Drive or Fly: Tucson, AZ to Sierra Vista, 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–TUS. At 71 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

1h 26m

Distance

71.7 mi

Total Cost

$51

CO2

29 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$16

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 39m

7m in the air

Air Distance

59 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

15 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Tucson, AZ → TUS 11m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 7m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

TUS → Sierra Vista, AZ 81m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

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

Sierra Vista, AZ TUS — Tucson International Airport 54 mi, ~81m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between TUS and TUS. 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 33m

1h on rail

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Tucson, AZ → Tucson Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 60m

Arrival 10m

Benson Amtrak → Sierra Vista, AZ 43m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $9) $9

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

Stations

From Tucson Amtrak Station 2 mi, ~10m drive

To Benson Amtrak 29 mi, ~43m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~4/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 4 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 26m	3h 39m	2h 33m
Total cost (1 person)	$51	$122	$9
Carbon footprint	29 kg CO₂	15 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 Tucson, AZ to Sierra Vista, AZ with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.