Drive or Fly: Van Wyck, SC to Spartanburg, SC?

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 CLT–GSP. At 78 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 43m

Distance

78.9 mi

Total Cost

$52

CO2

32 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$17

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 10m

7m in the air

Air Distance

62 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

16 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Van Wyck, SC → CLT 38m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 7m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

GSP → Spartanburg, SC 25m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

Van Wyck, SC CLT — Charlotte Douglas International Airport 25 mi, ~38m drive

Spartanburg, SC GSP — Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport 17 mi, ~25m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between CLT and GSP. 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 56m

1h 26m on rail

Total Cost

$13

CO2

4 kg

Route

Crescent

Door-to-Door Timeline

Van Wyck, SC → Charlotte Amtrak Station 40m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 86m

Arrival 10m

Spartanburg Amtrak Station → Spartanburg, SC 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $13) $13

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

Stations

From Charlotte Amtrak Station 26 mi, ~40m drive

To Spartanburg Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/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 7 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 43m	3h 10m	2h 56m
Total cost (1 person)	$52	$122	$13
Carbon footprint	32 kg CO₂	16 kg CO₂	4 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 16, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Van Wyck, SC to Spartanburg, SC with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.