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

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

2h 51m

Distance

114.9 mi

Total Cost

$59

CO2

46 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$24

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 11m

12m in the air

Air Distance

102 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

26 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Charlotte, NC → CLT 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 12m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

RDU → Broadway, NC 49m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

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

Broadway, NC RDU — Raleigh-Durham International Airport 33 mi, ~49m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

98.2%

Cancellation

1.8%

+ 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

3h 36m

2h 50m on road

Total Cost

$11

CO2

6 kg

Route

Greyhound US0650s

Door-to-Door Timeline

Charlotte, NC → Charlotte Bus Station (CLT6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 170m

Arrival 10m

Sanford (Sam's Place) (SFO6) → Broadway, NC 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $11) $11

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

Stations

From CLT6 — Charlotte Bus Station 0 mi, ~10m drive

To SFO6 — Sanford (Sam's Place) 7 mi, ~11m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/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 3 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 51m	3h 11m	3h 36m
Total cost (1 person)	$59	$124	$11
Carbon footprint	46 kg CO₂	26 kg CO₂	6 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	98% 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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

114.9 mi 2h 50m

via NC 27, NC 24; NC 27; NC 109, US 15; US 501; NC 24; NC 27

Alternative (+2 min)

124.2 mi 2h 53m

via NC 49, US 421, Bonlee Bennett Road

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