Drive or Fly: Sun Lakes, AZ to Surprise, 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 AZA–PHX. At 51 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 7m

Distance

51.8 mi

Total Cost

$46

CO2

21 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$11

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 2m

5m in the air

Air Distance

39 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

10 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Sun Lakes, AZ → AZA 22m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 5m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PHX → Surprise, AZ 35m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

Sun Lakes, AZ AZA — Mesa Gateway Airport 14 mi, ~22m drive

Surprise, AZ PHX — Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 23 mi, ~35m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between AZA 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

2h 50m

1h 30m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Amtrak Thruway Connecting Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Sun Lakes, AZ → Maricopa 22m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 90m

Arrival 10m

North Phoenix Metro Center Transit Station → Surprise, AZ 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $8) $8

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

Stations

From Maricopa 15 mi, ~22m drive

To North Phoenix Metro Center Transit Station 12 mi, ~18m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/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 2 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 7m	3h 2m	2h 50m
Total cost (1 person)	$46	$122	$8
Carbon footprint	21 kg CO₂	10 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

51.8 mi 1h 6m

via I 10, AZ 101 Loop, US 60

Shortest (+4 min)

50 mi 1h 11m

via I 10, I 17; US 60, US 60

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Sun Lakes, AZ to Surprise, AZ with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.