Drive or Fly: Shallotte, NC to Chapel Hill, NC?

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 ILM–AVL. At 364 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

7h 31m

Distance

364.3 mi

Total Cost

$116

CO2

147 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$81

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

4h 20m

34m in the air

Air Distance

280 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

71 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Shallotte, NC → ILM 52m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 34m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

AVL → Chapel Hill, NC 54m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Shallotte, NC ILM — Wilmington International Airport 34 mi, ~52m drive

Chapel Hill, NC AVL — Asheville Regional Airport 36 mi, ~54m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ILM and AVL. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 3h 11m compared to driving

+ 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	7h 31m	4h 20m
Total cost (1 person)	$116	$186
Carbon footprint	147 kg CO₂	71 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

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 Shallotte, NC to Chapel Hill, NC with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.