Drive or Fly: Swansea, IL to Atlanta, 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 BLV–ATL. At 540 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

10h

Distance

540.7 mi

Total Cost

$154

CO2

218 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$119

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

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 19m

55m in the air

Air Distance

455 mi

Total Cost

$193

CO2

116 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Swansea, IL → BLV 12m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 55m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ATL → Atlanta, GA 12m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $138) $138

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Swansea, IL BLV — Scott AFB/Midamerica Airport 8 mi, ~12m drive

Atlanta, GA ATL — Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport 8 mi, ~12m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BLV and ATL. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 6h 41m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

11h 25m

10h 30m on road

Total Cost

$51

CO2

27 kg

Route

FlixBus N2521

Door-to-Door Timeline

Swansea, IL → St Louis Bus Station (SLD6) 20m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 630m

Arrival 10m

Atlanta Bus Station (ATD6) → Atlanta, GA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $51) $51

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

Stations

From SLD6 — St Louis Bus Station 13 mi, ~20m drive

To ATD6 — Atlanta Bus Station 0 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/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

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	10h	3h 19m	11h 25m
Total cost (1 person)	$154	$193	$51
Carbon footprint	218 kg CO₂	116 kg CO₂	27 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 17, 2026.

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