Drive or Fly: Tempe Junction, AZ to Sun Lakes, 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 19 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

29m

Distance

19.8 mi

Total Cost

$39

CO2

8 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$4

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 34m

2m in the air

Air Distance

15 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

4 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Tempe Junction, AZ → PHX 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 2m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

AZA → Sun Lakes, AZ 22m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Tempe Junction, AZ PHX — Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

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

1h 57m

45m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Amtrak Thruway Connecting Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Tempe Junction, AZ → Tempe Amtrak Bus Stop 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 45m

Arrival 10m

Maricopa → Sun Lakes, AZ 22m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $5) $5

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

Stations

From Tempe Amtrak Bus Stop 1 mi, ~10m drive

To Maricopa 15 mi, ~22m 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	29m	2h 34m	1h 57m
Total cost (1 person)	$39	$121	$5
Carbon footprint	8 kg CO₂	4 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 13, 2026.

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