Drive or Fly: Southaven, MS to Columbus, MS?

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 MEM–GTR. At 161 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 13m

Distance

161.6 mi

Total Cost

$71

CO2

65 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$36

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

2h 41m

16m in the air

Air Distance

137 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

35 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Southaven, MS → MEM 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 16m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

GTR → Columbus, MS 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Southaven, MS MEM — Memphis International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

Columbus, MS GTR — Golden Triangle Regional Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MEM and GTR. 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

3h 38m

1h 43m on road

Total Cost

$10

CO2

5 kg

Route

Greyhound US0610

Door-to-Door Timeline

Southaven, MS → Memphis Bus Station (MEM6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 103m

Arrival 10m

Tupelo (Brothers Quick Stop) (TUP6) → Columbus, MS 80m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $10) $10

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

Stations

From MEM6 — Memphis Bus Station 5 mi, ~10m drive

To TUP6 — Tupelo (Brothers Quick Stop) 53 mi, ~80m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~14/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

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	3h 13m	2h 41m	3h 38m
Total cost (1 person)	$71	$125	$10
Carbon footprint	65 kg CO₂	35 kg CO₂	5 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: 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 15, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Southaven, MS to Columbus, MS with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.