Drive or Fly: Wilmington, NC to Fayetteville, 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–FAY. At 88 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 1m

Distance

88.8 mi

Total Cost

$55

CO2

36 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$20

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 29m

9m in the air

Air Distance

78 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

20 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Wilmington, NC → ILM 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 9m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

FAY → Fayetteville, NC 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

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

Fayetteville, NC FAY — Fayetteville Regional Airport - Grannis Field 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ILM and FAY. 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 15m

2h 30m on road

Total Cost

CO2

5 kg

Route

Greyhound US0660s

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 150m

Arrival 10m

Fayetteville Bus Station (FAY6) → Fayetteville, NC 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $9) $9

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

Stations

From WNC6 — Wilmington Cape Fear Public Transit 4 mi, ~10m drive

To FAY6 — Fayetteville Bus Station 0 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 1m	2h 29m	3h 15m
Total cost (1 person)	$55	$123	$9
Carbon footprint	36 kg CO₂	20 kg CO₂	5 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 15, 2026.

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