Drive or Fly: Washington, NC to Wilmington, NC?

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 PGV–ILM. At 126 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 48m

Distance

126.8 mi

Total Cost

$63

CO2

51 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$28

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 52m

13m in the air

Air Distance

104 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

27 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Washington, NC → PGV 29m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 13m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ILM → Wilmington, NC 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Washington, NC PGV — Pitt-Greenville Airport 20 mi, ~29m drive

Wilmington, NC ILM — Wilmington International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PGV and ILM. 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

3h 35m

2h 50m on road

Total Cost

$11

CO2

6 kg

Route

Greyhound US0658s

Door-to-Door Timeline

Washington, NC → Washington (B & L Properties) (WSC6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 170m

Arrival 10m

Wilmington Cape Fear Public Transit (WNC6) → Wilmington, NC 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $11) $11

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

Stations

From WSC6 — Washington (B & L Properties) 1 mi, ~10m drive

To WNC6 — Wilmington Cape Fear Public Transit 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 48m	2h 52m	3h 35m
Total cost (1 person)	$63	$124	$11
Carbon footprint	51 kg CO₂	27 kg CO₂	6 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

126.8 mi 2h 48m

via US 17, US 17 Business, US 17 BUS

Alternative (+1 min)

128.8 mi 2h 50m

via US 17, NC 53, I 40

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Washington, NC to Wilmington, NC with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.