Drive or Fly: Charleston, SC to Great Falls, SC?

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 8m

Distance

161.3 mi

Total Cost

$69

CO2

65 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$34

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 37m

16m in the air

Air Distance

136 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

35 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Charleston, SC → CHS 15m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 16m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

CLT → Great Falls, SC 66m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Charleston, SC CHS — Charleston International Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

Great Falls, SC CLT — Charlotte Douglas International Airport 44 mi, ~66m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

95.6%

Cancellation

4.4%

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

4h 2m

2h 40m on road

Total Cost

$11

CO2

6 kg

Route

Greyhound US0645S

Door-to-Door Timeline

Charleston, SC → Charleston Bus Station (CSE6) 12m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 160m

Arrival 10m

Camden (McDonald's) (CDS6) → Great Falls, SC 45m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $11) $11

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

Stations

From CSE6 — Charleston Bus Station 8 mi, ~12m drive

To CDS6 — Camden (McDonald's) 30 mi, ~45m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~5/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 5 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	3h 8m	3h 37m	4h 2m
Total cost (1 person)	$69	$125	$11
Carbon footprint	65 kg CO₂	35 kg CO₂	6 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	96% 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 Jun 3, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Charleston, SC to Great Falls, SC with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.