Drive or Fly: San Carlos, AZ to Deer Valley, 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 PHX–PHX. At 39 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

50m

Distance

39.1 mi

Total Cost

$44

CO2

16 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$9

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 47m

3m in the air

Air Distance

29 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

7 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

San Carlos, AZ → PHX 16m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 3m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PHX → Deer Valley, AZ 28m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

San Carlos, AZ PHX — Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 11 mi, ~16m drive

Deer Valley, AZ PHX — Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 19 mi, ~28m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PHX 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

1h 47m

45m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Amtrak Thruway Connecting Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

San Carlos, AZ → Tempe Amtrak Bus Stop 12m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 45m

Arrival 10m

North Phoenix Metro Center Transit Station → Deer Valley, AZ 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $4) $4

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

Stations

From Tempe Amtrak Bus Stop 8 mi, ~12m drive

To North Phoenix Metro Center Transit Station 3 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 2 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	50m	2h 47m	1h 47m
Total cost (1 person)	$44	$121	$4
Carbon footprint	16 kg CO₂	7 kg CO₂	1 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: Amtrak 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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

39.1 mi 49m

via AZ 101 Loop

Shortest (+0 min)

38.4 mi 49m

via I 17; US 60, US 60, I 10; US 60

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from San Carlos, AZ to Deer Valley, AZ with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.