Drive or Fly: Charlotte, NC to Coats, 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

3h 25m

Distance

152.3 mi

Total Cost

$67

CO2

62 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$32

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 12m

15m in the air

Air Distance

123 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

31 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Charlotte, NC → CLT 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 15m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

FAY → Coats, NC 47m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

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

Coats, NC FAY — Fayetteville Regional Airport - Grannis Field 31 mi, ~47m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

90.9%

Cancellation

9.1%

+ 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

5h 27m

4h 1m on rail

Total Cost

$29

CO2

8 kg

Route

Carolinian

Door-to-Door Timeline

Charlotte, NC → Charlotte Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 241m

Arrival 10m

Selma → Coats, NC 36m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $29) $29

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

Stations

From Charlotte Amtrak Station 2 mi, ~10m drive

To Selma 24 mi, ~36m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~12/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 12 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 25m	3h 12m	5h 27m
Total cost (1 person)	$67	$125	$29
Carbon footprint	62 kg CO₂	31 kg CO₂	8 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	91% 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

152.3 mi 3h 25m

via US 1, US 74, NC 27

Shortest (+0 min)

138.4 mi 3h 25m

via NC 27, NC 24; NC 27; NC 109, US 421 Business

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