Drive or Fly: Scottsdale, AZ to Bullhead City, 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–HII. At 234 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

4h 50m

Distance

234 mi

Total Cost

$87

CO2

95 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$52

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 37m

23m in the air

Air Distance

190 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

48 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Scottsdale, AZ → PHX 12m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 23m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

HII → Bullhead City, AZ 62m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Scottsdale, AZ PHX — Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 8 mi, ~12m drive

Bullhead City, AZ HII — Lake Havasu City Airport 42 mi, ~62m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PHX and HII. 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 47m

4h 30m on road

Total Cost

$19

CO2

10 kg

Route

FlixBus 2040

Door-to-Door Timeline

Scottsdale, AZ → Tempe (University Dr/Rural Rd) (UTP) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 270m

Arrival 10m

Kingman (North) (UKN) → Bullhead City, AZ 42m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $19) $19

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

Stations

From UTP — Tempe (University Dr/Rural Rd) 6 mi, ~10m drive

To UKN — Kingman (North) 28 mi, ~42m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~6/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 6 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 50m	3h 37m	5h 47m
Total cost (1 person)	$87	$183	$19
Carbon footprint	95 kg CO₂	48 kg CO₂	10 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 13, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Scottsdale, AZ to Bullhead City, AZ with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.