Drive or Fly: Walden, TN to Knoxville, TN?

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 CHA–TYS. At 121 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

2h 3m

Distance

121.6 mi

Total Cost

$62

CO2

49 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$27

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 44m

11m in the air

Air Distance

95 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

24 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Walden, TN → CHA 16m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 11m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

TYS → Knoxville, TN 17m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Walden, TN CHA — Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (Lovell Field) 11 mi, ~16m drive

Knoxville, TN TYS — McGhee Tyson Airport 11 mi, ~17m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between CHA and TYS. 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

2h 39m

1h on road

Total Cost

CO2

3 kg

Route

Greyhound US0110

Door-to-Door Timeline

Walden, TN → Athens (Exxon) (ATS6) 64m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 60m

Arrival 10m

Knoxville Area Transit Bus Stop (KNO6) → Knoxville, TN 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $6) $6

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

Stations

From ATS6 — Athens (Exxon) 42 mi, ~64m drive

To KNO6 — Knoxville Area Transit Bus Stop 4 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	2h 3m	2h 44m	2h 39m
Total cost (1 person)	$62	$124	$6
Carbon footprint	49 kg CO₂	24 kg CO₂	3 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 Walden, TN to Knoxville, TN with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.