Drive or Fly: Surprise, AZ to Globe, 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 PHX–AZA. At 114 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

2h 28m

Distance

114.4 mi

Total Cost

$60

CO2

46 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$25

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 2m

11m in the air

Air Distance

91 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

23 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Surprise, AZ → PHX 35m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 11m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

AZA → Globe, AZ 76m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

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

Globe, AZ AZA — Mesa Gateway Airport 51 mi, ~76m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PHX and AZA. 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 23m

45m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Amtrak Thruway Connecting Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 30m

Train ride 45m

Arrival 10m

Tempe Amtrak Bus Stop → Globe, AZ 100m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $4) $4

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

Stations

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

To Tempe Amtrak Bus Stop 67 mi, ~100m 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	2h 28m	4h 2m	3h 23m
Total cost (1 person)	$60	$124	$4
Carbon footprint	46 kg CO₂	23 kg CO₂	1 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 12, 2026.

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