Drive or Fly: Wilmington, NC to Fairplains, 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 ILM–USA. At 282 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 34m

Distance

282.8 mi

Total Cost

$97

CO2

114 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$62

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

4h 9m

27m in the air

Air Distance

227 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

58 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Wilmington, NC → ILM 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 27m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

USA → Fairplains, NC 92m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Fairplains, NC USA — Concord-Padgett Regional Airport 61 mi, ~92m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ILM and USA. 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	5h 34m	4h 9m
Total cost (1 person)	$97	$184
Carbon footprint	114 kg CO₂	58 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

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

282.8 mi 5h 33m

via US 220, US 74; US 76, US 421

Alternative (+1 min)

290.4 mi 5h 35m

via I 40, I 40; US 117; NC 132, US 421

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