43m
Total cost (1 person)	$72	$126	$12
Carbon footprint	68 kg CO₂	38 kg CO₂	6 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.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Rio Rico, AZ to Phoenix, AZ with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.