Drive or Fly: Show Low, AZ to Maricopa, 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 SOW–PHX. At 187 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

3h 58m

Distance

187.7 mi

Total Cost

$77

CO2

76 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$42

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 6m

17m in the air

Air Distance

142 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

36 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Show Low, AZ → SOW 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 17m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PHX → Maricopa, AZ 39m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Show Low, AZ SOW — Show Low Regional Airport 2 mi, ~10m drive

Maricopa, AZ PHX — Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 26 mi, ~39m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SOW 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	3h 58m	3h 6m
Total cost (1 person)	$77	$126
Carbon footprint	76 kg CO₂	36 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 Show Low, AZ to Maricopa, AZ with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.