Drive or Fly: Scottsdale, AZ to San Manuel, 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–TUS. At 126 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 39m

Distance

126.1 mi

Total Cost

$63

CO2

51 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$28

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 21m

12m in the air

Air Distance

97 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

25 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Scottsdale, AZ → PHX 12m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 12m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

TUS → San Manuel, AZ 57m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

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

San Manuel, AZ TUS — Tucson International Airport 38 mi, ~57m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PHX and TUS. 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 44m

2h 25m on road

Total Cost

$11

CO2

6 kg

Route

FlixBus 2042

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 145m

Arrival 10m

Tucson (East) (0TE) → San Manuel, AZ 44m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $11) $11

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

Stations

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

To 0TE — Tucson (East) 30 mi, ~44m 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	2h 39m	3h 21m	3h 44m
Total cost (1 person)	$63	$124	$11
Carbon footprint	51 kg CO₂	25 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

126.1 mi 2h 39m

via AZ 79; US 80 Hist, US 60, US 80 Hist

Shortest (+1 min)

122.4 mi 2h 40m

via AZ 79; US 80 Hist, AZ 87, AZ 101 Loop

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