Drive or Fly: Sierra Vista, 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 TUS–PHX. At 171 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

3h 14m

Distance

171.3 mi

Total Cost

$73

CO2

69 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$38

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 17m

17m in the air

Air Distance

145 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

37 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Sierra Vista, AZ → TUS 81m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 17m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PHX → Maricopa, AZ 39m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Sierra Vista, AZ TUS — Tucson International Airport 54 mi, ~81m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between TUS 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

4h 27m

2h 54m on rail

Total Cost

$25

CO2

7 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Sierra Vista, AZ → Benson Amtrak 43m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 174m

Arrival 10m

Maricopa → Maricopa, AZ 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $25) $25

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

Stations

From Benson Amtrak 29 mi, ~43m drive

To Maricopa 0 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~5/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 5 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

4h 47m

3h on road

Total Cost

$15

CO2

8 kg

Route

Greyhound US1000

Door-to-Door Timeline

Sierra Vista, AZ → Benson Visitors Center (BSN6) 43m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 180m

Arrival 10m

Mesa Bus Stop (MES6) → Maricopa, AZ 39m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $15) $15

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

Stations

From BSN6 — Benson Visitors Center 29 mi, ~43m drive

To MES6 — Mesa Bus Stop 26 mi, ~39m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/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 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	3h 14m	4h 17m	4h 27m	4h 47m
Total cost (1 person)	$73	$126	$25	$15
Carbon footprint	69 kg CO₂	37 kg CO₂	7 kg CO₂	8 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, 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 Sierra Vista, AZ to Maricopa, AZ with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.