Drive or Fly: Wilmington, NC to Mars Hill, 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–AVL. At 338 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 56m

Distance

338.4 mi

Total Cost

$110

CO2

137 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$75

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 25m

34m in the air

Air Distance

283 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

72 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Wilmington, NC → ILM 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 34m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

AVL → Mars Hill, NC 41m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Mars Hill, NC AVL — Asheville Regional Airport 27 mi, ~41m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ILM and AVL. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 3h 31m compared to driving

+ 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	6h 56m	3h 25m
Total cost (1 person)	$110	$186
Carbon footprint	137 kg CO₂	72 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

338.4 mi 6h 56m

via US 74, US 74; US 76, I 26; US 74

Alternative (+18 min)

376 mi 7h 14m

via I 26, I 20, US 74; US 76

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