Drive or Fly: Theodore, AL to Birmingham, AL?

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 MOB–BHM. At 267 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 55m

Distance

267.8 mi

Total Cost

$94

CO2

108 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$59

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 52m

26m in the air

Air Distance

221 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

56 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Theodore, AL → MOB 16m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 26m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BHM → Birmingham, AL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Theodore, AL MOB — Mobile Regional Airport 11 mi, ~16m drive

Birmingham, AL BHM — Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MOB and BHM. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 2h 3m 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

8h 19m

7h 30m on road

Total Cost

$23

CO2

12 kg

Route

Greyhound US0624S

Door-to-Door Timeline

Theodore, AL → Mobile Bus Station (MOB6) 14m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 450m

Arrival 10m

Birmingham (Express Carriers) (BHM6) → Birmingham, AL 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $23) $23

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

Stations

From MOB6 — Mobile Bus Station 10 mi, ~14m drive

To BHM6 — Birmingham (Express Carriers) 1 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	4h 55m	2h 52m	8h 19m
Total cost (1 person)	$94	$184	$23
Carbon footprint	108 kg CO₂	56 kg CO₂	12 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 Theodore, AL to Birmingham, AL with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.