Drive or Fly: Smithfield, NC to Johnson Crossroads, 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 RDU–RDU. At 17 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

27m

Distance

17 mi

Total Cost

$39

CO2

7 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$4

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 36m

2m in the air

Air Distance

15 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

4 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Smithfield, NC → RDU 54m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 2m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

RDU → Johnson Crossroads, NC 40m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Smithfield, NC RDU — Raleigh-Durham International Airport 36 mi, ~54m drive

Johnson Crossroads, NC RDU — Raleigh-Durham International Airport 27 mi, ~40m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between RDU and RDU. 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

1h 57m

40m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Carolinian

Door-to-Door Timeline

Smithfield, NC → Selma 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 40m

Arrival 10m

Raleigh Union Station → Johnson Crossroads, NC 27m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $5) $5

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

Stations

From Selma 4 mi, ~10m drive

To Raleigh Union Station 18 mi, ~27m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~6/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 6 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	27m	3h 36m	1h 57m
Total cost (1 person)	$39	$121	$5
Carbon footprint	7 kg CO₂	4 kg CO₂	2 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 — 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

17 mi 26m

via NC 210, Lassiter Road, Packing Plant Road

Alternative (+2 min)

19.6 mi 29m

via Packing Plant Road

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Smithfield, NC to Johnson Crossroads, NC with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.