Drive or Fly: Tuba City, AZ to Scottsdale, 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 GCN–PHX. At 227 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

4h 15m

Distance

227.4 mi

Total Cost

$86

CO2

92 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$51

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 52m

22m in the air

Air Distance

185 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

47 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Tuba City, AZ → GCN 78m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 22m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PHX → Scottsdale, AZ 12m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Tuba City, AZ GCN — Grand Canyon National Park Airport 52 mi, ~78m drive

Scottsdale, AZ PHX — Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 8 mi, ~12m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between GCN 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

5h 8m

2h 50m on road

Total Cost

$14

CO2

7 kg

Route

FlixBus 2047

Door-to-Door Timeline

Tuba City, AZ → Flagstaff Train Station (UFG) 103m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 170m

Arrival 10m

Tempe (University Dr/Rural Rd) (UTP) → Scottsdale, AZ 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $14) $14

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

Stations

From UFG — Flagstaff Train Station 69 mi, ~103m drive

To UTP — Tempe (University Dr/Rural Rd) 6 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~6/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 6 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 15m	3h 52m	5h 8m
Total cost (1 person)	$86	$182	$14
Carbon footprint	92 kg CO₂	47 kg CO₂	7 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 13, 2026.

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