Drive or Fly: Arlington, TN to Memphis, TN?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

At this distance, driving is almost always faster and cheaper door-to-door.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 39m

Distance

183 mi

Total Cost

$74

CO2

74 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$39

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

18m in the air

Air Distance

154 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

39 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Arlington, TN → BNA 89m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 18m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MEM → Memphis, TN 13m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Arlington, TN BNA — Nashville International Airport 59 mi, ~89m drive

Memphis, TN MEM — Memphis International Airport 8 mi, ~13m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

4h 27m

2h 47m on rail

Total Cost

$23

CO2

11 kg

Route

City of New Orleans

Door-to-Door Timeline

Arlington, TN → Fulton Amtrak Station 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 167m

Arrival 10m

Memphis → Memphis, TN 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $23) $23

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

Stations

From Fulton Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Memphis 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 2 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	3h 39m	4h	4h 27m
Total cost (1 person)	$74	$126	$23
Carbon footprint	74 kg CO₂	39 kg CO₂	11 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	100% on-time

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: Amtrak 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 Jun 3, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

183 mi 3h 38m

via I 40, TN 13

Alternative (+34 min)

191.8 mi 4h 13m

via I 40, US 64, TN 13

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Arlington, TN to Memphis, TN with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.