Drive or Fly: Tucson, AZ to Coolidge, 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 TUS–AZA. At 68 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

1h 27m

Distance

68.6 mi

Total Cost

$50

CO2

28 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$15

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 55m

8m in the air

Air Distance

63 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

16 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Tucson, AZ → TUS 11m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 8m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

AZA → Coolidge, AZ 36m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

Tucson, AZ TUS — Tucson International Airport 7 mi, ~11m drive

Coolidge, AZ AZA — Mesa Gateway Airport 24 mi, ~36m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between TUS 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

2h 54m

1h 17m on rail

Total Cost

$17

CO2

5 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Tucson, AZ → Tucson Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 77m

Arrival 10m

Maricopa → Coolidge, AZ 47m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $17) $17

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

Stations

From Tucson Amtrak Station 2 mi, ~10m drive

To Maricopa 31 mi, ~47m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~5/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 5 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	1h 27m	2h 55m	2h 54m
Total cost (1 person)	$50	$123	$17
Carbon footprint	28 kg CO₂	16 kg CO₂	5 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 Tucson, AZ to Coolidge, AZ with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.