Drive or Fly: Riverdale, GA to Columbus, GA?

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 ATL–CSG. At 100 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 55m

Distance

100.1 mi

Total Cost

$57

CO2

40 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$22

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 30m

10m in the air

Air Distance

84 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

21 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Riverdale, GA → ATL 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 10m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

CSG → Columbus, GA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

Riverdale, GA ATL — Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

Columbus, GA CSG — Columbus Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ATL and CSG. 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

2h 25m

1h 40m on road

Total Cost

$10

CO2

5 kg

Route

Greyhound US0602

Door-to-Door Timeline

Riverdale, GA → Atlanta Airport (4LX) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 100m

Arrival 10m

Columbus Bus Stop (CLG6) → Columbus, GA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $10) $10

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

Stations

From 4LX — Atlanta Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

To CLG6 — Columbus Bus Stop 4 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	1h 55m	2h 30m	2h 25m
Total cost (1 person)	$57	$123	$10
Carbon footprint	40 kg CO₂	21 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 17, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Riverdale, GA to Columbus, GA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.