Drive or Fly: Athens, TN to Columbia, TN?

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

Driving wins

Medium

Short enough to drive comfortably in a day. Airport overhead makes flying slower door-to-door. Available flights require a connection, adding time and cost.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 59m

Distance

208.1 mi

Total Cost

$74

CO2

84 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

4h 21m

17m in the air

Air Distance

138 mi

Total Cost

$181

CO2

35 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Athens, TN → TYS 63m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 17m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BNA → Columbia, TN 61m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Athens, TN TYS — McGhee Tyson Airport 42 mi, ~63m drive

Columbia, TN BNA — Nashville International Airport 41 mi, ~61m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− 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	3h 59m	4h 21m
Total cost (1 person)	$74	$181
Carbon footprint	84 kg CO₂	35 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

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 Jul 20, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

208.1 mi 3h 58m

via I 24, I 75, I 840

Shortest (+2 min)

187.6 mi 4h 1m

via US 70S, I 840, TN 8

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