Drive or Fly: Smyrna, GA to Stockbridge, GA?

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 PDK–ATL. At 57 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 14m

Distance

57.6 mi

Total Cost

$48

CO2

23 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$13

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 48m

6m in the air

Air Distance

48 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

12 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Smyrna, GA → PDK 83m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 6m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ATL → Stockbridge, GA 19m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

Smyrna, GA PDK — DeKalb Peachtree Airport 55 mi, ~83m drive

Stockbridge, GA ATL — Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport 13 mi, ~19m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PDK and ATL. 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

3h 45m

1h 15m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

3 kg

Route

Crescent

Door-to-Door Timeline

Smyrna, GA → Gainesville Amtrak Station 80m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 75m

Arrival 10m

Atlanta → Stockbridge, GA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $9) $9

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

Stations

From Gainesville Amtrak Station 53 mi, ~80m drive

To Atlanta 20 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/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 7 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	1h 14m	3h 48m	3h 45m
Total cost (1 person)	$48	$122	$9
Carbon footprint	23 kg CO₂	12 kg CO₂	3 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

57.6 mi 1h 14m

via I 20, GA 138, US 129 Bypass; US 441 Bypass; GA 24 Bypass

Alternative (+10 min)

58.6 mi 1h 24m

via I 20, Brown Bridge Road, GA 20

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Smyrna, GA to Stockbridge, GA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.