Drive or Fly: Bayshore, NC to Charlotte, NC?

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

4h 19m

Distance

211 mi

Total Cost

$75

CO2

85 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$40

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 42m

22m in the air

Air Distance

185 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

47 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bayshore, NC → ILM 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 22m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

CLT → Charlotte, NC 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Bayshore, NC ILM — Wilmington International Airport 7 mi, ~10m drive

Charlotte, NC CLT — Charlotte Douglas International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

95.2%

Cancellation

4.8%

+ 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

7h 40m

6h 15m on road

Total Cost

$20

CO2

12 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bayshore, NC → Wilmington Cape Fear Public Transit (WNC6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 375m

Arrival 10m

Charlotte Bus Station (CLT6) → Charlotte, NC 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $20) $20

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

Stations

From WNC6 — Wilmington Cape Fear Public Transit 0 mi, ~30m drive

To CLT6 — Charlotte Bus Station 0 mi, ~30m 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	4h 19m	2h 42m	7h 40m
Total cost (1 person)	$75	$182	$20
Carbon footprint	85 kg CO₂	47 kg CO₂	12 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	95% on-time

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 Jul 19, 2026.

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