Drive or Fly: Wilmington, NC to Rockingham, 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 127 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 34m

Distance

127 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

3h 40m

14m in the air

Air Distance

115 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

29 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Wilmington, NC → ILM 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 14m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

FAY → Rockingham, NC 76m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

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

Rockingham, NC FAY — Fayetteville Regional Airport - Grannis Field 51 mi, ~76m 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

5h 10m

4h 25m on road

Total Cost

$13

CO2

7 kg

Route

Greyhound US0660s

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 265m

Arrival 10m

Rockingham (King Fuel Station) (RKC6) → Rockingham, NC 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $13) $13

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

Stations

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

To RKC6 — Rockingham (King Fuel Station) 1 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 34m	3h 40m	5h 10m
Total cost (1 person)	$63	$125	$13
Carbon footprint	51 kg CO₂	29 kg CO₂	7 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

127 mi 2h 34m

via US 74; US 76, US 74; NC 130, US 74

Alternative (+16 min)

133.2 mi 2h 50m

via US 74; US 76, US 74; NC 130, US 74; US 501

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